Functional Operation

The airbag system was designed to provide increased driver and passenger protection if the vehicle is involved in a front end collision. The system was designed to be, and is most effective when used in conjunction with the seat belt system. The passenger side airbag assembly utilizes a canister of compressed, inert gas to inflate the bag. This gas is expanded at a very high rate through a heating process, that allows a small quantity of gas under a very high pressure to inflate the large passenger airbag.

The Prowler utilizes two front impact sensors, located on each side of the battery and a safing sensor located in the ACM to control the deployment of the airbags. Diagnosis of the system is done through the Data Link Connector (DLC) located under and just to the left of the steering column.

The airbag lamp is located in the cluster. Whenever the ignition key is turned to the "run" position, the cluster illuminates the bulb for 7 seconds. This illumination is called bulb prove-out. After the 7 seconds, the bulb will normally extinguish. The bulb will illuminate if the ACM senses a fault in the Airbag system and communicates this message to the cluster via the CCD bus. The cluster will also light the light if the ACM fails to communicate with it for 5 consecutive seconds. If for some reason the cluster illuminates the airbag lamp, it will keep the lamp illuminated for a minimum of 12 seconds. This lamp is not dimmable.

The ACM monitors critical input and output circuits within the airbag system, making sure they are operating correctly. Some circuits are tested continuously; others are checked only under certain circumstances. The ACM provides diagnostic information about the airbag system to the technician through the DRBIII® via the CCD bus.

The deceleration or g-force resulting from the impact of a front-end collision causes the front sensors to close. The safing sensor is designed to close from much lower g-forces than the front sensors. As soon as one of the front impact sensors and the safing sensor are closed, an electrical charge is sent to the airbag module. This causes the inflator to be actuated, thus deploying the airbags. The total time from the closure of the sensors to deployment and deflation of the airbags is less than 1/10 of one second.

The ACM also contains an energy storage capacitor. This capacitor stores enough electrical energy to deploy the airbags for up to two minutes following a battery disconnect or failure. The purpose of the capacitor is to provide airbag deployment in a severe secondary impact if the initial impact has damaged or disconnected the battery, but was not severe enough to deploy the airbags. The AIRBAG warning lamp is the only point at which "symptoms" of a system malfunction can be observed by the customer.

REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS ONLY WITH PARTS SPECIFIED IN THE CHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG. SUBSTITUTE PARTS MAY APPEAR INTERCHANGEABLE, BUT INTERNAL DIFFERENCES MAY RESULT IN INFERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION. THE FASTENERS, SCREWS, AND BOLTS ORIGINALLY USED FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE SPECIAL COATINGS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THEY MUST NEVER BE REPLACED WITH ANY SUBSTITUTES. ANY TIME A NEW FASTENER IS NEEDED, REPLACE IT WITH THE CORRECT FASTENERS PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE PACKAGE OR SPECIFIED IN THE CHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG.  .