About I-CAR - Current Events/News: e-newsletters: Advantage Online: May 20, 2002

May 20, 2002 -Side airbags are designed to supplement the door and vehicle structure for head or torso protection or both during a side impact. Side airbags are located in either the seats, door panels, A-pillars, headrests, or roof rails. Shapes of the deployed airbags also vary. The largest type of side airbag that protects the head and torso in side impacts, and is also being used for rollover occupant protection in some vehicles, is the side curtain airbag. The curtain airbag drops out of the roof rail while inflating (see Video).

Note that for the purpose of this article, the curtain airbag was manually deployed inside the vehicle. Normally, the only time any airbag would be manually deployed inside the vehicle is if the vehicle is to be recycled. Recyclers can deploy airbags in this method if any airbags are not deployed when the vehicle is brought to the facility.

This article will show the procedure for replacing the side curtain airbag in a 2002 Saturn Vue.

Replacement And Inspection Items

The service manual for the Vue states that after a collision involving a curtain airbag deployment, the side impact sensor and the curtain inflator module on the side of the deployment must be replaced. The headliner, which conceals the curtain airbag and the inflator, must also be replaced. The sensing and diagnostic module, located under the center console, must be replaced with any airbag deployment.

Inspection items for any airbag deployment include performing steering column checks, seats and seat mounting point checks, seat belt operational checks, knee bolster inspections, inspections of the instrument panel and its attachment points, and inspections of the roll connector (clock spring) for heat damage. The service manual details these specific inspection procedures. If any part damage is discovered in these checks, the parts must be replaced.

Disabling The System

Figure 1-This AIRBAG fuse is for the entire passive restraints system.

Before any collision repairs are started, the passive restraints system must be disabled. Even though only one side curtain airbag deployed, both side curtain airbags and the complete front airbag system must be disabled. To do this, first turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle’s wheels are pointing straight ahead. Switch the ignition to OFF and remove the key. Then remove the AIRBAG fuse. This is a mini-fuse in the instrument panel fuse block (see Figure 1).

Figure 2-Remove the coat hooks by first pulling out the center retainers.

Figure 3-The curtain airbag connectors are hidden by the headliner.

Figure 4-The passenger airbag connector is accessed under the instrument panel.

Figure 5-The complete headliner must be removed to replace the deployed side curtain airbags.

Figure 6-A tether attached to the A-pillar anchors the side curtain module.

The connectors for the curtain airbags are located under the headliner. Start by popping the center push pins located in the upper headliner trim panel. Then remove the right and left D-pillar upper trim panels. The coat hooks on both sides must be removed. Use a small, screwdriver to partially remove the coat hook center retainers (see Figure 2). Then pull on the coat hooks to remove them from the headliner. The headliner can then be pulled back on each side to expose the yellow two-way connectors. Remove the connector locks and disconnect the connectors (see Figure 3). The connector for the front passenger airbag is attached to the HVAC blower motor housing. The connector can be disconnected without removing the glove box (see Figure 4). The driver airbag connector is located at the base of the steering column. Unlock the connector and disconnect it. The passive restraints system is now disabled.

Removal And Installation

To access the deployed curtain airbag, the headliner and garnish moldings are first removed (see Figure 5). The deployed side curtain is removed by unsnapping the tether retainer from the windshield pillar (see Figure 6). Then remove the curtain fasteners, clips, and plastic guides from the structure. Clips and plastic guides are serviced with the new side curtain assembly and should NOT be reused. The new side curtain airbag assembly is then reinstalled (see Video).

Enabling The System

To enable the rest of the system, make sure the ignition switch is OFF. Then reconnect the driver and passenger front airbags by reconnecting the yellow two-way connectors and installing

Click on the image to start the video to see how to install a new side curtain airbag module.

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the connector locks. At the instrument panel fuse box, reinstall the AIRBAG mini-fuse. Then the battery can be reconnected and the system tested. Do this by turning the ignition ON. The airbag light should flash seven times, then stop. This indicates that the restraint system is operational. If the airbag light does not go out, a scan tool should be used to perform diagnostic testing and clearing of diagnostic trouble codes.