Dodge Ram Truck 1500-2500-3500. Manual - part 561

11. Before reinstalling the airbag onto the steering

wheel, check that the blocking tab (1) in each of
the trim cover windows is oriented over the airbag
housing hook (4) as shown.

12. Reinstall the driver airbag onto the steering wheel

(Refer

ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/

DRIVER AIRBAG - INSTALLATION).

INSTALLATION

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, use extreme care to prevent any foreign material from enter-
ing the driver airbag, or becoming entrapped between the driver airbag cushion and the driver airbag trim
cover. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, the driver airbag trim cover must never be painted. Replace-
ment airbags are serviced with trim covers in the original colors. Paint may change the way in which the
material of the trim cover responds to an airbag deployment. Failure to observe this warning could result in
occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.

NOTE: The following procedure is for replacement of a faulty or damaged driver airbag. If the airbag is
faulty or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for handling non-deployed sup-
plemental restraints. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - HANDLING NON-
DEPLOYED

SUPPLEMENTAL

RESTRAINTS).

the

driver

airbag

has

been

deployed,

review

the

recommended procedures for service after a supplemental restraint deployment before removing the airbag
from the vehicle. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - SERVICE AFTER A
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).

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1. Position the driver airbag (1) close enough to the

steering wheel to reconnect the three electrical
connections on the back of the airbag housing.

2. When installing the driver airbag, reconnect the two

clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire connectors (3)
to the airbag inflator connector receptacles by
pressing straight in on the connector. Be certain to
engage each keyed and color-coded connector to
the matching connector receptacle. You can be cer-
tain that each connector is fully engaged in its
receptacle by listening carefully for a distinct, audi-
ble click as the connector latches snap into place.

3. Reconnect the steering wheel wire harness con-

nector (2) for the horn switch to the horn switch
feed pigtail wire connector (4), which is located on
the back of the driver airbag housing.

4. Carefully position the driver airbag (1) in the steer-

ing wheel (2). Be certain that the clockspring pigtail
wires and the steering wheel wire harness in the
steering wheel hub area are not pinched between
the driver airbag and the steering wheel armature.

5. From the underside of the steering wheel, install

and tighten the two screws (3) that secure the
driver airbag to the steering wheel armature.
Tighten the screws to 10 N·m (90 in. lbs.).

6. Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this

time. The supplemental restraint system verification
test procedure should be performed following ser-
vice of any supplemental restraint system compo-
nent. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS -
STANDARD

PROCEDURE

VERIFICATION

TEST).

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RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

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SENSOR-SIDE IMPACT

DESCRIPTION

Two side impact sensors (1) are used on this model
when it is equipped with the optional side curtain air-
bags, one each for the left and right sides of the vehi-
cle. These sensors are mounted remotely from the
bi-directional safing sensor that is internal to the Air-
bag Control Module (ACM). Each side impact sensor
is secured with a nut within the right or left B-pillar just
above the front seat belt retractors and behind the
lower B-pillar trim within the passenger compartment.
The sensor housing has an integral connector recep-
tacle (2), an integral mounting stud (3), and an integral
anti-rotation pin.

The right and left side impact sensors are identical in construction and calibration. A cavity in the center of the
molded black plastic impact sensor housing contains the electronic circuitry of the sensor which includes an elec-
tronic communication chip and an electronic impact sensor. Potting material fills the cavity to seal and protect the
internal electronic circuitry and components. The side impact sensors are each connected to the vehicle electrical
system through a dedicated take out and connector of the body wire harness.

The side impact sensors cannot be repaired or adjusted and, if damaged or faulty, they must be replaced.

OPERATION

The side impact sensors are electronic accelerometers that sense the rate of vehicle deceleration, which provides
verification of the direction and severity of an impact. Each sensor also contains an electronic communication chip
that allows the unit to communicate the sensor status as well as sensor fault information to the microprocessor in
the Airbag Control Module (ACM).

The ACM microprocessor continuously monitors all of the side passive restraint system electrical circuits to deter-
mine the system readiness. If the ACM detects a monitored system fault, it sets a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)
and controls the airbag indicator operation accordingly. The impact sensors each receive battery current and ground
through dedicated left and right sensor plus and minus circuits from the ACM. The impact sensors and the ACM
communicate by modulating the voltage in the sensor plus circuit.

The hard wired circuits between the side impact sensors and the ACM may be diagnosed and tested using con-
ventional diagnostic tools and procedures. However, conventional diagnostic methods will not prove conclusive in
the diagnosis of the ACM, the impact sensors, or the electronic message inputs to or outputs from the impact sen-
sors. The most reliable, efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the impact sensors, the ACM, and the electronic
message communication between the sensors and the ACM requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.

REMOVAL

STANDARD CAB

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RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

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WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, never strike or drop the side impact sensor, as it can damage
the impact sensor or affect its calibration. The side impact sensor enables the system to deploy the side
curtain airbags. If an impact sensor is accidentally dropped during service, the sensor must be scrapped
and replaced with a new unit. Failure to observe this warning could result in accidental, incomplete, or
improper supplemental restraint deployment.

1. Adjust the driver or passenger side front seat to its

most forward position for easiest access to the
B-pillar trim.

2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.

Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to dis-
charge before further service.

3. Remove the front outboard seat belt and retractor

from the inside of the B-pillar. (Refer to 8 - ELEC-
TRICAL/RESTRAINTS/FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT
BELT & RETRACTOR - REMOVAL - STANDARD
CAB).

4. Remove the nut (4) that secures the stud of the

side impact sensor (1) to the inner B-pillar.

5. Reach through the retractor mounting hole (3) in

the inner B-pillar to access the side impact sensor
and disengage the anti-rotation pin and mounting
stud from the holes in the inner B-pillar.

6. Pull the side impact sensor out of the B-pillar far

enough to access and disconnect the body wire
harness connector (2) from the sensor connector
receptacle.

7. Remove the sensor from the B-pillar.

QUAD CAB

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RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

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