Warning: When you are carrying an undeployed seat belt pretensioner:
• Do not carry the seat belt pretensioner by the wires or connector on the pretensioner. • Do not touch the seat belt pretensioner in the area of the cable (1). • Do not cover the tube opening with your hand. • Keep the open end of the tube pointed away from you. Do not point the open end of the tube at another person. • When the pretensioner deploys the cable retracts. This shortens the pretensioner between the buckle and the mounting bolt. Grasp the pretensioner by the piston tube (2).
During the course of a vehicle's useful life, certain situations may arise which will necessitate the disposal of a live (undeployed) pretensioner. The following information covers the proper procedures for the disposing of a live (undeployed) pretensioner. Deploy the pretensioner before disposal. Do not dispose of a live (undeployed) pretensioner through normal disposal channels until the pretensioner has been deployed. The following information covers the proper procedures for the disposing of a live (undeployed) pretensioner.
• | After replacement of a pretensioner under warranty. The pretensioner may need to be returned undeployed to the original manufacturer of pretensioner. |
• | If the vehicle is the subject of a Product Liability report related to the SIR system and is subject to a Preliminary Investigation (GM-1241). Do not alter the SIR system in any manner. |
• | If the vehicle is involved in a campaign affecting the pretensioners. Follow the instructions in the Campaign Service Bulletin for proper SIR handling procedures. |
The pretensioner 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.
Refer to Inflator Module Handling and Scrapping for deploying the pretensioner inside vehicle under Vehicle Scrapping Procedure.
Deploy the seat belt pretensioners 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 seat belt pretensioner is malfunctioning. |
• | The pretensioner pigtail (if equipped) is damaged. |
• | The pretensioner connector is damaged. |
• | The pretensioner connector terminal is damaged. |
Deployment and disposal of a malfunctioning seat belt pretensioner is subject to any required retention period.
Warning: In order to prevent accidental deployment of the pretensioner which could cause personal injury, do not dispose of an undeployed pretensioner as normal shop waste. The undeployed pretensioner contains substances that could cause severe illness or personal injury if the sealed container is damaged during disposal. Use the following deployment procedures to safely dispose of an undeployed pretensioner. Failure to dispose of a pretensioner as instructed may be a violation of federal, state, or local laws.
Warning: When you are deploying a pretensioner for disposal, perform the deployment procedures in the order listed. Failure to follow the procedures in the order listed may result in personal injury.
• | To mount, use the proper size bolt (2) and nut (5) with washers in order to secure the pretensioner (1) to the deployment fixture brackets (4). |
• | Securely tighten all fasteners prior to deployment. |
Note: The rapid gas expansion involved with deploying a pretensioner is very loud. Notify all the people in the immediate area that you intend to deploy the seat belt pretensioner.
Warning: When you are deploying a pretensioner for disposal, perform the deployment procedures in the order listed. Failure to follow the procedures in the order listed may result in personal injury.
Note: When the seat belt pretensioner deploys, the deployment fixture may jump about 30 cm (1 ft) vertically. This is a normal reaction of the seat belt pretensioner due to the force of the rapid expansion of gas inside the pretensioner.