Caution: Refer to SIR Inflator Module Handling and Storage Caution in the Preface section.
Live (Undeployed) Inflator Modules
Use special care when handling or storing live, undeployed, inflator modules.
Inflator module deployment produces a rapid generation of gas. This may cause the
inflator module, or an object in front of the inflator module, to project through
the air in the event of an unlikely deployment.
Dual Stage Inflator Modules
Dual stage inflator modules have two deployment stages. If stage 1 was
used to deploy the inflator module, stage 2 may still be active. Therefore,
a deployed dual stage inflator module must be treated as an active module. If disposal
of a deployed or undeployed dual stage module is required both deployment loops must
be energized to deploy the air bag.
Scrapping Procedures
During the course of a vehicle's useful life, certain situations may arise which
will require the disposal of a live, undeployed, inflator module. Do not dispose of
a live, undeployed, inflator module through normal disposal channels until the inflator
module has been deployed. The following information covers the proper procedures for
disposing of a live, undeployed, inflator module.
Do not deploy an inflator module in the following situations:
• | After replacement of an inflator module under warranty. The inflator module
may need to be returned undeployed to the manufacturer. |
• | If the vehicle is the subject of a product liability report (GM-1241)
related to the SIR system. When a vehicle is the subject of a product liability report,
do not alter the SIR system in any manner. |
• | If the vehicle is involved in a campaign affecting the inflator modules.
Follow the instructions in the Campaign Service Bulletin for proper SIR handling procedures. |
Deployment Procedures
Inflator modules can be deployed inside or outside of the vehicle. The method
used depends upon the final disposition of the vehicle. Review the following procedures
in order to determine which will work best in a given situation.
Deployment Outside Vehicle-IP Module, Side Impact Module, and Steering
Wheel Module
Deploy inflator modules outside of the vehicle when the vehicle will be returned
to service. Situations that require deployment outside of the vehicle include the
following:
• | Using the SIR diagnostics, you determine that the inflator module is malfunctioning. |
• | The inflator module is cosmetically damaged (scratched or ripped). |
• | The inflator module pigtail, if equipped, is damaged. |
• | The inflator module connector is damaged. |
• | The inflator module connector terminals are damaged. |
Deployment and disposal of a malfunctioning inflator module is subject to any
required retention period.
Caution: Refer to SIR Inflator Module Disposal Caution in the Preface section.
Tools Required
• | J 38826-75 Steering wheel module adapter |
• | J 38826-80 IP module adapter |
- Turn OFF the ignition.
- Remove the ignition key.
- Put on safety glasses.
- Remove the inflator module. Refer to the following:
- Place the inflator module with the vinyl
trim cover facing up and away from the surface on a work bench, floor or deployment
fixture.
- Clear an area on the floor approximately
1.85 m (6 ft) in diameter for deployment of the inflator module. If
possible, use a paved, outdoor location free of activity. Otherwise, use an area free
of activity on the shop floor. Make sure you have sufficient ventilation.
- Make sure no loose or flammable objects are in the area.
Important: Dual stage deployments are only used in steering wheel and IP inflator modules.
If stage 1 was used to deploy the inflator module, stage 2 may still
be active. If disposal of a deployed or undeployed dual stage module is required,
both deployment loops must be energized to deploy the air bag.
- When deploying a steering wheel module, place the steering wheel module in the
center of the cleared area.
- When deploying an IP module, refer to the
following instructions:
• | Place the J 39401-B
(2)
in the center of the cleared area. |
• | Fill the deployment fixture (2) with water or sand. |
• | Mount the IP module (1) in the deployment fixture (2) with
the vinyl/plastic trim facing up. |
• | To mount, use 4 M 6 bolts (6), nuts (8), and washers (7)
to properly secure the IP module (1) to the deployment fixture (2). |
• | Tighten all fasteners prior to deployment. |
- When deploying a side impact module, refer
to the following instructions:
• | Place the J 39401-B
(3)
in the center of the cleared area. |
• | Fill the deployment fixture (3) with water or sand. |
• | Mount the side impact module (1) in the deployment fixture (3)
with the vinyl/plastic trim facing up. |
• | Adjust and secure the J 39401-B
arms (4) to the deployment fixture (3). |
• | To mount, use 2 M 6 x 1.0 nuts (2) with washers to secure
the side impact module (1) to the deployment fixture arms (4). |
• | Tighten all fasteners prior to deployment. |
- Inspect the J 38826
and the appropriate pigtail adapter for damage. Replace as needed.
- Short the 2 SIR deployment harness (1) leads together using one
banana plug seated into the other.
- Connect the appropriate pigtail adapter (2) to the SIR deployment
harness (1).
- Extend the SIR deployment harness and adapter
to full length from the deployment fixture.
- Connect the inflator module (1) to
the adapter (2) on the SIR deployment harness (3).
Important:
• | The rapid expansion of gas involved with deploying an inflator module
is very loud. Notify all people in the immediate area that an inflator module will
be deployed. |
• | When the inflator module deploys, the deployment fixture may jump vertically.
This is a normal reaction of the inflator module due to the force of the rapid expansion
of gas inside the inflator module. |
- Clear the area of people.
- Separate the two banana plugs on the SIR deployment harness.
- Place a 12 V minimum/2 A minimum
power source, i.e. vehicle battery, near the shorted end of the SIR deployment harness.
- Connect the SIR deployment harness wires to the power source. Inflator
module deployment will occur when contact is made.
- Disconnect the SIR deployment harness from the power source.
Caution: Refer to SIR Deployed Inflator Modules Are Hot Caution in the Preface section.
- Seat one banana plug into the other in order
to short the deployment harness leads.
- If the inflator module did not deploy, disconnect the adapter and discontinue
the procedure. Contact the Technical Assistance Group for further assistance. Otherwise,
proceed to the following steps.
- Put on a pair of shop gloves.
- Disconnect the pigtail adapter from the inflator module as soon as possible.
- Dispose of the deployed inflator module through normal refuse channels.
- Wash hands with a mild soap.
Deployment Inside Vehicle-Vehicle Scrapping Procedures
Deploy inflator modules inside of the vehicle when destroying the vehicle or
when salvaging the vehicle for parts. This includes but is not limited to the following
situations:
• | The vehicle has completed its useful life. |
• | Irreparable damage occurs to the vehicle in a non-deployment type accident. |
• | Irreparable damage occurs to the vehicle during a theft. |
• | The vehicle is being salvaged for parts to be used on a vehicle with a
different VIN as opposed to rebuilding as the same VIN. |
Caution: Refer to SIR Inflatable Module Deployment Outside Vehicle Caution in the Preface section.
- Turn OFF the ignition.
- Remove the ignition key.
- Put on safety glasses.
- Remove all loose objects from the front seats.
- Disconnect the inflatable restraint steering wheel module connector (2)
located next to the steering column.
Important: This vehicle is equipped with dual stage air bags. The steering wheel module
and I/P module will each have 4 wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
for determining high and low circuits.
- Cut the steering wheel module harness connector out of the vehicle, leaving
at least 16 cm (6 in) of wire at the connector.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from each of the connector
wire leads.
- Cut two 6.1 m (20 ft) deployment
wires from a 0.8 mm (18 gage) or thicker multi-strand wire. Use these
wires to fabricate the deployment harness.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from both ends of the
wires cut in the previous step.
- Twist together one end from each of the wires in order to short the wires.
Deployment wires shall remain shorted, and not connected to a power source until you
are ready to deploy the inflator module.
- Twist together two connector wire leads,
the high circuits from both stages of the steering wheel module, to one set of deployment
wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in
order to determine the correct circuits.
- Inspect that the connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the connection using
electrical tape.
- Twist together two connector wire leads,
the low circuits from both stages of the steering wheel module, to one set of deployment
wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in
order to determine the correct circuits.
- Inspect that the connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the connection using
electrical tape.
- Connect the deployment harness to the steering wheel module connector.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
vehicle's driver side.
- Disconnect the LF side impact module connector (1)
from the vehicle wiring harness (2) located under the LF seat.
- Cut the LF side impact module harness connector
out of the vehicle, leaving at least 16 cm (6 in) of wire at the connector.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from each of the LF side
impact module connector wire leads.
- Cut 2 6.1 m (20 ft) deployment
wires from a 0.8 mm (18 gage) or thicker multi-strand wire. Use these
wires to fabricate the deployment harness.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from both ends of the
wires cut in the previous step.
- Twist together one end from each of the wires in order to short the wires.
Deployment wires shall remain shorted, and not connected to a power source until you
are ready to deploy the side impact module.
- Twist together one connector wire lead to
one deployment wire.
- Inspect that the previous connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the connection using electrical tape.
- Twist together, bend, and tape the remaining
connector wire lead to the remaining deployment wire.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
vehicle's driver side.
- Disconnect the inflatable restraint IP module
connector (1) located behind the IP module (3).
Important: This vehicle is equipped with dual stage air bags. The steering wheel module
and IP module will each have 4 wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
for determining high and low circuits.
- Cut the IP module harness connector out of the vehicle, leaving at least 16 cm
(6 in) of wire at the connector.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from each of the connector
wire leads.
- Cut two 6.1 m (20 ft) deployment
wires from a 0.8 mm (18 gage) or thicker multi-strand wire. These wires
will be used to fabricate the deployment harness.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from both ends of the
wires cut in the previous step.
- Twist together one end from each of the wires in order to short the wires.
- Twist together two connector wire leads,
the high circuits from both stages of the IP module, to one set of deployment wires.
Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in order to
determine the correct circuits.
- Inspect that the connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the connection using
electrical tape.
- Twist together two connector wire leads,
the low circuits from both stages of the IP module, to one set of deployment wires.
Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in order to
determine the correct circuits.
- Inspect that the connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the connection using
electrical tape.
- Connect the deployment harness to the IP module connector.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
vehicle's passenger side.
- Disconnect the RF side impact module connector (1)
from the vehicle wiring harness (2) located under the RF seat.
- Cut the RF side impact module harness connector
out of the vehicle, leaving at least 16 cm (6 in) of wire at the connector.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from each of the RF side
impact module connector wire leads.
- Cut two 6.1 m (20 ft) deployment
wires from a 0.8 mm (18 gage) or thicker multi-strand wire. Use these
wires to fabricate the deployment harness.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from both ends of the
wires cut in the previous step.
- Twist together one end from each of the wires in order to short the wires.
Deployment wires shall remain shorted, and not connected to a power source until you
are ready to deploy the side air bag module.
- Twist together one connector wire lead to
one deployment wire.
- Inspect that the previous connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the connection using electrical tape.
- Twist together, bend, and tape the remaining
connector wire lead to the remaining deployment wire.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
vehicle's passenger side.
- Stretch the two driver side harnesses to full length.
- Stretch the two passenger side harnesses to full length.
- Completely cover the windshield and front door window openings with a
drop cloth.
- Place a power source, 12 V minimum/2 A
minimum, i.e., a vehicle battery, near the shorted ends of the passenger side deployment
harnesses.
- Separate the two ends of the IP module deployment harness wires.
- Connect the IP module deployment harness wires to the power source in
order to deploy the IP module.
- Disconnect the IP module deployment harness wires from the power source.
- Separate the two ends of the RF side impact module deployment harness
wires.
- Connect the RF side impact module deployment harness wires to the power
source in order to deploy the RF side impact module.
- Disconnect the RF side impact module deployment harness wires from the
power source.
- Twist together one end of each wire of the
IP module on the passenger side deployment harness in order to short the wires.
- Twist together one end of each wire of the RF side impact module on the
passenger side deployment harness in order to short the wires.
- Move the power source, 12 V minimum/2 A
minimum, i.e., a vehicle battery, near the shorted ends of the driver side deployment
harnesses.
- Separate the two ends of the steering wheel module deployment harness
wires.
- Connect the steering wheel module deployment harness wires to the power
source in order to deploy the steering wheel module.
- Disconnect the steering wheel module deployment harness wires from the
power source.
- Separate the two ends of the LF side impact module deployment harness
wires.
- Connect the LF side impact module deployment harness wires to the power
source in order to deploy the side impact module.
- Disconnect the LF side impact module deployment harness wires from the
power source.
- Twist together one end of each wire of the
steering wheel module on the driver side deployment harness in order to short the
wires.
- Twist together one end of each wire of the LF side impact module on the
driver side deployment harness in order to short the wires.
- Remove the drop cloth from the vehicle.
- Disconnect all harnesses from the vehicle.
- Discard the harnesses.
- Scrap the vehicle in the same manner as a non-SIR equipped vehicle.
- If one or more of the inflator modules did not deploy, perform the following
steps to remove the undeployed module(s) from the vehicle:
- Contact the Technical Assistance Group for further assistance.