Jeep Liberty KJ. Manual - part 247

PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

Vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification
System (OCS) include a passenger airbag on/off indi-
cator (3), which is located in the inboard grab handle
end cap located on the instrument panel between the
passenger airbag door and the glove box. The pas-
senger airbag on/off indicator and the grab handle are
present only in vehicles equipped with the OCS. Vehi-
cles without the OCS have only a trim bezel on the
instrument panel, instead of a grab handle.

The passenger airbag on/off indicator consists of a molded plastic housing with an integral connector receptacle (1)
at the back, an integral latch tab (2) on each side, and an oblong dark translucent outer lens. The opaque words
“PASS AIRBAG OFF” and an opaque International Control and Display Symbol icon for “Passenger Airbag Off or
Not Available” are imprinted on the back of the lens within the indicator. The dark outer lens prevents the indicator
text and icon from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. An amber Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind the
lens causes the “PASS AIRBAG OFF” text and icon to appear silhouetted against an amber field through the trans-
lucent lens when the indicator is illuminated from behind by the LED.

The passenger airbag on/off indicator cannot be repaired or adjusted and, if faulty or damaged, the indicator unit
must be replaced.

OPERATION

In vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), the passenger airbag on/off indicator gives an
indication when the passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are disabled by the Airbag Control
Module (ACM). This indicator is controlled by a transistor within the ACM through a hard wired output based upon
ACM programming and electronic occupant classification messages received by the ACM over the Programmable
Communications Interface (PCI) data bus from the Occupant Classification Module (OCM).

The passenger airbag on/off indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the ACM. The LED
receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the LED will always
be off when the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The LED only illuminates when it is provided
a path to ground by the ACM transistor. The ACM will turn on the passenger airbag on/off indicator for the following
reasons:

•

Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position the passenger airbag on/off indicator is
illuminated for about six seconds.

•

Child Seat Detected (or Load Less Than Fifth Percentile Female) Occupant Classification Message -
Each time the ACM receives a message from the OCM indicating a child seat has been detected in the pas-
senger side front seat (or that the seat load is less than that of a fifth percentile female) the passenger airbag
and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are deactivated and the passenger airbag on/off indicator will be
illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the ACM receives an occupant classification message indi-
cating that the passenger side front seat is empty, that the seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than
a fifth percentile female, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.

•

Load Undetermined Occupant Classification Message - Each time the ACM receives a message from the
OCM indicating that a load cannot be determined in the passenger side front seat, the passenger airbag and
seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are deactivated and the passenger airbag on/off indicator will be illu-
minated. The indicator remains illuminated until the ACM receives an occupant classification message indicat-
ing that the passenger side front seat is empty, that the seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a
fifth percentile female, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.

8O - 294

RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

•

Communication Error - If the ACM receives invalid occupant classification messages or no messages from
the OCM, the passenger airbag on/off indicator is illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the ACM
receives a valid message from the OCM indicating that the passenger side front seat is empty, that the seat is
occupied by a load equal to or greater than a fifth percentile female, or until the ignition switch is turned to the
Off position, whichever occurs first.

The ACM continually monitors the occupant classification messages from the OCM to decide whether the passenger
airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits should be activated or deactivated. Note that there may be sev-
eral seconds of delay between changes in the detected occupant status and passenger airbag on/off indications.
This is a programmed feature of the OCM used to prevent a flashing indicator condition resulting from the normal
shifting of occupant weight on the passenger seat cushion. The ACM then provides the proper control output to turn
the passenger airbag on/off indicator on or off.

The ACM will store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any malfunction it detects. For proper diagnosis of the
OCM, the ACM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message inputs to the ACM that control the passenger airbag
on/off indicator, a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental
restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification sys-
tem, 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 supplemental
restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.

Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to dis-
charge before further service.

2. Using a trim stick (2) or another suitable wide flat-

bladed tool, gently pry the inboard grab handle end
cap (1) upwards at the parting line between the
cap and the grab handle (3) far enough to disen-
gage the cap from the handle.

3. Pull the end cap (2) away from the instrument

panel far enough to access and disconnect the
wire harness connector for the passenger airbag
on/off indicator from the connector receptacle (3)
on the back of the indicator housing (1).

4. From the back of the inboard end cap, depress the

two latches (4) toward the indicator housing and
push the indicator out through the face of the end
cap.

RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

8O - 295

INSTALLATION

1. From the face of the inboard end cap (2), align the

passenger airbag on/off indicator housing (1) with
the mounting hole.

2. Using hand pressure, push the indicator firmly and

evenly into inboard end cap until the two latches
(4) are fully engaged on the back of the cap.

3. Position the indicator and end cap unit close

enough to the instrument panel to reconnect the
wire harness connector for the indicator to the indi-
cator connector receptacle (3). Be certain that the
connector is fully engaged in the receptacle.

4. Align the indicator and end cap unit with the

inboard end of the grab handle, and engage the
lower snap feature of the end cap to the bottom of
the grab handle.

5. Using hand pressure, push the upper edge of the end cap firmly and evenly over the top of the grab handle until

the cap snaps into place.

6. Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this time. The supplemental restraint system verification test pro-

cedure should be performed following service of any supplemental restraint system component. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION TEST).

7. Following successful completion of the supplemental restraint system verification test procedure, perform the

Occupant Classification System Verification Test using a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic
procedures.

8O - 296

RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

SEAT BELT BUCKLE

REMOVAL

FRONT

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, during and following any seat belt or child restraint anchor
service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles, mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors
for proper installation, operation, 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. Replace any child
restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to
repair a seat belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or faulty seat belt and child
restraint components with the correct, new and unused replacement parts listed in the DaimlerChrysler
Mopar Parts Catalog.

1. On the driver side only, disconnect and isolate the

battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the
system capacitor to discharge before further ser-
vice.

2. On the driver side only, remove the front seat and

seat track from the floor panel as a unit. (Refer to
23 - BODY/SEATS/SEAT - FRONT - REMOVAL).

3. On the driver side only, disconnect the seat belt

switch pigtail wire (1) connector from the seat wire
harness connector (2) on the seat cushion frame
bracket (3) located under the rear edge of the seat
cushion near the inboard side of the seat.

4. Remove the screw (3) that secures the front seat

belt buckle (1) anchor to the bracket near the rear
of the inboard seat track.

5. On the driver side only, remove the two screws that

secure the inboard seat cushion side shield (2) to
the seat cushion frame.

6. On the driver side only, remove the two screws that

secure the inboard seat track to the rear inboard
corner of the seat cushion frame.

7. On the driver side only, disconnect the seat belt

switch pigtail wire routing clip from the locating hole
in the seat cushion frame.

8. On the driver side only, remove the seat belt switch

pigtail wire from between the seat cushion frame
and the seat track by gently prying the inboard seat
track away from the inboard rear corner of the seat
cushion frame far enough to slide the pigtail wire from between them.

RESTRAINTS - SERVICE INFORMATION

8O - 297

Content .. 245 246 247 248 ..