DRIVER AIRBAG
DESCRIPTION
The color-keyed, injection molded, thermoplastic
driver airbag protective trim cover is the most visible
part of the driver airbag (Fig. 21). The driver airbag
is located in the center of the steering wheel, where
it is secured with two screws to the armature of the
four-spoke steering wheel. All models have a chrome
Dodge Ram emblem in the center of the trim cover.
Concealed beneath the driver airbag trim cover are
the horn switch, the folded airbag cushion, the airbag
cushion retainer, the airbag housing, the airbag infla-
tor, and the retainers that secure the inflator to the
airbag housing.
The airbag cushion, housing, and inflator are
secured within an integral receptacle molded into the
back of the trim cover. The four vertical walls of this
receptacle have a total of twelve small windows with
blocking tabs that are engaged by twelve hook forma-
tions around the perimeter of the airbag housing.
Each hook is inserted through one of the windows
and the blocking tab in each window keeps the hook
properly engaged with the trim cover, locking the
trim cover securely into place on the airbag housing.
The resistive membrane-type horn switch is
secured with heat stakes to the inside surface of the
driver airbag trim cover, between the trim cover and
the folded airbag cushion. The horn switch ground
pigtail wire has an eyelet terminal connector that is
captured beneath a flanged nut on the upper right
inflator mounting stud on the back of the housing
(Fig. 22). The horn switch feed pigtail wire has a
black, molded plastic insulator that is secured by an
integral retainer in a locator hole near the upper
right corner of the airbag housing and is connected tothe vehicle electrical system through a dedicated
take out and connector of the steering wheel wire
harness. Both horn switch wires are routed through
an integral notch in the center of the upper edge of
the airbag housing stamping.
The airbag used in this model is a multistage, Next
Generation-type that complies with revised federal
airbag standards to deploy with less force than those
used in some prior models. A 71 centimeter (28 inch)
diameter, radial deploying fabric cushion with inter-
nal tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a dual-ini-
tiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit with four
mounting studs and is secured to the stamped metal
airbag housing by four flanged hex nuts. Two keyed
and color-coded connector receptacles on the driver
airbag inflator connect the two inflator initiators to
the vehicle electrical system through two yellow-jack-
eted, two-wire pigtail harnesses of the clockspring.
The driver airbag unit cannot be repaired, and
must be replaced if deployed or in any way damaged.
The driver airbag trim cover and horn switch unit
may be disassembled from the driver airbag unit,
and is available for separate service replacement.
OPERATION
The multistage driver airbag is deployed by electri-
cal signals generated by the Airbag Control Module
(ACM) through the driver airbag squib 1 and squib 2
circuits to the two initiators in the airbag inflator. By
using two initiators, the airbag can be deployed at
multiple levels of force. The force level is controlled
Fig. 21 Driver Airbag Trim Cover
1 - STEERING WHEEL
2 - TRIM COVER
Fig. 22 Driver Airbag Housing
1 - HORN SWITCH FEED WIRE
2 - HORN SWITCH GROUND WIRE
3 - INFLATOR
4 - TRIM COVER
5 - HOUSING
DRRESTRAINTS 8O - 23
