Curtain Airbag: Installation

The following procedure is for replacement of a faulty or damaged side curtain airbag. If the airbag is faulty or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for handling non-deployed supplemental restraints. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - HANDLING NON-DEPLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS) . If the side curtain airbag has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for service after a supplemental restraint deployment before removing the airbag from the vehicle. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT) .

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 system, 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.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, when removing a deployed airbag, rubber gloves, eye protection, and a long-sleeved shirt should be worn. There may be deposits on the airbag unit and other interior surfaces. In large doses, these deposits may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, use extreme care to prevent any foreign material from entering the side curtain airbag, or becoming entrapped between the side curtain airbag cushion and the headliner. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.

Position the side curtain airbag into the vehicle as a unit.
Align all four plastic push-in fasteners that secure the extruded plastic side curtain airbag channel with their holes in the roof side rail and push them straight into the roof rail until they are fully seated and. See Figure and Figure.
Install and tighten the upper screw that secures the side curtain airbag inflator bracket to the U-nut in the roof rail, followed by the lower screw. See Figure. Tighten the screws to 12 N.m (105 in. lbs.).
Working from the rear of the vehicle to the front, install and tighten each of the three screws that secure the side curtain airbag manifold tube brackets to the U-nuts in the roof rail. Tighten the screws to 12 N.m (105 in. lbs.).
Route the side curtain airbag pigtail wire through the trough along the top of the extruded plastic airbag channel on the roof side rail, then between the channel and the body down the B-pillar.
NOTE: Be certain that the side curtain airbag pigtail wire is routed behind the airbag channel, between the channel and the body above the B-pillar.
Engage the three side curtain airbag pigtail wire retainer clips into the B-pillar. See Figure.
Reconnect the side curtain airbag pigtail wire connector to the body wire harness connector near the base of the B-pillar.
Engage the side curtain airbag tether plastic retainer clip into the A-pillar. See Figure.
Install and tighten the screw that secures the side curtain airbag tether retainer to the base of the A-pillar near the belt line. Tighten the screw to 14 N.m (120 in. lbs.).
Reinstall the headliner into the vehicle. (Refer to BODY/INTERIOR/HEADLINER - INSTALLATION) .
Reinstall the lower trim onto the inside of the B-pillar. (Refer to BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR LOWER TRIM - INSTALLATION) .
Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this time. The supplemental restraint system verification test procedure should be performed following service of any supplemental restraint system component. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION TEST) .