Section 190 (Airbag System): General Description: Caution

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Subaru Impreza. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

When servicing a vehicle, be sure to turn the ignition switch to OFF, disconnect the ground cable from battery, and wait for 20 seconds or more before starting work.
The airbag system is fitted with a backup power source. After disconnecting the battery ground cable, the airbag may deploy if you do not wait for 20 seconds or more before starting airbag system servicing.

Fig 1: Disconnecting Battery Ground Cable
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
If the airbag warning light illuminates, repair the vehicle immediately. Otherwise, the airbag or pre-tensioner may inflate incorrectly, or not inflate in collision.
If each airbag sensor, airbag module, airbag control module, pretensioner, harness or satellite safing sensor is deformed or damaged, replace with a new part.

Fig 2: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
When checking the airbag system, be sure to use a digital circuit tester. Use of an analog circuit tester may cause the airbag to activate erroneously due to a minimal current inside tester.

Fig 3: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
When checking, use a test harness (1). Damage to connector terminal cause malfunction. Do not directly apply the tester probe to connector terminal of airbag.

Fig 4: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Do not allow water or oil to come in contact with the connector terminals. Also do not touch the connector terminals.

Fig 5: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Do not check continuity of the airbag modules for driver's side, passenger's side and curtain, or the pretensioner.

Fig 6: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
If damage, open circuit or rust is found on airbag system wiring harness, do not use a soldering equipment to repair. Replace the faulty harness with a new genuine part.

Fig 7: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Install the wiring harness securely with the specified clips to avoid interference or tangled with other parts.

Fig 8: Identifying Wiring Harness
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
When painting or performing sheet metal work on the front part of the vehicle, including the front wheel apron, front fender and front side frame, remove the front sub sensors and wiring harness of airbag system.
When painting or performing sheet metal work on the side of the vehicle, including the side sill, center pillar and front and rear doors, or near the rear floorpan or rear crossmember, remove the side airbag sensors, curtain airbag sensors, satellite safing sensor and wiring harness of the airbag system.

Fig 9: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Do not use the airbag or pretensioner parts from other vehicles. Always replace the defective parts with new parts.
Never reuse a deployed airbag module and pretensioner.
Do not discard undeployed airbag module or pretensioner.
When airbag control module, front sub sensor, side airbag sensor, curtain airbag sensor and satellite safing sensor are removed, do not reuse the bolts and nuts. Always use new bolts and nuts for them.
When the satellite safing sensor cover is removed, do not reuse the satellite safing sensor cover. Be sure to replace the satellite safing sensor cover with a new part.
Do not drop each airbag module, airbag control module or sensor, subject them to high temperature of 85°C (185°F) or more, or let water, oil or grease get on them; otherwise, the internal parts may be damaged and reliability greatly lowered.

Fig 10: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
After removing all the parts of airbag system, keep the airbag module with the pad side facing upward on a dry, clean and flat surface away from heat, light sources, moisture and dust.

Fig 11: Identifying Airbag Module With Pad Side Facing Upward
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
The driver's, passenger's, side, curtain airbag modules, and the pretensioner must not be disassembled.

Fig 12: Precaution For Electrical Components
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
When installing steering wheel and steering roll connector, be sure to adjust the steering roll connector.
The removed front seat with airbag module must be kept at least 200 mm (8 in) away from walls and other objects.

Fig 13: Identifying Distance Between Seat And Walls
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
When storing a removed airbag module, do not place it with the pad side of airbag facing downward. Do not place any objects on the airbag module. Do not pile up the airbag module. If the airbag inflates for some reason when an airbag module pad is touching other objects, it may cause serious accident.

Fig 14: Precaution For Electrical Components

Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.