Dodge Sprinter. Manual - part 75

(12) Remove the screw that secures the front seat

belt retractor to the lower inner B-pillar.

(13) Remove the front seat belt and retractor unit

from the B-pillar.

INSTALLATION

The following procedure is for replacement of a

faulty or damaged front seat belt and retractor unit,
which includes a seat belt tensioner for the driver
side as standard equipment. Vehicles equipped with
an optional passenger airbag also have a seat belt
tensioner for the passenger side. (Refer to 8 - ELEC-
TRICAL/RESTRAINTS/SEAT BELT TENSIONER -
DESCRIPTION). If the seat belt or retractor is faulty
or damaged, but the seat belt tensioner is not
deployed, review the recommended procedures for
handling

non-deployed

supplemental

restraints.

(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STAN-
DARD

PROCEDURE

HANDLING

NON-DE-

PLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS). If the
seat belt tensioner has been deployed, review the rec-
ommended procedures for service after a supplemen-
tal restraint deployment before removing the front
seat belt and retractor from the vehicle. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on
vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supple-
mental

restraint

system

before

attempting

any

steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt
tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel com-
ponent 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 precau-
tions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during
and

following

any

seat

belt

service,

carefully

inspect all seat belts, buckles, mounting hardware,
retractors, and anchors for proper installation, oper-
ation, 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

the

DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts Catalog.

(1) Position the front seat belt and retractor to the

lower inner (Fig. 25). Be certain to engage the guide
on the retractor into the locating notch on the B-pil-
lar.

(2) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

front seat belt retractor to the lower inner B-pillar.
Tighten the screw to 35 N·m (26 ft. lbs.).

(3) If so equipped, reconnect the vehicle wire har-

ness connector for the seat belt tensioner to the ini-
tiator receptacle of the retractor located on the lower
inner B-pillar. The connector is a tight snap-fit into
the initiator receptacle. Reconnect the connector by
pressing the connector insulator straight into the ini-
tiator receptacle. You can be certain that the connec-
tor is fully engaged by listening carefully for a
distinct, audible click as the connector snaps into
place.

(4) Position the front seat belt turning loop onto

the height adjuster on the upper B-pillar (Fig. 24).

(5) Install and tighten the nut that secures the

front seat belt turning loop to the height adjuster.
Tighten the nut to 35 N·m (26 ft. lbs.).

(6) Route the front seat belt and lower anchor

through the back of the height adjuster trim (Fig.
23).

(7) Position the height adjuster trim to the upper

B-pillar so that the driver on the back of the trim
engages the lug of the height adjuster.

(8) Reinstall the trim panel onto the inside of the

B-pillar. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR
TRIM - INSTALLATION).

(9) Position the front seat belt lower anchor to the

outboard side of the seat frame (Fig. 22).

Fig. 25 Front Seat Belt Retractor

1 - RETRACTOR
2 - CONNECTOR
3 - SCREW
4 - GUIDE

8O - 22

RESTRAINTS

(10) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

front seat belt lower anchor to the outboard side of
the seat frame. Tighten the screw to 35 N·m (26 ft.
lbs.).

(11) If the vehicle is so equipped, snap the plastic

cover over the screw that secures the front seat belt
lower anchor to the outboard side of the seat frame.

(12) Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at

this time. The supplemental restraint system verifi-
cation test procedure should be performed following
service of any supplemental restraint system compo-
nent. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION TEST).

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during
and

following

any

seat

belt

service,

carefully

replacement

parts

listed

the

DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts Catalog.

(1) On the driver side only, move the seat to its

most forward position for easiest access to the seat
belt switch pigtail wire and connector.

(2) On the driver side only, remove the wire ties

that secure the seat belt switch pigtail wire to the
seat frame (Fig. 26).

(3) On the driver side only, pull the seat belt

switch pigtail wire out through the clearance hole in
the seat riser cover far enough to access and discon-
nect the pigtail wire from the vehicle wire harness.

(4) If the vehicle is so equipped, unsnap and

remove the plastic cover from the screw that secures
the front seat belt buckle lower anchor to the inboard
side of the seat frame.

(5) Remove the screw that secures the front seat

belt buckle lower anchor to the inboard side of the
seat frame.

(6) Remove the front seat belt buckle from the

inboard side of the front seat frame.

INSTALLATION

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during
and

following

any

seat

belt

service,

carefully

replacement

parts

listed

the

DaimlerChrysler Mopar Parts Catalog.

(1) Position the front seat belt buckle to the

inboard side of the front seat frame (Fig. 26).

(2) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

front seat belt buckle lower anchor to the inboard
side of the front seat frame. Tighten the screw to 35
N·m (26 ft. lbs.).

Fig. 26 Front Seat Belt Buckle Remove/Install

1 - SEAT RISER COVER PANEL
2 - SEAT BELT SWITCH PIGTAIL WIRE (DRIVER SIDE ONLY)
3 - BUCKLE
4 - SCREW AND/OR COVER

RESTRAINTS

8O - 23

(3) If the vehicle is so equipped, snap the plastic

cover over the screw that secures the front seat belt
buckle lower anchor to the inboard side of the seat
frame.

(4) On the driver side only, reconnect the seat belt

switch pigtail wire to the vehicle wire harness and
push the joined connectors through the clearance
hole in the seat riser cover.

(5) On the driver side only, route and secure the

seat belt switch pigtail wire to the seat frame with
wire ties.

PASSENGER AIRBAG

DESCRIPTION

The

rearward

facing

surface

the

injection

molded, thermoplastic passenger airbag door is the
most visible part of the optional passenger airbag
(Fig. 27). The passenger airbag door is located above
the glove box opening in front of the front seat pas-
senger seating position on the instrument panel. The
upper and lower edges of the airbag door are secured
by a snap-fit to molded plastic clips. The two clips at
the top are each secured by a screw to the instru-
ment panel base trim, while the clips at the bottom
are integral to the panel that surrounds the passen-
ger airbag door opening in the instrument panel base
trim. The airbag door is also secured to the airbag
housing by two wide woven straps that serve as
hinges for the door upon an airbag deployment.

Located behind the passenger airbag door is the

passenger airbag unit (Fig. 28). The airbag housing
is constructed of a long U-shaped aluminum extru-
sion with two stamped steel end plates. A stepped
flange that extends from the back of the extrusion
serves as the airbag mounting flange. This mounting

flange is secured with screws to a stamped steel air-
bag mounting bracket that is secured with screws to
the tubular steel instrument panel structural support
above the glove box opening. The end plates are
secured to each side of the passenger airbag housing
with screws.

The passenger airbag unit used in this model is a

Next Generation-type that complies with revised fed-
eral airbag standards to deploy with less force than
those used in some prior models. The airbag housing
contains

the

folded

airbag

cushion,

the

airbag

retainer, and the airbag inflator. The airbag is a rect-
angular fabric cushion. The airbag inflator is a solid
fuel, pyrotechnic-type unit that is secured to and
sealed within the airbag housing along with the
folded airbag cushion. The inflator initiator connector
receptacle is connected to the vehicle electrical sys-
tem through a dedicated take out of the vehicle wire
harness with a yellow connector insulator.

The passenger airbag and airbag door unit cannot

be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, faulty
or in any way damaged.

OPERATION

The passenger airbag is deployed by an electrical

signal generated by the Airbag Control Module
(ACM) through the passenger airbag squib circuits to
the initiator in the airbag inflator. When the ACM
sends the proper electrical signal to the initiator the
electrical energy generates enough heat to initiate a
small pyrotechnic charge which, in turn, ignites
chemical pellets within the inflator. Once ignited,
these chemical pellets burn rapidly and produce a
large quantity of inert gas. The inflator is sealed to
the back of the airbag housing and a diffuser in the

Fig. 27 Passenger Airbag Door

1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL TRAY
2 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR
3 - GLOVE BOX DOOR

Fig. 28 Passenger Airbag Unit

1 - DOOR
2 - CLIP (2)
3 - HOUSING
4 - CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE
5 - END PLATE (2)

8O - 24

RESTRAINTS

inflator directs all of the inert gas into the airbag
cushion, causing the cushion to inflate.

As the airbag cushion inflates, the passenger air-

bag door will unsnap from the clips that retain it to
the instrument panel at the top and bottom, then
pivot towards the top of the instrument panel and
out of the way on the woven straps. Following a pas-
senger airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly
deflates by venting the inert gas through the loose
weave of the fabric used to construct the back
(instrument panel side) of the airbag cushion.

Some of the chemicals used to create the inert gas

may be considered hazardous while 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 pas-
sages 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.

REMOVAL

The following procedure is for replacement of a

faulty or damaged passenger airbag. If the airbag is
faulty or damaged, but not deployed, review the rec-
ommended procedures for handling non-deployed
supplemental restraints. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - HAN-
DLING

NON-DEPLOYED

SUPPLEMENTAL

RESTRAINTS). If the passenger airbag has been
deployed, review the recommended procedures for
service after a supplemental restraint deployment
before removing the airbag from the vehicle. (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PRO-
CEDURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on
vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supple-
mental

restraint

system

before

attempting

any

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, when
removing a deployed airbag, rubber gloves, eye

protection, and a long-sleeved shirt should be
worn. There may be deposits on the airbag unit and
other interior surfaces. In large doses, these depos-
its may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to
discharge before further service.

(2) Remove the instrument panel top cover tray

from over the passenger airbag (Fig. 29). (Refer to 23
-

BODY/INSTRUMENT

PANEL/INSTRUMENT

PANEL TOP COVER - TRAY - REMOVAL).

RESTRAINTS

8O - 25

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