Inflator Module

When the vehicle is in an accident of sufficient force to simultaneously close the arming sensor and at least one discriminating sensor, nitrogen gas inflates the cloth bag packed inside the steering wheel hub. As air bag is contacted by driver or passenger, the gas is vented through openings in the bag, which deflates almost as soon as it is completely deployed.

There is a shorting bar on the inflator module side of the upper steering column connector which connects the SIR coil to the inflator module. The shorting bar shorts the inflator module circuit when the upper steering column connector is disconnected. The circuit to the inflator module is shorted in this way to help prevent unwanted deployment of the air bag when servicing the inflator module or steering column.