Repairs and Inspections Required After an Accident
REPAIRS AND INSPECTIONS REQUIRED AFTER AN ACCIDENTCAUTION:
All air bag system components, including the electrical harness (component mounting points), must be inspected after an accident. If any components are damaged or bent, they must be replaced even if air bag system activation did not occur.
Never use air bag system parts from another vehicle.
Do not attempt to service the parts below. Service of these parts is by replacement only.
- Driver/Passenger air bag (Inflator) module
- SDM
- Contact coil and combination switch assembly
- Air bag wire harness
Proper operation of the sensors and air bag system requires that any repairs to the vehicle structure return it to its original production configuration.
CAUTION: After detecting one time of such collision as to meet deployment conditions, the SDM must not be used. Refer to DIAGNOSIS when checking the SDM.
ACCIDENT WITH DEPLOYMENT - COMPONENT REPLACEMENT
Certain air bag system components must be replaced. Those components are:
Driver and passenger air bag (inflator) modules
Replace with new one.
SDM after detecting such collision as to meet deployment conditions
Replace with new one.
ACCIDENT WITH OR WITHOUT DEPLOYMENT - COMPONENT INSPECTIONS
Certain air bag and restraint system components must be inspected after any crash, whether the air bag deployed or not.
Those components are:
Steering column and shaft joints
Check for length, damage and bend according to CHECKING STEERING COLUMN FOR ACCIDENT DAMAGE in SECTION 3C1.
Steering column bracket and capsules
Check for damage and bent.
If any faulty condition is found in above checks, replace faulty part.
Steering wheel and driver air bag (inflator) module
Check for damage or air bag (inflator) module fitness.
Check trim cover (pad surface) for cracks.
Check wire harness and connector for damage or tightness.
If any faulty condition is found in above checks, replace faulty part.
Contact coil and combination switch assembly
Check wire harness and connectors for damage or tightness.
Check contact coil case for damage.
If any faulty condition is found in above checks, replace.
Instrument panel member, reinforcement and knee bolster & panel (driver and passenger)
Check for any distortion, bending, cracking or other damage. If any faulty condition is found in above checks, replace.
Passenger air bag (inflator) module
Check for dents, cracks, damage or fitness.
Check trim cover for cracks or deformities.
Check harness and connector for damage or tightness.
If any faulty condition is found in above checks, replace.
SDM
Check for external damage such as deformation, scratch, crack, peeled paint, etc.
Check that SDM cannot be installed properly due to a cause in itself. (There is a gap between SDM and its mounting part, or it cannot be fixed securely.)
Check that connector or lead wire of SDM has a scorching, melting or damage.
Check that connector is connected securely or locked.
Check SDM connector and terminals for tightness.
Check SDM sets a diagnostic trouble code and the diagnostic table leads to a malfunctioning SDM.
If any faulty condition is found in above checks, replace.
Air bag wire harness and connections
Check for damages, deformities or poor connections. (Refer to INTERMITTENT AND POOR CONNECTIONS in this section.)
Check wire harness clamps for tightness.
If any faulty condition is found, correct or replace.
Seat belts and mounting points
Refer to Seat Belt System.
"AIR BAG" warning lamp (air bag system)
After vehicle is completely repaired, perform AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK under DIAGNOSIS in this section.