Content .. 305 306 307 308 ..

Dodge Durango (DN). Manual - part 307

INSTALLATION

WARNING:

•

USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT ANY FOR-

EIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE DRIVER
SIDE

AIRBAG

MODULE,

BECOMING

ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE AIRBAG CUSHION
AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG TRIM COVER.
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD
RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES UPON AIRBAG
DEPLOYMENT.

•

THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE TRIM

COVER MUST NEVER BE PAINTED. REPLACEMENT
TRIM COVERS ARE SERVICED IN THE ORIGINAL
COLORS. PAINT MAY CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH
THE MATERIAL OF THE TRIM COVER RESPONDS
TO

AIRBAG

DEPLOYMENT.

FAILURE

OBSERVE

THIS

WARNING

COULD

RESULT

OCCUPANT

INJURIES

UPON AIRBAG

DEPLOY-

MENT.

(1) When installing the driver side airbag module,

reconnect the clockspring airbag wire harness con-
nector to the airbag module connector receptacle by
pressing straight in on the connector. You can be cer-
tain that the connector is fully engaged by listening

carefully for a distinct audible click as the connector
snaps into place.

(2) Reconnect the clockspring horn switch wire

harness connector to the horn switch feed wire con-
nector, which is located on the back of the airbag
module.

(3) Carefully position the driver side airbag mod-

ule in the steering wheel. Be certain that the clock-
spring wire harnesses in the steering wheel hub area
are not pinched between the airbag module and the
steering wheel.

(4) From the underside of the steering wheel,

install and tighten the two driver side airbag module
mounting screws. Tighten the screws to 10.2 N·m (90
in. lbs.).

(5) Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at

this time. Refer to Airbag System in the Diagnosis
and Testing section of this group for the proper pro-
cedures.

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE TRIM COVER

The horn switch is integral to the driver side air-

bag module trim cover. If either component is faulty
or damaged, the entire driver side airbag module
trim cover and horn switch unit must be replaced.

Fig. 4 Driver Side Airbag Module Remove/Install

1 – AIRBAG MODULE
2 – HORN SWITCH CONNECTOR
3 – AIRBAG CONNECTOR

4 – STEERING WHEEL
5 – SCREW

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

8M - 7

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

WARNING:

•

THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COM-

PLEX

ELECTROMECHANICAL

UNIT.

BEFORE

ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIR-
BAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING

COLUMN,

INSTRUMENT

PANEL

COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT
AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND)
CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FUR-
THER SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE
WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE
TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.

•

THE HORN SWITCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE AIR-

BAG MODULE TRIM COVER. SERVICE OF THIS
COMPONENT SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY BY
CHRYSLER-TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED DEALER
SERVICE TECHNICIANS. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS OR TO FOLLOW THE
PROPER PROCEDURES COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL, INCOMPLETE, OR IMPROPER AIRBAG
DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE OCCUPANT INJU-
RIES.

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. If either of the airbags has not been deployed,
wait two minutes for the system capacitor to dis-
charge before further service.

(2) Remove the driver side airbag module from the

steering wheel. Refer to Driver Side Airbag Mod-
ule in the Removal and Installation section of this
group for the procedures.

(3) Remove the four nuts that secure the upper

and lower trim cover retainers to the studs on the
back of the driver side airbag housing (Fig. 5).

(4) Remove the upper and lower trim cover retain-

ers from the airbag housing studs (Fig. 6).

(5) Remove the horn switch ground wire eyelet

from the upper airbag housing stud.

(6) Disengage the six trim cover locking blocks

from the lip around the outside edge of the driver
side airbag housing and remove the housing from the
cover (Fig. 7).

Fig. 5 Driver Side Airbag Trim Cover Retainer Nuts

Remove/Install

1 – HORN SWITCH GROUND WIRE
2 – HORN SWITCH FEED WIRE
3 – NUTS

Fig. 6 Driver Side Airbag Trim Cover Retainers

Remove/Install

1 – UPPER RETAINER
2 – AIRBAG HOUSING
3 – TRIM COVER
4 – NUT (4)
5 – LOWER RETAINER
6 – INFLATOR
7 – STUDS

8M - 8

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

INSTALLATION

WARNING:

•

USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT ANY FOR-

EIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE DRIVER
SIDE

AIRBAG

MODULE,

BECOMING

ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE AIRBAG CUSHION
AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG TRIM COVER.
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD
RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES UPON AIRBAG
DEPLOYMENT.

•

THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE TRIM

COVER MUST NEVER BE PAINTED. REPLACEMENT
TRIM COVERS ARE SERVICED IN THE ORIGINAL
COLORS. PAINT MAY CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH
THE MATERIAL OF THE TRIM COVER RESPONDS
TO

AIRBAG

DEPLOYMENT.

FAILURE

OBSERVE

THIS

WARNING

COULD

RESULT

OCCUPANT

INJURIES

UPON AIRBAG

DEPLOY-

MENT.

(1) Carefully position the driver side airbag mod-

ule in the trim cover. Be certain that the horn switch
feed and ground wires are not pinched between the
airbag housing and the trim cover locking blocks.

(2) Engage the upper and lower trim cover locking

blocks with the lip of the driver side airbag housing,
then engage the locking blocks on each side of the
trim cover with the lip of the housing. Be certain
that each of the locking blocks is fully engaged on
the lip of the airbag housing (Fig. 8).

(3) Install the horn switch ground wire eyelet over

the upper airbag housing stud.

(4) Install the upper and lower airbag trim cover

retainers over the airbag housing studs. Be certain
that the tabs on each retainer are engaged in the
retainer slots of the upper and lower trim cover lock-
ing blocks (Fig. 7).

(5) Install and tighten the trim cover retainer

mounting nuts on the airbag housing studs. Tighten
the nuts to 10 N·m (90 in. lbs.).

(6) Install the driver side airbag module onto the

steering wheel. Refer to Driver Side Airbag Mod-
ule in the Removal and Installation section of this
group for the procedures.

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE

The following procedure is for replacement of a

faulty or damaged passenger side airbag module. If
the passenger side airbag module has been deployed,
the instrument panel assembly must be replaced.
The instrument panel assembly includes the passen-
ger side airbag module and the passenger side airbag
door. Refer to Instrument Panel Assembly in the
Removal and Installation section of Group 8E -
Instrument Panel Systems for the instrument panel
assembly service procedures.

Fig. 7 Driver Side Airbag Trim Cover Remove/Install

1 – RETAINER SLOTS
2 – RETAINER SLOTS
3 – HORN SWITCH
4 – LOCKING BLOCKS

Fig. 8 Driver Side Airbag Trim Cover Locking

Blocks Engaged

1 – LIP
2 – TRIM COVER
3 – HORN SWITCH
4 – AIRBAG HOUSING
5 – LOCKING BLOCK

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

8M - 9

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

WARNING:

•

THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COM-

PLEX

ELECTROMECHANICAL

UNIT.

BEFORE

ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIR-
BAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING

COLUMN,

INSTRUMENT

PANEL

•

WHEN REMOVING A DEPLOYED AIRBAG MOD-

ULE, RUBBER GLOVES, EYE PROTECTION, AND A
LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT SHOULD BE WORN. THERE
MAY BE DEPOSITS ON THE AIRBAG MODULE AND
OTHER INTERIOR SURFACES. IN LARGE DOSES,
THESE DEPOSITS MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO THE
SKIN AND EYES.

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. If either of the airbags has not been deployed,
wait two minutes for the system capacitor to dis-
charge before further service.

(2) Remove the instrument panel top cover and the

passenger side airbag module from the instrument
panel as a unit. Refer to Instrument Panel Top
Cover in the Removal and Installation section of
Group 8E - Instrument Panel Systems for the proce-
dures.

(3) Place the instrument panel top cover assembly

on a suitable work surface. Be certain to take the
proper precautions to protect the top cover from any
possible cosmetic damage.

(4) Apply masking tape over the passenger side

airbag module vents on each end of the module (Fig.
9). The tape will help to prevent foreign material
from entering the airbag module through the vents
during removal and installation of the module from
the upper airbag door flange and bracket.

WARNING: USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT
ANY FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE, OR BECOM-
ING

ENTRAPPED

BETWEEN

THE

INSTRUMENT

PANEL TOP COVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE
AIRBAG MODULE. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS
WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES
UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

(5) Using a suitable center punch, carefully drive

out the mandrels from the four rivets that secure the
passenger

side

airbag

module

upper

mounting

bracket to the upper airbag door flange and bracket
on the instrument panel top cover (Fig. 10).

(6) Use a suitable pair of rivet cutters or a large

pair of side cutters to cut the rims or heads off of the
four rivets that secure the passenger side airbag
module upper mounting bracket to the upper airbag
door flange and bracket on the underside of the
instrument panel top cover.

Fig. 9 Passenger Side Airbag Module Vents

1 – LOWER BRACKET
2 – PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE
3 – UPPER BRACKET
4 – VENTS
5 – CONNECTOR

Fig. 10 Passenger Side Airbag Module Rivets

1 – RIVETS
2 – PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE

8M - 10

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

Content .. 305 306 307 308 ..