Side Curtain Airbag - Removal

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component 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 SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury when removing a deployed airbag, rubber gloves, eye protection, and a long-sleeved shirt should be worn. There may be deposits on the airbag unit and other interior surfaces. In large doses, these deposits may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury, use extreme care to prevent any foreign material from entering the side curtain airbag, or becoming entrapped between the side curtain airbag cushion and the headliner. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.

NOTE: The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged side curtain airbag. If the airbag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for handling non-deployed supplemental restraints. Service and Repair. If the side curtain airbag has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for service after a supplemental restraint deployment before removing the airbag from the vehicle. .





NOTE: The graphic that accompanies this procedure represents a left side installation. While the right side installation is similar, the mounting hardware quantities and locations for these two units is asymmetrical.

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
2. Remove the headliner from the vehicle. Headliner - Removal.
3. Remove the lower trim from the inside of the B-pillar. B-Pillar Trim.
4. Disconnect the side curtain airbag pigtail wire connector (3) from the body wire harness connector (2) on the lower inner B-pillar.
5. Disengage the pigtail wire plastic retainers from the inner B-pillar.
6. Remove the screw that secures the side curtain airbag (4) front tether to the rivet nut in the inner A-pillar near the belt line.
7. Remove the eight screws that secure the side curtain airbag to the U-nuts in the inner roof rail and D-pillar.
8. Disengage the two plastic retainers that secure the airbag front tether to the inner A-pillar.
9. For the right side airbag only, disengage the plastic retainer from the inner roof side rail above the quarter window.

CAUTION: The weight of a non-deployed side curtain airbag inflator (1) must always be fully supported during unit removal or installation.

10. Disengage the metal clips (two on right side airbag, four on left side airbag) that secure the unit to the inner roof rail.
11. Remove the side curtain airbag from the vehicle through the rear door opening as a unit.