Passenger Airbag

PASSENGER AIRBAG MODULE (PAB)
The airbag door in the instrument panel top cover above the glove box is the most visible part of the passenger side airbag system. Located under the airbag door is the airbag cushion and it's supporting components. The airbag module includes a housing to which the cushion and inflator are attached and sealed. The airbag module includes a housing to which the cushion and inflator are attached and sealed. The airbag module cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed or in any way damaged. The inflator assembly is mounted to the back of the airbag module. The inflator includes a small canister of highly compressed argon gas. The inflator seals the hole in the airbag cushion so it can discharge the compressed gas it contains directly into the cushion when supplied with the proper electrical signal. The airbag door has a living hinge at the top, which is secured to the instrument panel top cover. The door also has predetermined breakout lines concealed beneath its decorative cover. Upon airbag deployment, the airbag door will split at the breakout lines and the door will pivot out of the way.

The airbag module is secured at the bottom to the steel structural base of the instrument panel above the glove box opening. The airbag door is serviced as a unit with the passenger side airbag module, and includes the two passenger heating and air conditioning panel outlet housings. Following an airbag deployment, the airbag module and the instrument panel assembly must be replaced.

The rearward facing surface of the passenger airbag door above the glove box is the most visible part of the passenger airbag. The airbag used in this model is a Next Generation-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior models. The passenger airbag is located in the instrument panel in front of the front seat passenger seating position, where it is secured to the instrument panel. Concealed beneath the passenger airbag door are the folded airbag cushion, the airbag retainer or housing, and the airbag inflator. The airbag inflator is a hybrid-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the stamped steel airbag housing along with the folded airbag cushion. The airbag housing stamping also includes the two mounting brackets, one front and one rear. The front bracket is secured beneath the instrument panel top cover with screws to the instrument panel structural support. The rear bracket is secured with screws to the upper glove box opening reinforcement. A yellow connector on the end of a short, two-wire pigtail harness connects the passenger airbag inflator to the vehicle electrical system.

The molded plastic passenger airbag door has predetermined breakout lines concealed beneath its decorative cover. The lower edge of the passenger airbag door is secured to the airbag housing, and includes the two passenger side panel outlets. The sides and upper edges are secured to the instrument panel top cover with five molded tabs that are each fit with a small metal retainer. The five retainers are snapped into five slotted receptacles located around the sides and top of the airbag door opening in the instrument panel top cover. Following a passenger airbag deployment, the passenger airbag and airbag door unit must be replaced. The passenger airbag cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if faulty or in any way damaged. The passenger airbag door is serviced only as a unit with the passenger airbag, and includes the two passenger side heating and air conditioning panel outlet housings and barrels.

The passenger airbag is deployed by an electrical signal generated by the Airbag Control Module (ACM) through the passenger airbag line 1 and line 2 (or squib) circuits. The hybrid-type inflator assembly includes a small canister of highly compressed argon gas. When the ACM sends the proper electrical signal to the airbag inflator, the electrical energy generates enough heat to ignite chemical pellets within the inflator. Once ignited, these chemical pellets burn rapidly and produce the pressure necessary to rupture a containment disk in the argon gas canister. The inflator and argon gas canister are sealed to the airbag cushion so that all of the released argon gas is directed into the airbag cushion, causing the cushion to inflate. As the cushion inflates, the passenger air- bag door will split at the breakout lines and the door will pivot out of the way Following an airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly deflates by venting the argon gas through the porous fabric material used on each end panel of the airbag cushion.

Some of the chemicals used to create the pressure to burst the argon gas containment disk are considered hazardous in their solid state, before they are burned, but they are securely sealed within the airbag inflator. However, the gas that is produced when the chemicals are burned is harmless. A small amount of residue from the burned chemicals may cause some temporary discomfort if it contacts the skin, eyes, or breathing passages. If skin or eye irritation is noticed, rinse the affected area with plenty of cool, clean water. If breathing passages are irritated, move to another area where there is plenty of clean, fresh air to breath. If the irritation is not alleviated by these actions, contact a physician immediately.