Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 242

Fig. 50: Identifying Screws, Nuts, Occupant Restraint Controller, ORC Mount, Body Wire Harness 
Connector & Instrument Panel Wire Harness Connector 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge 

before further service.  

2. Remove the center console from the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel. Refer to REMOVAL .  

3. Unlatch and disconnect the body wire harness connector (5) and the instrument panel wire harness 

connector (6) from the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) (3) connector receptacles located on the 
forward-facing side of the module. To disconnect the wire harness connectors from the ORC, depress the 
release tab and lift the lever arm on each connector.  

4. Remove the two nuts (2) that secure the left side of the ORC mounting bracket to the two studs on the 

ORC mount (4) welded onto the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel.  

5. Remove the two screws (1) that secure the right side of the ORC mounting bracket to the ORC mount.  

6. Remove the ORC and mounting bracket unit from the ORC mount.  

INSTALLATION 

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER 

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with side curtain 
airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before 
attempting any Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) diagnosis or service. 
The ORC contains a rollover sensor, which enables the system to deploy 
the side airbags in the event of a vehicle rollover event. If an ORC is 
accidentally rolled during service while still connected to battery power, 
the side curtain airbags will deploy. 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 SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions 
could result in accidental airbag deployment.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable 
the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering 
wheel, steering column, airbag, Occupant Classification System (OCS), 
seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, 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 SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in 
accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury, never strike or drop the Occupant 
Restraint Controller (ORC), as it can damage the impact sensor or affect 
its calibration. The ORC contains the impact sensor, which enables the 
system to deploy the SRS components. If an ORC is accidentally dropped 
during service, the module must be scrapped and replaced with a new 
unit. Failure to observe this warning could result in accidental, 
incomplete, or improper SRS component deployment.

CAUTION: On vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), 

never replace both the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and the 
Occupant Classification Module (OCM) at the same time. If both require 
replacement, replace one. Then perform the Supplemental Restraint 
System (SRS) verification test before replacing the other. Both the ORC 
and the OCM store OCS calibration data, which they transfer to one 
another when one of them is replaced. If both are replaced at the same 
time, an irreversible fault will be set in both modules.

NOTE:

The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) should only be removed as a 
complete unit with the molded plastic mounting bracket. The service 
replacement ORC is supplied already installed on a new bracket.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 51: Identifying Screws, Nuts, Occupant Restraint Controller, ORC Mount, Body Wire Harness 
Connector & Instrument Panel Wire Harness Connector 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Carefully position the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and mounting bracket unit (3) onto the two 

studs on the left side of the ORC mount (4) on the floor panel transmission tunnel. When the ORC is 
correctly positioned, the bracket will fit flush with the mount and the orientation arrow on the label on top 
of the housing will be pointed forward in the vehicle.  

2. Install and tighten the two screws (1) that secure the right side of the ORC mounting bracket to the ORC 

mount. Tighten the screws to 10.5 N.m (95 in. lbs.).  

3. Install and tighten the two nuts (2) that secure the left side of the ORC mounting bracket to the two studs 

on the ORC mount. Tighten the nuts to 10.5 N.m (95 in. lbs.).  

4. Reconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector (6) and the body wire harness connector (5) to the 

ORC connector receptacles located on the forward-facing side of the module. Be certain that the latches 
on the connectors are each fully engaged.  

5. Reinstall the center console onto the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel. Refer to 

INSTALLATION .  

6. Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this time. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 

verification test procedure should be performed following service of any SRS component. See 
VERIFICATION TEST - SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.  

PASSENGER AIRBAG 

DESCRIPTION 

PASSENGER AIRBAG 

Fig. 52: Identifying Thermoplastic Passenger Airbag Door & Glove Box 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The rearward facing surface of the injection molded, thermoplastic passenger airbag door (1) is the most visible 
part of the passenger airbag. The passenger airbag door is located above the glove box (2) opening on the top 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

and face of the instrument panel in front of the front seat passenger seating position. The upper and lower edges 
of the airbag door are secured with integral snap features to the instrument panel base trim. 

Fig. 53: Identifying Passenger Airbag Housing, Stamped Hook Formations, Airbag Cushion, Inflator 
Initiators, Lower Studs & Upper Studs 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

Located behind the passenger airbag door within the instrument panel is the passenger airbag unit. The 
passenger airbag unit is secured through two lower studs (5) to the instrument panel structural support armature 
above the glove box opening. While the two upper studs (6) are secured to a heavy stamped steel instrument 
panel bracket secured to the dash panel near the lower windshield fence line and to the instrument panel 
structural duct. 

The passenger airbag housing (1) fits into a molded receptacle on the back of the airbag door, where several 
stamped hook formations (2) on the upper and lower edges of the airbag housing are engaged in mating small 
window openings on the upper and lower flanges of the receptacle to secure the airbag door to the airbag 
housing. These airbag door fasteners and mounting provisions are all concealed beneath the instrument panel 
base trim. 

The passenger airbag unit used in this vehicle is a multistage, Next Generation-type that complies with revised 
federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. The passenger airbag 
unit consists of a stamped metal housing, the airbag cushion (3), and a dual initiator airbag inflator. The airbag 
housing contains the airbag inflator and the folded airbag cushion. An approximately 80 centimeter (31.5 inch) 
wide by 90 centimeter (35.5 inch) high rectangular fabric cushion with internal tethers is used. 

The airbag inflator is a non-azide, hybrid-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing. The 
two inflator initiators (4) are connected to the vehicle electrical system through dedicated take outs and 
connectors of the instrument panel wire harness with connector insulators that connect directly to the two 
inflator initiators. The connector insulators are uniquely keyed and color-coded to ensure they can only be 
connected to the correct initiator. 

A service replacement passenger airbag does not include the airbag door. The passenger airbag door may be 
disassembled from the passenger airbag and is available for individual service replacement. The passenger 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro