Part 1

RESTRAINTS

Fig.1 Supplemental Restraints:

An occupant restraint system is standard factory-installed safety equipment on this model. Available occupant restraints for this model include both active and passive types. Active restraints are those which require the vehicle occupants to take some action to employ, such as fastening a seat belt; while passive restraints require no action by the vehicle occupants to be employed.

Active Restraints
The active restraints for this model include:
- Front Seat Belts - Both front seating positions are equipped with three-point seat belt systems employing a lower B-pillar mounted inertia latch-type retractor, height-adjustable upper B-pillar mounted turning loops, a fixed lower seat belt anchor secured to the lower B-pillar, and a fixed end-release seat belt buckle secured to the side of the floor panel transmission tunnel. Both front seat belt buckles include an integral Hall-effect seat belt switch that detects whether its respective seat belt has been fastened.
- Rear Seat Belts - Both outboard rear seating positions are equipped with three-point seat belt systems. The outboard seating position belts employ a lower C-pillar mounted inertia latch-type retractor, height-adjustable upper C-pillar mounted turning loops, and a fixed lower seat belt anchor secured to the floor panel. The center rear seating position of vehicles manufactured for sale in North America has a lap belt that is anchored to the rear floor panel with the right outboard seat belt buckle. Vehicles manufactured for sale outside of North America are equipped with a three-point seat belt in the rear seat center seating position. This seat belt has an inertia latch-type retractor that is integral to the rear seat back panel, and the lower belt anchor is secured to the rear floor panel with the right outboard seat belt buckle. A cable from the seat back latch locks the center belt retractor spool unless the seat back is fully latched. All three rear seat belts have fixed end- release seat belt buckles secured to the rear floor panel, a single buckle unit on the right side and a double buckle unit on the left side.
- Child Seat Tether Anchors - All vehicles are equipped with three, fixed-position, child seat upper tether anchors and two lower anchors. Two upper anchors are integral to the back of the right rear seat back panel, and one is integral to the left rear seat back panel. The two lower anchors are integral to the outboard rear seat back brackets.

The primary passenger restraints in this or any other vehicle are the standard equipment factory-installed seat belts. Seat belts are referred to as an active restraint because the vehicle occupants are required to physically fasten and properly adjust these restraints in order to benefit from them. See the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of all of the factory-installed active restraints.

Fig.2 SRS Logo:

Passive Restraints
The passive restraints available for this model include the following:
- Dual Front Airbags - Multistage driver and front passenger airbags are available for this model. This airbag system is a passive, inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and vehicles with this equipment can be readily identified by the "SRS - AIRBAG" logo molded into the driver airbag trim cover in the center of the steering wheel and also into the passenger airbag door area of the instrument panel top pad above the glove box. Vehicles with the airbag system can also be identified by the airbag indicator, which will illuminate in the instrument cluster for about seven seconds as a bulb test each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
- Side Curtain Airbags - Optional side curtain airbags are available for this model when it is also equipped with dual front airbags. This airbag system is a passive, inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and vehicles with this equipment can be readily identified by a molded identification trim button with the "SRS - AIRBAG" logo located on the headliner above each B-pillar.

The supplemental restraint system includes the following major components, which are described in further detail elsewhere in this service information:
- Airbag Control Module - The Airbag Control Module (ACM) is also sometimes referred to as the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). The ACM is located on a mount on the floor panel transmission tunnel near the park brake release mechanism, under the center floor console.
- Airbag Indicator - The airbag indicator is integral to the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC), which is located on the instrument panel in front of the driver.
- Clockspring - The clockspring is located near the top of the steering column, directly beneath the steering wheel.
- Driver Airbag - The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel, beneath the driver airbag trim cover.
- Driver Knee Blocker - The driver knee blocker is a structural unit secured to the back side of and integral to the instrument panel steering column opening cover.
- Front Impact Sensor - Two front impact sensors are used on vehicles equipped with dual front airbags, one left side and one right side. One sensor is located on a bracket on the lower inboard side of each vertical member of the radiator support.
- Passenger Airbag - The passenger airbag is located on the instrument panel, beneath the instrument panel top pad and above the glove box on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- Passenger Knee Blocker - The passenger knee blocker is a structural reinforcement that is integral to and concealed within the glove box door.
- Side Impact Sensor - Two side impact sensors are used on vehicles with the optional side curtain airbags, one left side and one right side. One sensor is located behind the B-pillar trim near the base of each B-pillar.
- Side Curtain Airbag - In vehicles equipped with this option, a side curtain airbag is located on each inside roof side rail above the headliner, and extends from the A-pillar to just beyond the C-pillar.

The ACM and the EMIC each contain a central processing unit and programming that allow them to communicate with each other using the Programmable Communication Interface (PCI) data bus network. This method of communication is used by the ACM for control of the airbag indicator on all models equipped with dual front airbags. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/COMMUNICATION - DESCRIPTION).

Hard wired circuitry connects the supplemental restraint system components to each other through the electrical system of the vehicle. These hard wired circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which are routed throughout the vehicle and retained by many different methods. These circuits may be connected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system, and to the supplemental restraint system components through the use of a combination of soldered splices, splice block connectors, and many different types of wire harness terminal connectors and insulators. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector repair procedures, further details on wire harness routing and retention, as well as pin-out and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.

The passive restraints system is referred to as a supplemental restraint system because they were designed and are intended to enhance the protection for the vehicle occupants of the vehicle only when used in conjunction with the seat belts. They are referred to as passive systems because the vehicle occupants are not required to do anything to make them operate; however, the vehicle occupants must be wearing their seat belts in order to obtain the maximum safety benefit from the factory-installed supplemental restraint systems.

The supplemental restraint system electrical circuits are continuously monitored and controlled by a microprocessor and software contained within the Airbag Control Module (ACM). An airbag indicator in the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) illuminates for about seven seconds as a bulb test each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON or Start positions. Following the bulb test, the airbag indicator is turned ON or OFF by the ACM to indicate the status of the supplemental restraint system. If the airbag indicator comes ON at any time other than during the bulb test, it indicates that there is a problem in the supplemental restraint system electrical circuits. Such a problem may cause airbags not to deploy when required, or to deploy when not required.

Deployment of the supplemental restraints depends upon the angle and severity of an impact. Deployment is not based upon vehicle speed; rather, deployment is based upon the rate of deceleration as measured by the forces of gravity (G force) upon the impact sensors. When an impact is severe enough, the microprocessor in the ACM signals the inflator unit of the airbag module to deploy the airbag. During a frontal vehicle impact, the knee blockers work in concert with properly fastened and adjusted seat belts to restrain both the driver and the front seat passenger in the proper position for an airbag deployment. The knee blockers also absorb and distribute the crash energy from the driver and the front seat passenger to the structure of the instrument panel.

Typically, the vehicle occupants recall more about the events preceding and following a collision than they have of an airbag deployment itself. This is because the airbag deployment and deflation occur so rapidly. In a typical 48 km/h (30 mph) barrier impact, from the moment of impact until the airbags are fully inflated takes about 40 milliseconds. Within one to two seconds from the moment of impact, the airbags are almost entirely deflated. The times cited for these events are approximations, which apply only to a barrier impact at the given speed. Actual times will vary somewhat, depending upon the vehicle speed, impact angle, severity of the impact, and the type of collision.

When the ACM monitors a problem in any of the airbag system circuits or components, it stores a fault code or Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) in its memory circuit and sends an electronic message to the EMIC to turn ON the airbag indicator. Proper testing of the airbag system components, the Programmable Communication Interface (PCI) data bus, the data bus message inputs to and outputs from the EMIC or the ACM, as well as the retrieval or erasure of a DTC from the ACM or EMIC requires the use of a DRB III scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.

See the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of all of the factory-installed passive restraints.

WARNING:
- DURING AND FOLLOWING ANY SEAT BELT SERVICE, CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL SEAT BELTS, BUCKLES, MOUNTING HARDWARE, AND RETRACTORS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION, OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. REPLACE ANY BELT THAT IS CUT, FRAYED, OR TORN. STRAIGHTEN ANY BELT THAT IS TWISTED. TIGHTEN ANY LOOSE FASTENERS. REPLACE ANY BELT THAT HAS A DAMAGED OR INOPERATIVE BUCKLE OR RETRACTOR. REPLACE ANY BELT THAT HAS A BENT OR DAMAGED LATCH PLATE OR ANCHOR PLATE. NEVER ATTEMPT TO REPAIR A SEAT BELT COMPONENT. ALWAYS REPLACE DAMAGED OR FAULTY SEAT BELT COMPONENTS WITH THE CORRECT, NEW AND UNUSED REPLACEMENT PARTS LISTED IN THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG.
- ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG, PASSENGER AIRBAG, FRONT IMPACT SENSOR SIDE IMPACT SENSOR, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG, 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 SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
- AN AIRBAG INFLATOR UNIT MAY CONTAIN SODIUM AZIDE AND POTASSIUM NITRATE. THESE MATERIALS ARE POISONOUS AND EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. CONTACT WITH ACID, WATER, OR HEAVY METALS MAY PRODUCE HARMFUL AND IRRITATING GASES (SODIUM HYDROXIDE IS FORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE) OR COMBUSTIBLE COMPOUNDS. AN AIRBAG INFLATOR UNIT MAY ALSO CONTAIN A GAS CANISTER PRESSURIZED TO OVER 2500 PSI. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DISMANTLE AN AIRBAG UNIT OR TAMPER WITH ITS INFLATOR. DO NOT PUNCTURE, INCINERATE, OR BRING INTO CONTACT WITH ELECTRICITY. DO NOT STORE AT TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 93 °C (200 °F).
- REPLACE ALL RESTRAINT SYSTEM COMPONENTS ONLY WITH PARTS SPECIFIED IN THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG. SUBSTITUTE PARTS MAY APPEAR INTERCHANGEABLE, BUT INTERNAL DIFFERENCES MAY RESULT IN INFERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
- THE FASTENERS, SCREWS, AND BOLTS ORIGINALLY USED FOR THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE SPECIAL COATINGS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THEY MUST NEVER BE REPLACED WITH ANY SUBSTITUTES. ANY TIME A NEW FASTENER IS NEEDED, REPLACE IT WITH THE CORRECT FASTENERS PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE PACKAGE OR SPECIFIED IN THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG.
- WHEN A STEERING COLUMN HAS AN AIRBAG UNIT ATTACHED, NEVER PLACE THE COLUMN ON THE FLOOR OR ANY OTHER SURFACE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR AIRBAG UNIT FACE DOWN.