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Dodge Ram Truck 1500-2500-3500. Manual - part 554

takes about 40 milliseconds. Within one to two seconds from the moment of impact, the airbags are almost entirely
deflated. The times cited for these events are approximations, which apply only to a barrier impact at the given
speed. Actual times will vary somewhat, depending upon the vehicle speed, impact angle, severity of the impact,
and the type of collision.

When the ACM monitors a problem in any of the supplemental restraint system circuits or components, including the
seat belt tensioners, it stores a fault code or Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) in its memory circuit and sends an
electronic message to the EMIC to turn on the airbag indicator. Proper testing of the supplemental restraint system
components, the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus, the electronic message inputs to and
outputs from the EMIC or the ACM, as well as the retrieval or erasure of a DTC from the ACM or EMIC requires the
use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.

See the owner’s manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of all of
the factory-installed passive restraints.

WARNING

WARNINGS - RESTRAINT SYSTEM

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during and following any seat belt or child restraint anchor
service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles, mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors
for proper installation, operation, or damage. Replace any belt that is cut, frayed, or torn. Straighten any
belt that is twisted. Tighten any loose fasteners. Replace any belt that has a damaged or inoperative buckle
or retractor. Replace any belt that has a bent or damaged latch plate or anchor plate. Replace any child
restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to
repair a seat belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or faulty seat belt and child
restraint components with the correct, new and unused replacement parts listed in the DaimlerChrysler
Mopar Parts Catalog.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental
restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, 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 diag-
nosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the
proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death on vehicles equipped with airbags, before performing any
welding operations disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable and disconnect all wire har-
ness connectors from the Airbag Control Module (ACM). Failure to take the proper precautions could result
in accidental airbag deployment and other possible damage to the supplemental restraint system circuits
and components.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, do not attempt to dismantle an airbag unit or tamper with its
inflator. Do not puncture, incinerate, or bring into contact with electricity. Do not store at temperatures
exceeding 93° C (200° F). An airbag inflator unit may contain sodium azide and potassium nitrate. These
materials are poisonous and extremely flammable. Contact with acid, water, or heavy metals may produce
harmful and irritating gases (sodium hydroxide is formed in the presence of moisture) or combustible com-
pounds. An airbag inflator unit may also contain a gas canister pressurized to over 2500 psi.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, when handling a seat belt tensioner retractor, proper care
should be exercised to keep fingers out from under the retractor cover and away from the seat belt webbing
where it exits from the retractor cover.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, replace all restraint system components only with parts spec-
ified in the DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts Catalog. Substitute parts may appear interchangeable, but internal
differences may result in inferior occupant protection.

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WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, the fasteners, screws, and bolts originally used for the
restraint system components must never be replaced with any substitutes. These fasteners have special
coatings and are specifically designed for the restraint system. Any time a new fastener is needed, replace
it with the correct fasteners provided in the service package or specified in the DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts
Catalog.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, when a steering column has an airbag unit attached, never
place the column on the floor or any other surface with the steering wheel or airbag unit face down.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM

Proper diagnosis and testing of the supplemental restraint system components, the Programmable Communications
Interface (PCI) data bus, the data bus electronic message inputs to and outputs from the ElectroMechanical Instru-
ment Cluster (EMIC), the Airbag Control Module (ACM), as well as the retrieval or erasure of a Diagnostic Trouble
Code (DTC) from the ACM requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic informa-
tion.

STANDARD PROCEDURE

HANDLING NON-DEPLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS

At no time should any source of electricity be permitted near the inflator on the back of a non-deployed airbag or
seat belt tensioner. When carrying a non-deployed airbag, the trim cover or airbag cushion side of the unit should
be pointed away from the body to minimize injury in the event of an accidental deployment. If the airbag unit is
placed on a bench or any other surface, the trim cover or airbag cushion side of the unit should be face up to
minimize movement in the event of an accidental deployment.

When handling a non-deployed seat belt tensioner, take proper care to keep fingers out from under the retractor
cover and away from the seat belt webbing where it exits from the retractor cover. In addition, the supplemental
restraint system should be disarmed whenever any steering wheel, steering column, seat belt tensioner, airbag,
impact sensor, or instrument panel components require diagnosis or service. Failure to observe this warning could
result in accidental airbag deployment and possible personal injury.

All damaged, faulty or non-deployed airbags and seat belt tensioners which are replaced on vehicles are to be
handled and disposed of properly. If an airbag or seat belt tensioner unit is faulty or damaged and non-deployed,
refer to the Hazardous Substance Control System for proper disposal. Dispose of all non-deployed and deployed
airbags and seat belt tensioners in a manner consistent with state, provincial, local and federal regulations.

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT STORAGE

Airbags and seat belt tensioners must be stored in their original, special container until they are used for service.
Also, they must be stored in a clean, dry environment; away from sources of extreme heat, sparks, and high elec-
trical energy. Always place or store any airbag on a surface with its trim cover or airbag cushion side facing up, to
minimize movement in case of an accidental deployment.

SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT

Any vehicle which is to be returned to use following a supplemental restraint deployment, must have the deployed
restraints replaced. In addition, if the driver airbag has been deployed, the clockspring must be replaced. If the
passenger airbag is deployed, the passenger airbag door must be replaced. The seat belt tensioners are deployed
by the same signal that deploys the driver and passenger airbags and must also be replaced if either front airbag
has been deployed. If a side curtain airbag has been deployed, the complete airbag unit, the headliner, as well as

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the upper A, B, and C-pillar trim must be replaced. These components are not intended for reuse and will be dam-
aged or weakened as a result of a supplemental restraint deployment, which may or may not be obvious during a
visual inspection.

On vehicles with an optional sunroof, the sunroof drain tubes and hoses must be closely inspected following a side
curtain airbag deployment. It is also critical that the mounting surfaces and/or mounting brackets for the Airbag Con-
trol Module (ACM) and the side impact sensors be closely inspected and restored to their original conditions fol-
lowing any vehicle impact damage. Because the ACM and each impact sensor are used by the supplemental
restraint system to monitor or confirm the direction and severity of a vehicle impact, improper orientation or insecure
fastening of these components may cause airbags not to deploy when required, or to deploy when not required.

All other vehicle components should be closely inspected following any supplemental restraint deployment, but are
to be replaced only as required by the extent of the visible damage incurred.

AIRBAG SQUIB STATUS

Multistage airbags with multiple initiators (squibs) must be checked to determine that all squibs were used during
the deployment event. The driver and passenger airbags in this model are deployed by electrical signals generated
by the Airbag Control Module (ACM) through the driver or passenger squib 1 and squib 2 circuits to the two initi-
ators in the airbag inflators. Typically, both initiators are used and all potentially hazardous chemicals are burned
during an airbag deployment event. However, it is possible for only one initiator to be used due to an airbag system
fault; therefore, it is always necessary to confirm that both initiators have been used in order to avoid the improper
handling or disposal of potentially live pyrotechnic or hazardous materials. The following procedure should be per-
formed using a diagnostic scan tool to verify the status of both airbag squibs before either deployed airbag is
removed from the vehicle for disposal.

CAUTION: Deployed front airbags having two initiators (squibs) in the airbag inflator may or may not have
live pyrotechnic material within the inflator. Do not dispose of these airbags unless you are sure of com-
plete deployment. Refer to the Hazardous Substance Control System for proper disposal procedures. Dis-
pose of all non-deployed and deployed airbags and seat belt tensioners in a manner consistent with state,
provincial, local, and federal regulations.

1. Be certain that the diagnostic scan tool contains the latest version of the proper diagnostic software. Connect the

scan tool to the 16-way Data Link Connector (DLC). The DLC is located on the driver side lower edge of the
instrument panel, outboard of the steering column.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the On position.

3. Using the scan tool, read and record the active (current) Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) data.

Using the active DTC information, refer to the Airbag Squib Status table to determine the status of both driver
and/or passenger airbag squibs.

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AIRBAG SQUIB STATUS

IF THE ACTIVE DTC IS:

CONDITIONS

SQUIB STATUS

Driver or Passenger Squib 1
open

AND the stored DTC minutes for both Driver or
Passenger squibs are within 15 minutes of each
other

Both Squib 1 and 2 were
used.

Driver or Passenger Squib 2
open

Driver or Passenger Squib 1
open

AND the stored DTC minutes for Driver or
Passenger Squib 2 open is GREATER than the
stored DTC minutes for Driver or Passenger
Squib 1 by 15 minutes or more

Squib 1 was used; Squib 2 is
live.

Driver or Passenger Squib 2
open

Driver or Passenger Squib 1
open

AND the stored DTC minutes for Driver or
Passenger Squib 1 open is GREATER than the
stored DTC minutes for Driver or Passenger
Squib 2 by 15 minutes or more

Squib 1 is live; Squib 2 was
used.

Driver or Passenger Squib 2
open

Driver or Passenger Squib 1
open

AND Driver or Passenger Squib 2 open is NOT
an active code

Squib 1 was used; Squib 2 is
live.

Driver or Passenger Squib 2
open

AND Driver or Passenger Squib 1 open is NOT
an active code

Squib 1 is live; Squib 2 was
used.

NOTE: If none of the Driver or Passenger Squib 1 or 2 open are active codes, the status of the airbag
squibs is unknown. In this case the airbag should be handled and disposed of as if the squibs were both
live.

CLEANUP PROCEDURE

Following a supplemental restraint deployment, the
vehicle interior will contain a powdery residue. This
residue consists primarily of harmless particulate
by-products of the small pyrotechnic charge that ini-
tiates the propellant used to deploy a supplemental
restraint. However, this residue may also contain
traces of sodium hydroxide powder, a chemical
by-product of the propellant material that is used to
generate the inert gas that inflates the airbag. Since
sodium hydroxide powder can irritate the skin, eyes,
nose, or throat, be certain to wear safety glasses, rub-
ber gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt during cleanup.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, if you experience skin irritation during cleanup, run cool water
over the affected area. Also, if you experience irritation of the nose or throat, exit the vehicle for fresh air
until the irritation ceases. If irritation continues, see a physician.

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