Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 235

Fig. 28: Inner A/D-Pillar Components 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge 

before further service.  

2. Remove the headliner from the vehicle. Refer to REMOVAL .  

3. Disengage the plastic push-in routing clips that secure the jumper wire harness (9) to the inner D-pillar.  

4. Disconnect the jumper wire harness from the body wire harness connector (8) for the side curtain airbag 

located on the inner D-pillar near the belt line.  

5. Remove the push-in fastener that secures the side curtain airbag tether metal key (6) in the slot near the 

base of the inner A-pillar.  

6. Disengage the tether metal key from the A-pillar slot.  

7. Disengage the two plastic push-in routing clips (5) that secure the tether to the inner A-pillar.  

8. Remove the seven nuts (3) that secure the side curtain airbag (4) and the inflator (1) bracket to the studs 

on the inner roof side rail.  

9. Disengage the two plastic push-in fasteners (2) that secure the airbag unit to the inner roof side rail.  

10. Disengage the side curtain airbag from under the grab handle bracket (7) on the inner roof side rail above 

the rear door opening.  

11. Remove the side curtain airbag from the vehicle as a unit.  

INSTALLATION 

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG 

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable 
the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering 
wheel, steering column, airbag, Occupant Classification System (OCS), 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 29: Inner A/D-Pillar Components 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component 
diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) 
cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before 
performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to 
disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in 
accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury when removing a deployed airbag, rubber 
gloves, eye protection, and a long-sleeved shirt should be worn. There 
may be deposits on the airbag unit and other interior surfaces. In large 
doses, these deposits may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury, use extreme care to prevent any foreign 
material from entering the side curtain airbag, or becoming entrapped 
between the side curtain airbag cushion and the headliner. Failure to 
observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag 
deployment.

NOTE:

The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged side 
curtain airbag. If the airbag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review 
the recommended procedures for handling non-deployed supplemental 
restraints. See HANDLING NON-DEPLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS. If 
the side curtain airbag has been deployed, review the recommended 
procedures for service after a supplemental restraint deployment before 
removing the airbag from the vehicle. 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

1. Position the side curtain airbag (4) into the vehicle as a unit.  

2. Engage the rear plastic push-in fastener (2) that secures the airbag unit to the inner roof side rail.  

3. Tuck the side curtain airbag under the grab handle bracket (7) on the inner roof side rail above the rear 

door opening.  

4. Engage the front plastic push-in fastener (2) that secures the airbag unit to the inner roof side rail.  

5. Engage the two plastic push-in routing clips (5) that secure the tether to the inner A-pillar.  

6. Engage the side curtain airbag tether metal key (6) into the slot near the base of the inner A-pillar.  

7. Install a plastic push-in fastener to secure the tether metal key within the inner A-pillar slot.  

8. Position the side curtain airbag mounting tabs and the inflator (1) bracket onto the seven studs on the 

inner roof side rail.  

9. Working from the rear of the vehicle to the front, install and tighten the seven nuts (3) that secure the side 

curtain airbag and inflator bracket to the studs. Tighten the nuts to 8 N.m (71 in. lbs.).  

10. Reconnect the jumper wire harness (9) to the body wire harness connector (8) for the side curtain airbag 

located on the inner D-pillar near the belt line.  

11. Engage the plastic push-in routing clips that secure the jumper wire harness to the inner D-pillar.  

12. Reinstall the headliner into the vehicle. Refer to INSTALLATION .  

13. Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this time. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 

verification test procedure should be performed following service of any SRS component. See 
VERIFICATION TEST - SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.  

DRIVER AIRBAG 

DESCRIPTION 

DRIVER AIRBAG 

Fig. 30: Identifying Steering Wheel & Thermoplastic Driver Airbag Protective Trim Cover 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag protective trim cover (2) is the most visible part of the driver 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

airbag. The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel (1), where it is secured to the armature 
within the hub cavity of the four-spoke steering wheel. An injection molded, bright emblem with the Dodge 
Ram logo is applied to the center of the trim cover. 

Fig. 31: Identifying Trim Cover, Inflator, Housing, Snap Retainers & Receptacles 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

Concealed beneath the driver air bag trim cover are the folded airbag cushion, the airbag housing, the airbag 
inflator and the retainers that secure the inflator to the housing. The airbag cushion, housing (3), and inflator (2) 
are secured within an integral receptacle molded into the back of the trim cover (1). The vertical walls of this 
receptacle have numerous integral latch features that are inserted through numerous openings around the 
perimeter of the airbag housing. After the trim cover latches are fully seated in the housing a blocking tab 
integral to the housing is bent down to block the latch feature of the trim cover, locking the trim cover securely 
into place on the airbag housing. Three wire loop snap retainers (5) extend from the housing to secure the airbag 
to the steering wheel armature. The snap retainer at the 6 o'clock position has a distinctive V-shape to ensure 
proper orientation of the airbag when it is installed onto the steering wheel. 

The airbag used in this vehicle is a multistage-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy 
with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. A radial deploying 67.3 centimeter (26.5 inch) diameter 
fabric airbag cushion with internal tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a dual-initiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-
type unit and is secured to the stamped metal airbag housing using four flanged hex nuts. Two keyed and color-
coded connector receptacles (4) on the driver airbag inflator connect the two inflator initiators to the vehicle 
electrical system through two yellow-jacketed, two-wire pigtail harnesses of the clockspring. 

The driver airbag cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged. 

OPERATION 

DRIVER AIRBAG 

The multistage driver airbag is deployed by electrical signals generated by the Occupant Restraint Controller 
(ORC) through the driver airbag squib 1 and squib 2 circuits to the two initiators in the airbag inflator. By using 
two initiators, the airbag can be deployed at multiple levels of force. The force level is controlled by the ORC to 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro