stalled safety equipment on this model. Both the
driver and passenger airbag are certified to new fed-
eral regulations, which allows them to deploy with
less force than prior airbags. The primary passenger
restraints in this vehicle are the seat belts, which

require active use by the vehicle occupants. The front
airbag system is a supplemental passive restraint
that was designed and is intended to enhance the
protection for the front seat occupants of the vehicle
when used in conjunction with the seat belts.

The driver airbag includes an inflatable airbag and

an inflator unit behind a trim cover in the hub area
of the steering wheel. The passenger airbag includes
an inflatable airbag and an inflator unit behind an
airbag door in the instrument panel above the glove
box.

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The dual front airbag system consists of the follow-

ing components:

• Airbag Control Module (ACM)

• Airbag indicator lamp

• Clock Spring

• Driver and passenger airbags (including the air-

bag inflators)

• Wire harness and connections.
Refer to the proper Body Diagnostic Procedures

manual to test or diagnose a problem with any com-
ponent of the front airbag system.

SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM

Vehicles equipped with the Side Impact Airbag

System utilize two airbags mounted to each front
seat back frame. This system is designed to protect
occupants in the event of a side impact collision.

OPERATION

FRONT AIRBAG SYSTEM

The front airbag system electrical circuits are con-

tinuously monitored and controlled by a microproces-
sor and software contained within the Airbag Control
Module (ACM). The ACM also contains an impact
sensor and a safing sensor, which are monitored by
the ACM to determine when an impact occurs that is
severe enough to require front airbag system protec-
tion. When a frontal impact is severe enough, the
ACM initiates the inflator units of both front airbag
modules to deploy the airbags.

An airbag indicator lamp in the instrument cluster

lights for about six to eight seconds as a bulb test

each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. Following the bulb test, the airbag indicator
lamp is turned ON or OFF by the ACM to indicate
the status of the airbag system. If the airbag indica-
tor lamp comes ON at any time other than during
the bulb test, it indicates that there is a problem in
the airbag system circuits. Such a problem may
cause the airbags not to deploy when required, or to
deploy when not required.

During a frontal vehicle impact, the knee blockers

work in concert with properly adjusted seat belts to
restrain the driver and front seat passenger in the
proper position for an airbag deployment. The knee
blockers also work to absorb and distribute the crash
energy from the driver and front seat passenger to
the structure of the instrument panel. The driver
side knee blocker is integral to the left lower instru-
ment panel bezel. The passenger side knee blocker is
integral to the glove box door.

Following are general descriptions of the major

components in the airbag system.

SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM

The side impact airbag control module (SIACM)

controls the seat back mounted airbags. If the
SIACM determines the impact is severe enough, the
appropriate airbag/s will inflate, tearing open the
front seat back trim cover/s protecting the passen-
ger/s. Once a seat back mounted airbag has been
deployed, all damaged parts must be replaced.

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WARNING

WARNINGS

FRONT AIRBAG SYSTEM

WARNING: THIS SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COM-
PLEX ELECTRONIC UNIT. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE REMOTE CABLE
BEFORE BEGINNING AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPO-
NENT REMOVAL OR INSTALLATION PROCEDURES.
THIS WILL DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAIL-
URE

DISCONNECT

THE

BATTERY

COULD

RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR
TWO MINUTES BEFORE REMOVING AIRBAG COM-
PONENTS.
DO NOT PLACE AN INTACT UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG
FACE DOWN ON A SOLID SURFACE, THE AIRBAG
WILL PROPEL INTO THE AIR IF ACCIDENTALLY
DEPLOYED AND COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL
INJURY.

WHEN

CARRYING

HANDLING

UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG, THE TRIM SIDE OF THE
AIRBAG SHOULD BE POINTING TOWARD THE
BODY TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL
INJURY OR DEATH IF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT
OCCURS.
REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS WITH
MOPAR

REPLACEMENT PARTS ONLY. SUBSTI-

TUTE PARTS MAY APPEAR INTERCHANGEABLE,
BUT INTERNAL DIFFERENCES MAY RESULT IN
INFERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES, RUBBER GLOVES, AND
LONG

SLEEVED

CLOTHING

WHEN

CLEANING

POWDER RESIDUE FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER AN
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. SODIUM HYDROXIDE POW-
DER RESIDUE EMITTED FROM A DEPLOYED AIR-
BAG

CAN

CAUSE

SKIN

IRRITATION.

FLUSH

AFFECTED AREA WITH COOL WATER IF IRRITA-
TION IS EXPERIENCED. IF NASAL OR THROAT
IRRITATION IS EXPERIENCED, EXIT THE VEHICLE
FOR FRESH AIR UNTIL THE IRRITATION CEASES.
IF IRRITATION CONTINUES, SEE A PHYSICIAN.

DO NOT USE A REPLACEMENT AIRBAG THAT IS
NOT IN THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING, IMPROPER
DEPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH
CAN RESULT.
THE FACTORY INSTALLED FASTENERS, SCREWS
AND BOLTS USED TO FASTEN AIRBAG COMPO-
NENTS HAVE A SPECIAL COATING AND ARE SPE-
CIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
DO NOT USE SUBSTITUTE FASTENERS, USE ONLY
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FASTENERS LISTED IN THE
PARTS CATALOG WHEN FASTENER REPLACE-
MENT IS REQUIRED.
AIRBAGS SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL, DRY
PLACE,

AWAY

FROM

EXCESSIVE

HEAT

AND

STATIC ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WITH THE FABRIC
AIRBAG

FACING

UP.

NOT,

PREMATURE

DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT AND RESULT IN PER-
SONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

CAUTION:
Deployed and Nondeployed Air Bags may or may
not have live pyrotechnic material within the air bag
inflator. Do not dispose of Driver and Passenger
Airbags unless you are sure of complete deploy-
ment. Please refer to the Hazardous Substance
Control System for Proper Disposal. Dispose of
deployed air bags in a manner consistent with
state, provincial, local, and federal regulations.

WARNING: DURING, AND FOLLOWING, ANY CHILD
RESTRAINT ANCHOR SERVICE, DUE TO IMPACT
EVENT OR VEHICLE REPAIR, CAREFULLY INSPECT
ALL MOUNTING HARDWARE, TETHER STRAPS
AND

ANCHORS

FOR

PROPER

INSTALLATION,

OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. IF A CHILD RESTRAINT
ANCHOR IS FOUND DAMAGED IN ANY WAY, THE
ANCHOR MUST BE REPLACED TO PREVENT POS-
SIBLE OCCUPANT PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

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