Content .. 241 242 243 244 ..

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter / Dodge Sprinter. Manual - part 243

(3) Pull the driver airbag away from the steering

wheel far enough to access the electrical connection
at the back of the airbag housing.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the clockspring pigtail
wires to disengage the connector from the driver
airbag

inflator

connector

receptacle.

Improper

removal of these pigtail wires and their connector
insulator can result in damage to the airbag circuits
or the connector insulator.

(4) The clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire con-

nector is a tight snap-fit into the airbag inflator con-
nector receptacle, which is located on the back of the
driver airbag housing. Firmly grasp and pull or gen-
tly pry on the connector insulator and pull the con-
nector straight out from the airbag inflator to
disconnect it from the connector receptacle.

(5) Remove the driver airbag from the steering

wheel.

(6) If the driver airbag has been deployed, the

clockspring and the steering wheel must also be
replaced. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/
CLOCKSPRING - REMOVAL) and (Refer to 19 -
STEERING/COLUMN/STEERING

WHEEL

REMOVAL).

INSTALLATION

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 rec-
ommended procedures for handling non-deployed
supplemental restraints. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - HAN-
DLING

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 PRO-
CEDURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).

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, use
extreme care to prevent any foreign material from
entering 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.
Replacement 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.

Fig. 21 Driver Airbag Remove/Install

1 - AIRBAG CONNECTOR
2 - DRIVER AIRBAG

3 - SCREW (2)
4 - STEERING WHEEL

RESTRAINTS

8O - 19

(1) Position the driver airbag close enough to the

steering wheel to reconnect the clockspring driver
airbag pigtail wire connector at the back of the air-
bag housing.

(2) When installing the driver airbag, reconnect

the clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire connector
to the airbag inflator connector receptacle by press-
ing straight in on the connector (Fig. 21). You can be
certain that the connector is fully engaged by listen-
ing carefully for a distinct, audible click as the con-
nector snaps into place.

(3) Carefully position the driver airbag in the

steering wheel. Be certain that the clockspring pig-
tail wire and horn switch wires in the steering wheel
hub area are not pinched between the driver airbag
and the horn switch armature.

(4) From the underside of the steering wheel,

install and tighten the two screws that secure the
driver airbag to the horn switch armature within the
hub cavity of the steering wheel. Tighten the screws
to 6 N·m (53 in. lbs.).

(5) 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).

FRONT SEAT BELT & RETRAC-
TOR

REMOVAL

The following procedure is for replacement of a

faulty or damaged front seat belt and retractor unit,
which includes a seat belt tensioner for the driver
side as standard equipment. Vehicles equipped with
an optional passenger airbag also have a seat belt
tensioner for the passenger side. (Refer to 8 - ELEC-
TRICAL/RESTRAINTS/SEAT BELT TENSIONER -
DESCRIPTION). If the seat belt or retractor is faulty
or damaged, but the seat belt tensioner is not
deployed, review the recommended procedures for
handling

non-deployed

supplemental

restraints.

(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STAN-
DARD

PROCEDURE

HANDLING

NON-DE-

PLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS). If the
seat belt tensioner has been deployed, review the rec-
ommended procedures for service after a supplemen-
tal restraint deployment before removing the front
seat belt and retractor from the vehicle. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).

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

mental

restraint

system

before

attempting

any

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during
and

following

any

seat

belt

service,

carefully

inspect all seat belts, buckles, mounting hardware,
retractors, and anchors for proper installation, oper-
ation, 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. Never attempt to repair a seat
belt component. Always replace damaged or faulty
seat belt components with the correct, new and
unused

replacement

parts

listed

the

DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts Catalog.

(1) Move the 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
discharge before further service.

(3) If the vehicle is so equipped, unsnap and

remove the plastic cover from the screw that secures
the front seat belt lower anchor to the outboard side
of the seat frame (Fig. 22).

(4) Remove the screw that secures the front seat

belt lower anchor to the outboard side of the seat
frame.

Fig. 22 Front Seat Belt Lower Anchor

1 - FRONT SEAT BELT
2 - COVER AND/OR SCREW

8O - 20

RESTRAINTS

(5) Remove the front seat belt lower anchor from

the outboard side of the seat frame.

(6) Remove the trim panel from the inside of the

B-pillar. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR
TRIM - REMOVAL).

(7) Pull the height adjuster trim away from the

upper B-pillar to disengage the driver from the lug of
the height adjuster (Fig. 23).

(8) Pull the front seat belt and lower anchor

through the back of the height adjuster trim.

(9) Remove the nut that secures the front seat belt

turning loop to the height adjuster (Fig. 24).

(10) Remove the front seat belt turning loop from

the height adjuster.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the wires to disengage
the connector from the seat belt tensioner initiator
connector receptacle. Improper removal of the con-
nector insulator can result in damage to the seat
belt tensioner circuits or the connector insulator.

(11) If so equipped, disconnect the vehicle wire

harness connector for the seat belt tensioner from the
initiator receptacle of the retractor located on the
lower inner B-pillar (Fig. 25). The connector is a
tight snap-fit into the initiator receptacle. Firmly
grasp and pull or gently pry on the connector insula-
tor and pull the connector straight out from the ini-
tiator to disconnect it from the receptacle.

Fig. 23 Turning Loop Height Adjuster

1 - HEIGHT ADJUSTER TRIM
2 - LUG
3 - HEIGHT ADJUSTER
4 - DRIVER

Fig. 24 Front Seat Belt Turning Loop

1 - HEIGHT ADJUSTER
2 - NUT
3 - FRONT SEAT BELT

RESTRAINTS

8O - 21

(12) Remove the screw that secures the front seat

belt retractor to the lower inner B-pillar.

(13) Remove the front seat belt and retractor unit

from the B-pillar.

INSTALLATION

The following procedure is for replacement of a

non-deployed

supplemental

restraints.

(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STAN-
DARD

PROCEDURE

HANDLING

NON-DE-

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

restraint

system

before

attempting

any

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during
and

following

any

seat

belt

service,

carefully

replacement

parts

listed

the

DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts Catalog.

(1) Position the front seat belt and retractor to the

lower inner (Fig. 25). Be certain to engage the guide
on the retractor into the locating notch on the B-pil-
lar.

(2) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

front seat belt retractor to the lower inner B-pillar.
Tighten the screw to 35 N·m (26 ft. lbs.).

(3) If so equipped, reconnect the vehicle wire har-

ness connector for the seat belt tensioner to the ini-
tiator receptacle of the retractor located on the lower
inner B-pillar. The connector is a tight snap-fit into
the initiator receptacle. Reconnect the connector by
pressing the connector insulator straight into the ini-
tiator receptacle. You can be certain that the connec-
tor is fully engaged by listening carefully for a
distinct, audible click as the connector snaps into
place.

(4) Position the front seat belt turning loop onto

the height adjuster on the upper B-pillar (Fig. 24).

(5) Install and tighten the nut that secures the

front seat belt turning loop to the height adjuster.
Tighten the nut to 35 N·m (26 ft. lbs.).

(6) Route the front seat belt and lower anchor

through the back of the height adjuster trim (Fig.
23).

(7) Position the height adjuster trim to the upper

B-pillar so that the driver on the back of the trim
engages the lug of the height adjuster.

(8) Reinstall the trim panel onto the inside of the

B-pillar. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR
TRIM - INSTALLATION).

(9) Position the front seat belt lower anchor to the

outboard side of the seat frame (Fig. 22).

Fig. 25 Front Seat Belt Retractor

1 - RETRACTOR
2 - CONNECTOR
3 - SCREW
4 - GUIDE

8O - 22

RESTRAINTS

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