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Dodge Sprinter. Manual - part 72

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on
vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supple-
mental

restraint

system

before

attempting

any

steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt
tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel com-
ponent 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 supplemental
restraint system. Failure to take the proper precau-
tions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, never
strike or drop the airbag control module as it can
damage the impact sensor or affect its calibration.
The airbag control module contains the impact sen-
sor, which enables the system to deploy the supple-
mental restraints. If an airbag control module is
accidentally dropped during service, the module
must be scrapped and replaced with a new unit.
Failure to observe this warning could result in acci-
dental,

incomplete,

improper

supplemental

restraint deployment.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to
discharge before further service.

(2) Move the driver side front seat to its most for-

ward position for easiest access to the seat riser
cover panel (Fig. 8).

(3) Remove the two screws that secure the cover

panel to the top of the seat riser under the driver
side front seat (Fig. 9).

(4) Remove the cover panel from the top of the

driver side seat riser.

(5) Remove the two screws that secure the control

module bracket to the top of the seat riser under the
driver side front seat (Fig. 10).

Fig. 8 Airbag Control Module Location

1 - DRIVER SEAT
2 - AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE
3 - SEAT RISER

Fig. 9 Seat Riser Cover

1 - DRIVER SEAT BACK
2 - COVER PANEL
3 - SCREW (2)
4 - SEAT RISER

8O - 10

RESTRAINTS

(6) Remove the control module bracket from the

top of the driver side seat riser.

(7) Locate the Airbag Control Module (ACM) in the

right rear corner of the area within the driver side
seat riser. Firmly grasp and pull upward on the
molded plastic cover to unsnap it from over the ACM
(Fig. 11).

(8) Remove the three screws that secure the ACM

to the bracket that is welded onto the floor panel
under the driver side front seat (Fig. 12).

(9) Lift the ACM upward far enough to access the

ACM wiring connection. Depress the release and lift
the lever arm to disconnect the vehicle wire harness
connector for the ACM from the ACM connector
receptacle located on the left facing side of the mod-
ule.

(10) Remove the ACM from within the driver side

front seat riser.

INSTALLATION

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on
vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supple-
mental

restraint

system

before

attempting

any

incomplete,

improper

supplemental

restraint deployment.

Fig. 10 Control Module Bracket

1 - SEAT RISER
2 - SCREW (2)
3 - CONTROL MODULE BRACKET

Fig. 11 ACM Cover

1 - SEAT RISER
2 - COVER
3 - ACM

Fig. 12 Airbag Control Module Remove/Install

1 - ACM LABEL
2 - ACM
3 - SCREW (3)
4 - GROUND EYELET
5 - CONNECTOR

RESTRAINTS

8O - 11

(1) Reconnect and latch the vehicle wire harness

connector for the ACM to the ACM connector recep-
tacle located on the left facing side of the module
(Fig. 12).

(2) Carefully position the ACM cover base plate

onto the mounting bracket that is welded onto the
floor panel under the driver side front seat (Fig.
13).

(3) Carefully position the ACM onto the ACM cover

base plate. When the ACM is correctly positioned, the
three ACM mounting tabs will be aligned with the
holes in the cover base plate and the mounting
bracket, and the orientation arrow on the ACM label
will be pointed forward in the vehicle.

(4) Install and tighten the three screws that secure

the ACM to the mounting bracket that is welded onto
the floor panel within the driver side front seat riser.
Be certain that the ground eyelet terminal is
installed under the screw for the left rear mounting
tab. Tighten the screws to 12 N·m (105 in. lbs.).

(5) Position the ACM cover over the ACM and

press it down firmly and evenly until it snaps into
position over the ACM cover base plate (Fig. 11).

(6) Position the control module bracket onto the

top of the driver side seat riser (Fig. 10).

(7) Install and tighten the two screws that secure

the control module bracket to the top of the seat riser
under the driver side front seat. Tighten the screws
to 2 N·m (18 in. lbs.).

(8) Position the cover panel onto the top of the

driver side seat riser (Fig. 9).

(9) Install and tighten the two screws that secure

the cover panel to the top of the seat riser under the
driver side front seat. Tighten the screws to 2 N·m
(18 in. lbs.).

(10) Move the driver side front seat back to its

driving position.

(11) Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at

this time. The supplemental restraint system verifi-
cation test procedure should be performed following
service of any supplemental restraint system compo-
nent. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION TEST).

NOTE: If the Airbag Control Module (ACM) has been
replaced with a new unit, it will be necessary to ini-
tialize the new ACM. In order to function properly,
the ACM must be programmed for the correct stan-
dard and optional supplemental restraint system
components installed in the vehicle. To initialize the
ACM, a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to
the appropriate diagnostic information.

CLOCKSPRING

DESCRIPTION

The clockspring assembly is secured with two

screws onto the multi-function switch housing near
the top of the steering column directly below the
steering wheel (Fig. 14). The clockspring consists of a
flat, round molded plastic case that contains a spool-
like molded plastic rotor with a large exposed hub
covering the entire upper surface of the case. The
rotor hub has a large center hole that is internally
ribbed to engage splines on the upper steering col-
umn shaft, and two small clearance holes that pro-
vide access to the case mounting screws. The lower

Fig. 13 ACM Cover Base Plate

1 - BASE PLATE
2 - SEAT RISER
3 - GROUND EYELET TERMINAL
4 - ACM CONNECTOR
5 - FLOOR PANEL

Fig. 14 Clockspring

1 - PIGTAIL WIRE CONNECTOR (2)
2 - CASE
3 - CANCEL CAM
4 - ROTOR
5 - SCREW (2)
6 - HORN SWITCH CONNECTOR (2)
7 - AIRBAG CONNECTOR

8O - 12

RESTRAINTS

side of the rotor hub also serves as an integral
molded plastic turn signal cancel cam.

A single connector receptacle on the upper surface

of the rotor has pigtail wires that connect to the horn
switch and the driver airbag on the steering wheel,
while a single connector receptacle on the lower sur-
face of the case has pigtail wires that connect the
clockspring to the vehicle wire harness on the steer-
ing column. Within the plastic case and wound
around the rotor spool is a long ribbon-like tape that
consists of several thin copper wire leads sandwiched
between two thin plastic membranes. The outer end
of the tape terminates at the connector receptacle
that faces the steering column, while the inner end of
the tape terminates at the connector receptacle on
the hub of the clockspring rotor that faces the steer-
ing wheel.

Service replacement clocksprings are shipped pre-

STAN-

DARD

PROCEDURE

CLOCKSPRING

CENTERING).

The clockspring cannot be repaired. If the clock-

spring is faulty, damaged, or if the driver airbag has
been deployed, the clockspring must be replaced.

OPERATION

The clockspring is a mechanical electrical circuit

component that is used to provide continuous electri-
cal continuity between the fixed vehicle wire harness
and the electrical components mounted on or in the
rotating steering wheel. On this model the rotating
electrical components include the driver airbag and
the horn switch. The clockspring case is positioned
and secured to the multi-function switch housing
near the top of the steering column. The connector
receptacle on the underside of the fixed clockspring
case connects the clockspring to the vehicle electrical
system through two take outs with connectors from
the vehicle wire harness.

The clockspring rotor is movable and is keyed by

integral molded ribs on the inner circumference of
the rotor hub to the splines on the external circum-
ference of the upper steering column shaft. The two
integral lobes of the turn signal cancel cam formation
on the lower surface of the clockspring rotor hub con-
tact the turn signal cancel actuator of the multi-func-
tion

switch

provide

automatic

turn

signal

cancellation. The yellow sleeved pigtail wire on the
upper surface of the clockspring rotor connects the
clockspring to the driver airbag, while two single pig-
tail wires connect to the feed and ground terminals of

the horn switch located within the hub cavity of the
steering wheel.

Like the clockspring in a timepiece, the clockspring

tape has travel limits and can be damaged by being
wound too tightly during full stop-to-stop steering
wheel rotation. To prevent this from occurring, the
clockspring is centered when it is installed on the
steering column. Centering the clockspring indexes
the clockspring tape to the movable steering compo-
nents so that the tape can operate within its
designed travel limits. However, if the clockspring is
removed from the steering column or if the steering
shaft is disconnected from the steering gear, the
clockspring spool can change position relative to the
movable steering components. The clockspring must
be re-centered following completion of this service or
the tape may be damaged.

Service replacement clocksprings are shipped pre-

centered and with the mounting screws backed out
from the case far enough to engage the access holes
in the upper surface of the rotor. The mounting
screws secure the centered clockspring rotor to the
clockspring case during shipment, but allow free
rotation of the rotor once the clockspring is properly
installed on the steering column. The clockspring
mounting screws should not be tightened into the
clockspring case until the clockspring has been
installed on the steering column. If the screws are
tightened into or removed from the case before the
clockspring is installed on a steering column, the
clockspring centering procedure must be performed.
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/CLOCK-
SPRING - STANDARD PROCEDURE - CLOCK-
SPRING CENTERING).

STANDARD PROCEDURE - CLOCKSPRING
CENTERING

The clockspring is designed to wind and unwind

when the steering wheel is rotated, but is only
designed to rotate the same number of turns (about
six to seven complete rotations) as the steering wheel
can be turned from stop to stop. Centering the clock-
spring indexes the clockspring tape to other steering
components so that it can operate within its designed
travel limits. The rotor of a centered clockspring can
be rotated three to three and one-half turns in either
direction from the centered position, without damag-
ing the clockspring tape.

However, if the clockspring is removed for service

or if the steering column is disconnected from the
steering gear, the clockspring tape can change posi-
tion relative to the other steering components. The
clockspring must then be re-centered following com-
pletion of such service or the clockspring tape may be
damaged.

Service

replacement

clocksprings

are

shipped pre-centered and with the mounting screws
backed out from the case far enough to engage the

RESTRAINTS

8O - 13

Content .. 70 71 72 73 ..