Tools Required
• | J 38826-25 Side Impact Module Adapter |
• | J 38826-75 Steering Wheel Module Adapter (Dual Stage Air
Bags) |
• | J 38826-80 I/P Module Adapter (Dual Stage Air Bags) |
Live and Undeployed Inflator Module
Caution: Refer to SIR Inflator Module Handling and Storage Caution in the Preface section.
Take special care when handling or storing a live (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.
Dual Stage Inflator Module
Dual stage inflator modules have 2 deployment stages. If stage 1
was used to deploy a dual stage inflator module, stage 2 may still be active.
Therefore, a deployed inflator module must still be treated as an active inflator
module. If disposal of a deployed or undeployed dual stage module is required, both
deployment loops must be energized to deploy the inflator module.
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
a live and undeployed inflator module through normal disposal channels until the inflator
module has been deployed. If scrapping a deployed dual stage inflator module, both
stages must be energized. The following information covers the proper procedures for
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 or seat belt system--When a vehicle is the subject of a product
liability report, do not alter the SIR or seat belt 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, I/P Module, and Side
Impact Module
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, 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.
- 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.
- Clear a space on the ground about 1.85 m
(6 ft) in diameter for deployment of the inflator module or deployment fixture.
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.
Important: Dual stage air bag deployments are only used in steering wheel and instrument
panel (I/P) inflator modules, if the vehicle is equipped. If stage 1 was used
to deploy a dual stage 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.
- If you have a steering wheel inflator module, place the inflator module in the
center of the space.
- If you have an I/P inflator module, refer
to the following instructions:
• | Place the
J 39401-B
(2)
in the center of the cleared area. |
• | Fill the deployment fixture with water or sand. |
• | Using the proper nuts and bolts, mount the I/P module (1) to the
deployment fixture (2), with the vinyl trim facing up. |
• | Tighten all fasteners that hold the I/P module (1) to the deployment
fixture (2). |
- If you have 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 with water or sand. |
• | Using the proper nuts and mount the side impact module (1) to the
deployment fixture (3), with the vinyl trim facing up. |
• | Adjust and secure the fixture arms (4) to the deployment fixture (3). |
• | Tighten all fasteners that hold the side impact module (1) to the
deployment fixture (3). |
- Inspect the
J 38826
and the appropriate pigtail adapter for damage. Replace as needed.
- Short the 2 SIR deployment harness leads (1) together using one
banana plug seated into the other.
Important: Refer to Tools Required list for the correct adapter.
- 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.
Important: On the steering wheel dual stage inflator module both connectors must be attached
to the deployment harness adapter. This will ensure that both stage 1 and stage 2
of the deployment loops are energized, regardless of the deployment state.
- Connect the inflator module to the adapter (2) on the SIR deployment
harness (1).
- Place a 12 volt minimum/2 amp minimum power source, i.e.,
vehicle battery, near the shorted end of the harness.
Important:
• | The rapid expansion of gas involved with deploying an inflator module
is very loud. Notify all the people in the immediate area that you intend to deploy
the inflator module. |
• | When the inflator module deploys, the deployment fixture may jump about
30 cm (1 ft) vertically. This is a normal reaction of the inflator module
due to the force of the rapid expansion of gas inside the inflator module. |
• | If you are deploying a dual stage inflator module with stage 1
already deployed, the fixture may not move and the noise may have been reduced. |
- Clear the area of people.
- Separate the 2 banana plugs on 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 after the inflator module deploys.
- 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.
- Seat one banana plug into the other in order to short the deployment
harness leads.
- Put on a pair of shop gloves.
- Disconnect the pigtail adapter from the inflator module as soon as possible.
- Inspect the pigtail adapter and the SIR deployment harness. Replace as
needed.
- Dispose of the deployed inflator module through normal refuse channels.
- Wash hands with a mild soap.
Deployment Inside Vehicle - Vehicle Scrapping Procedure
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. |
Caution: Refer to SIR Inflatable Module Deployment Outside Vehicle Caution in the Preface section.
- Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
- Remove the ignition key.
- Put on safety glasses.
- Remove all loose objects from the front seats.
- Disable the SIR System. Refer to
SIR Disabling and Enabling
.
Caution: A deployed dual stage inflator module will look the same whether one or both
stages were used. Always assume a deployed dual stage inflator module has an active
stage 2. Improper handling or servicing can activate the inflator module and cause
personal injury.
- Disconnect the steering wheel module yellow connector (4)
located next to steering column (2).
Important: If the vehicle is equipped with dual stage air bags, the steering wheel module
and I/P module will each have 4 wires and standard air bags will only have
2 wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
for
determining high and low circuits.
- Cut the yellow 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 driver 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 the 2 connector wire
leads of the high circuits from both stages of the steering wheel module to one of
the deployment harness wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in order to determine the correct circuits.
- Inspect that the 3 wire connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the 3-wire connection
to deployment harness using electrical tape.
- Twist together 2 connector wire leads of
the low circuits from both stages of the steering wheel module to one sets of deployment
wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in
order to determine the correct circuits.
- Inspect that the 3 wire connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the 3-wire connection
to deployment harness using electrical tape.
- Connect the deployment harness to the steering
wheel module in-line connector.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
driver side of the vehicle.
- Disconnect the driver side impact module
yellow connector (1) from the vehicle wiring harness (4) located under
the driver seat.
- Cut the 2 side impact module wires leading
to the yellow harness connector, leaving at least 16 cm (6 in) of wire
at the connector.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from each of the 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 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.
- Connect the deployment harness to the side impact module LF.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
driver side of the vehicle.
- Disconnect the I/P module yellow harness
connector (2) above passenger side sound insulator.
Important: If vehicle is equipped with dual stage air bags, the I/P module will each have
4 wires and standard air bags will only have 2 wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
for determining high and low circuits.
- Cut the yellow 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 passenger 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 the 2 connector wire
leads of the high circuits from both stages of the I/P module to one of the deployment
harness wires. Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in
order to determine the correct circuits.
- Ensure the 3-wire connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the 3-wire connection
to deployment harness using electrical tape.
- Twist together the two connector wire leads
of the low circuits from both stages of the I/P module to the deployment harness wire.
Refer to
SIR Connector End Views
in order to
determine the correct circuits.
- Ensure the 3-wire connection is secure.
- Bend flat the twisted connection.
- Secure and insulate the 3-wire connection
to deployment harness using electrical tape.
- Connect the deployment harness to the I/P module in-line connector.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
passenger side of the vehicle.
- Disconnect the passenger side impact module
yellow connector (1) from the vehicle wiring harness (4) located under
the passenger seat.
- Cut the 2 side impact module wires
leading to the yellow harness connector, leaving at least 16 cm (6 in)
of wire at the connector.
- Strip 13 mm (0.5 in) of insulation from each of the 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.
- Connect the deployment harness to the side impact module RF.
- Route the deployment harness out of the
passenger side of the vehicle.
- Completely cover the windshield and front door window openings with a
drop cloth.
- Stretch out all of the deployment harness wires on the left and right
side of the vehicle to their full length.
- Deploy each deployment loop one at a time.
- Place a power source, 12-volt minimum/2-amp minimum, i.e., a vehicle battery,
near the shorted end of the harnesses.
- Separate the one set of wires and touch the wires ends to the power source
in order to deploy the inflator modules, doing one module at a time.
- 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 all of the inflator modules did not deploy, perform the following
steps to remove the undeployed modules from the vehicle:
- Call Technical Assistance Group.