Safety Precautions When Working on Airbags

Safety Precautions When Working On Airbags

- Checking, removing, installing and servicing may ONLY be performed by qualified personnel.
- Battery Ground (GND) strap must be disconnected before performing any work on the airbag system. No waiting time is required after disconnecting the battery. When connecting airbag system to a voltage source, no one should be in the vehicle interior.
- Before handling (touching) the airbag unit, the technician must be electrostatically discharged. This is accomplished by touching grounded metal like, for example, water pipes, heating pipes or metal carriers.
- Always install airbag units in the vehicle, as soon as they are removed from the packaging.
- If installation work is interrupted, immediately return the airbag unit to its original packaging.
- NEVER leave an airbag unit unattended.
- In removed condition, ALWAYS lay the airbag down with impact absorbing pad facing up.
- DO NOT install airbag units that have fallen onto a hard surface, or which have signs of damage.

Additional safety precautions for vehicles with head-level airbag
- Always replace damaged pillar trim, never repair.
- Head-level airbags must not be kinked or twisted.
- After servicing body in vicinity of curtain airbag, check body for welding beads, deformations and chafe marks (compare with opposite side of vehicle if necessary).
- If ignited head-level airbag is replaced, molded headliner, door seals with piping, head-level airbag guides, bracket for grab handle and the A-, B-, C- and, if installed, D-pillar trim must be replaced in general. If damaged, interior (rear) reading lights, roof grab handle and roof end light must also be replaced.