Caution: Refer to SIR Inflator Module Handling and Storage Caution in the Preface section.
Live and Undeployed Inflator Module
Take special care when handling or storing a live and undeployed inflator module.
An 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.
Scrapping Procedure
During the course of a vehicle's useful life, certain situations may arise which
will require the disposal of a live and undeployed inflator module. Do not dispose
of a live and undeployed inflator module through normal disposal channels until the
inflator module has been deployed. The following information covers the proper procedures
for the disposing of a live and undeployed inflator module.
Do not deploy the 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
The inflator module 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 - Steering Wheel Module and I/P Module
Tools Required
• | An appropriate pigtail adaptor |
Deploy the inflator module 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, it is determined 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.
- Turn OFF the ignition.
- Remove the ignition key.
- Put on safety glasses.
- Remove the inflator module. Refer to the following:
Caution: Refer to SIR Inflator Module Handling and Storage Caution in the Preface section.
- 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 a space 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 a space
free of activity on the shop floor. Make sure you have sufficient ventilation.
- Make sure no loose or flammable objects are in the area.
- When deploying the steering wheel module, place the steering wheel module
in the center of the space.
- When deploying the I/P module, refer to
the following instructions:
9.1. | Place the J 39401-B
(2)
in the center of the cleared area. |
9.2. | Fill the deployment fixture with water or sand. |
9.3. | Mount the I/P module (1) in the deployment fixture (2) with
the vinyl/plastic trim cover facing up. |
9.4. | To mount, use 4 M 6 bolts (6), nuts (8), and washers (7)
in order to properly secure the I/P module (1) to the J 39401-B
. |
9.5. | Tighten all fasteners prior to deployment. |
- Inspect the J 38826
and the appropriate pigtail adapter for damage. Replace as needed.
- Short the SIR deployment harness (1) leads together using 1 banana
plug seated into the other.
- Connect the appropriate pigtail adapter (2) to the J 38826
(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 J 38826
(3).
Important: When deploying an inflator module the rapid expansion of gas involved with deploying
an inflator module is very loud. Notify all the people in the immediate area that
an inflator module will be deployed. When the inflator module deploys, the deployment
fixture may jump about 30 cm (1 ft) vertically. This is a normal reaction
of a deploying inflator module.
- Clear the area of people.
- Place a 12 volt minimum A minimum power source, i.e. vehicle battery,
near the shorted end of the J 38826
.
- Separate the banana plugs on the J 38826
.
Important: The inflator module will deploy when the SIR deployment harness wires contact
the power source.
- 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.
- 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. Otherwise, proceed to the
following steps.
Caution: Refer to SIR Deployed Inflator Modules Are Hot Caution in the Preface section.
- 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 Procedure
Caution: Refer to SIR Inflatable Module Deployment Outside Vehicle Caution in the Preface section.
Deploy the 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. |
- Disable the SIR system. Refer to
SIR Disabling and Enabling
.
- Put on safety glasses.
- Remove all loose objects from the front seats.
- Disconnect the inflatable restraint steering wheel module coil connector
(1).
- Cut the steering wheel module coil 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 4.6 m (15 ft) deployment
wires from a 0.8 mm (18 gage) or thicker multi-strand wire. These wires
will be used for the steering wheel module 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 one connector wire lead to
1 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.
- Connect the deployment harness to the steering wheel module coil connector (1).
- Route the deployment harness out of the
driver side of the vehicle.
- Disconnect the inflatable restraint I/P
module connector.
- Cut the I/P 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 4.6 m (15 ft) deployment
wires from a 0.8 mm (18 gage) or thicker multi-strand wire. These wires
will be used for the I/P module 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
the inflator module is ready to be deployed.
- Twist together one connector wire lead to
1 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.
- Connect the deployment harness to the I/P
module connector.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
passenger side of the vehicle.
- Completely cover the windshield and the front door openings with a drop
cloth.
- Deploy each deployment loop one at a time.
- Stretch out all of the deployment harness wires on the left and right
side of the vehicle to their full length.
- Place a power source, 12 V minimum A minimum, i.e., a vehicle
battery, near the shorted end of the harnesses.
Important: The inflator module will deploy when the wire ends contact the power source.
- Separate one set of wires and touch the wire ends to the power source in order
to deploy the inflator modules.
- Disconnect the deployment harness from the power source and twist the
wire ends together.
- Continue the same process with the remaining deployment harnesses that
are available.
- 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 modules from the vehicle:
- Call the Technical Assistance Group for further assistance.