Air Bag, Passenger: Description
The rearward-facing surface of the injection molded, thermoplastic Passenger AirBag (PAB) door (1) is the most visible part of the PAB. The PAB door is located above the glove box (2) opening on the top and face of the instrument panel in front of the front seat passenger seating position. The airbag door also includes a depressed area and clearance holes to accommodate the instrument panel grab handle (3). The edges of the PAB door are secured with integral snap features to the instrument panel base trim.
Located below the PAB door within the instrument panel is the PAB unit. The PAB unit is secured through two lower studs (5) and a stamped upper mounting bracket (6) to the die cast instrument panel structural support armature.
The PAB housing (1) fits into a molded receptacle on the back of the airbag door, where several stamped hook formations (2) on the upper and lower edges of the airbag housing are engaged in mating small window openings on the upper and lower flanges of the receptacle to secure the airbag door to the airbag housing. These airbag door fasteners and mounting provisions are all concealed beneath the instrument panel base trim.
The PAB unit used in this vehicle is a multistage, Next Generation-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. The PAB unit consists of a stamped and welded metal housing, the airbag cushion (3), and dual airbag inflators. The airbag housing contains the airbag inflators and the folded airbag cushion. An approximately 80 centimeter (31.5 inch) wide by 90 centimeter (35.5 inch) high rectangular fabric cushion is used.
The airbag inflator is a non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing. Two inflator initiators (4) are connected to the vehicle electrical system through dedicated take outs and connectors of the instrument panel wire harness.
A service replacement PAB does not include the PAB door. The PAB door may be disassembled from the PAB and is available for individual service replacement. The PAB unit cannot be repaired and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged.