Driver Air Bag - Description

DESCRIPTION





The injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag protective trim cover (1) is the most visible part of the Driver AirBag (DAB). The DAB is located in the center of the steering wheel, where it is secured with screws to the floating horn switch within the hub cavity of the three-spoke steering wheel. An injection molded, bright Dodge emblem (2) is applied to the center of the trim cover.





Concealed beneath the DAB trim cover (1) are the folded airbag cushion, the airbag housing (2), the airbag inflator (3) and the retainers (5) that secure the inflator to the housing. The airbag cushion, housing and inflator are secured within an integral receptacle molded into the back of the trim cover. The vertical walls of this receptacle have numerous integral window features that are engaged by numerous hook features that are bent outward around the perimeter of the DAB housing. The DAB housing also has four well nuts (4) which are used to secure the floating horn switch to the back of the housing.

The DAB used in this vehicle is a multistage-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. A radial deploying 67 centimeter (26.5 inch) diameter fabric airbag cushion with internal tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a dual-initiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit and is secured to the stamped metal airbag housing using four flanged hex nuts. Two keyed and color-coded connector receptacles on the DAB inflator connect the two inflator initiators to the vehicle electrical system through two jacketed, two-wire pigtail harnesses from the clockspring.

The DAB cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective or in any way damaged. The DAB trim cover and the floating horn switch are available for individual service replacement.