2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE airbag trouble

NOTE: Vehicles equipped with a three-point center
seat belt have the center seat belt lower anchor
secured to the right buckle anchor plate with a
screw instead of the center lap belt. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/REAR CENTER SEAT
BELT & RETRACTOR - INSTALLATION).
(3) Fold the rear seat cushion back into the seat-
ing position.
SEAT BELT SWITCH
DESCRIPTION
The seat belt switch for this model is actually a
Hall Effect-type sensor. This sensor consists of a
fixed-position, Hall Effect Integrated Circuit (IC) chip
and a small permanent magnet that are integral to
each front seat belt buckle. The front seat belt buck-
les are each located on a stamped steel stanchion
within a molded plastic scabbard and secured with a
screw to the floor panel transmission tunnel on the
inboard side of each front seat cushion (Fig. 40). Theseat belt switches are connected to the vehicle elec-
trical system through a two-lead pigtail wire and
connector on the seat belt buckle-half, which is con-
nected to a wire harness connector and take out of
the body wire harness on vehicles with manual seat
adjusters, or to a connector and take out of the power
seat wire harness on vehicles with power seat adjust-
ers. A radio noise suppression capacitor is connected
in parallel with the IC where the two pigtail wire
leads connect to the IC pins.
The seat belt switch cannot be adjusted or repaired
and, if faulty or damaged, the entire seat belt buckle-
half unit must be replaced.
OPERATION
The seat belt switches are designed to provide a
status signal to the seat belt switch sense inputs of
the Airbag Control Module (ACM) indicating whether
the front seat belts are fastened. The ACM uses the
seat belt switch inputs as a factor in determining
what level of force with which it should deploy the
multistage driver and passenger airbags. In addition,
the ACM sends electronic messages to the ElectroMe-
chanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) to control the
seat belt indicator based upon the status of the
driver side front seat belt switch. A spring-loaded
slide with a small window-like opening is integral to
the buckle latch mechanism. When a seat belt tip-
half is inserted and latched into the seat belt buckle,
the slide is pushed downward and the window of the
slide exposes the Hall Effect Integrated Circuit (IC)
chip within the buckle to the field of the permanent
magnet, which induces a current within the chip.
The chip provides this induced current as an output
to the ACM, which monitors the current to determine
the status of the front seat belts. When the seat belt
is unbuckled, the spring-loaded slide moves upward
and shields the IC from the field of the permanent
magnet, causing the output current from the seat
belt switch to be reduced.
The seat belt switch receives a supply current from
the ACM, and the ACM senses the status of the front
seat belts through its pigtail wire connection to the
airbag overlay wire harness. The ACM monitors the
condition of the seat belt switch circuits and will illu-
minate the airbag indicator in the EMIC then store a
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any fault that is
detected in either seat belt switch circuit. For proper
diagnosis of the seat belt switches, a DRBIIItscan
tool is required. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic
information.
Fig. 40 Front Seat Belt Buckle
1 - SEAT BELT BUCKLE
2 - SEAT BELT SWITCH PIGTAIL WIRE
3 - SCREW
WJRESTRAINTS 8O - 37
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE (Continued)

The impact sensor housing has an integral connec-
tor receptacle and two integral mounting ears, each
with a metal sleeve to provide crush protection. A
cavity in the center of the molded black plastic
impact sensor housing contains the electronic cir-
cuitry of the sensor which includes an electronic com-
munication chip and an electronic impact sensor.
Potting material fills the cavity to seal and protect
the internal electronic circuitry and components. The
side impact sensors are each connected to the vehicle
electrical system through a dedicated take out and
connector of the airbag overlay wire harness.
The side impact sensors cannot be repaired or
adjusted and, if damaged or faulty, they must be
replaced.
OPERATION
The side impact sensors are electronic accelerome-
ters that sense the rate of vehicle deceleration, which
provides verification of the direction and severity of
an impact. Each sensor also contains an electronic
communication chip that allows the unit to commu-
nicate the sensor status as well as sensor fault infor-
mation to the microprocessor in the Airbag Control
Module (ACM). The ACM microprocessor continu-
ously monitors all of the passive restraint system
electrical circuits to determine the system readiness.
If the ACM detects a monitored system fault, it sets
a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) and controls the
airbag indicator operation accordingly.
The impact sensors each receive battery current and
ground through dedicated left and right sensor plus
and minus circuits from the ACM. The impact sensors
and the ACM communicate by modulating the voltage
in the sensor plus circuit. The hard wired circuits
between the side impact sensors and the ACM may bediagnosed and tested using conventional diagnostic
tools and procedures. However, conventional diagnos-
tic methods will not prove conclusive in the diagnosis
of the ACM or the impact sensors. The most reliable,
efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the impact
sensors, the ACM, and the electronic message commu-
nication between the sensors and the ACM requires
the use of a DRBIIItscan tool. Refer to the appropri-
ate diagnostic information.
REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG,
PASSENGER AIRBAG, FRONT IMPACT SENSOR,
SIDE IMPACT SENSOR, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG, OR
INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BAT-
TERY 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 ACCI-
DENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
PERSONAL INJURY.
WARNING: THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR ENABLES
THE SYSTEM TO DEPLOY THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR-
BAG. NEVER STRIKE OR DROP THE SIDE IMPACT
SENSOR, AS IT CAN DAMAGE THE IMPACT SEN-
SOR OR AFFECT ITS CALIBRATION. IF AN IMPACT
SENSOR IS ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED DURING
SERVICE, THE SENSOR MUST BE SCRAPPED AND
REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT. FAILURE TO
OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL, INCOMPLETE, OR IMPROPER SIDE CUR-
TAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
OCCUPANT INJURIES.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to
discharge before further service.
(2) Remove the trim from the lower right or left
B-pillar. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR
LOWER TRIM - REMOVAL).
(3) Disconnect the airbag overlay wire harness
connector for the right or left side impact sensor from
the sensor connector receptacle (Fig. 47).
(4) Remove the two screws that secure the right or
left side impact sensor to the B-pillar.
(5) Remove the side impact sensor from the B-pil-
lar.
Fig. 46 Side Impact Sensor
1 - SENSOR
2 - CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE
WJRESTRAINTS 8O - 43
SIDE IMPACT SENSOR (Continued)

tion feature of the ITM can be disabled by depressing
the ªLockº button on the RKE transmitter three
times or cycling the key in the driver door cylinder
from the center to lock position within fifteen seconds
during VTA arming, while the security indicator is
still flashing rapidly. The VTA provides a single short
siren ªchirpº as an audible conformation that the
motion detect disable request has been received. The
ITM must be electronically enabled in order for the
intrusion alarm to perform as designed. The intru-
sion alarm function of the ITM is enabled on vehicles
equipped with this option at the factory, but a service
replacement ITM must be configured and enabled by
the dealer using the DRBIIItscan tool. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.
OPERATION - SENTRY KEY IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The Sentry Key Immobilizer System (SKIS) is
designed to provide passive protection against unau-
thorized vehicle use by disabling the engine after
about two seconds of running, whenever any method
other than a valid Sentry Key is used to start the
vehicle. The SKIS is considered a passive protection
system because it is always active when the ignition
system is energized and does not require any cus-
tomer intervention. The SKIS uses Radio Frequency
(RF) communication to obtain confirmation that the
key in the ignition switch is a valid key for operating
the vehicle. The microprocessor-based SKIS hard-
ware and software also uses messages to communi-
cate with other modules in the vehicle over the
Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data
bus. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CON-
TROL MODULES/COMMUNICATION - OPERA-
TION).
Pre-programmed Sentry Key transponders are pro-
vided with the vehicle from the factory. Each Sentry
Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) will recognize a
maximum of eight Sentry Keys. If the customer
would like additional keys other than those provided
with the vehicle, they may be purchased from any
authorized dealer. These additional keys must be pro-
grammed to the SKIM in the vehicle in order for the
system to recognize them as valid keys. This can be
done by the dealer using a DRBIIItscan tool or, if
Customer Learn programming is an available SKIS
feature in the market where the vehicle was pur-
chased, the customer can program the additional
keys, as long as at least two valid Sentry Keys are
already available. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/VEHI-
CLE THEFT SECURITY - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE - TRANSPONDER PROGRAMMING).
The SKIS performs a self-test each time the igni-
tion switch is turned to the On position, and will
store fault information in the form of DiagnosticTrouble Codes (DTC's) if a system malfunction is
detected. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic informa-
tion.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - VEHICLE THEFT
SECURITY SYSTEM
The VTSS-related hard wired inputs to and out-
puts from the Body Control Module (BCM), the
Driver Door Module (DDM), or the Passenger Door
Module (PDM) may be diagnosed and tested using
conventional diagnostic tools and procedures. Refer
to the appropriate wiring information.
However, conventional diagnostic methods may not
prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the BCM, the
DDM, the PDM, or the Programmable Communica-
tions Interface (PCI) data bus network. In order to
obtain conclusive testing of the VTSS, the BCM, the
DDM, the PDM, and the PCI data bus network must
also be checked. The most reliable, efficient, and
accurate means to diagnose the VTSS requires the
use of a DRBIIItscan tool and the appropriate diag-
nostic information.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
8Q - 4 VEHICLE THEFT SECURITYWJ
VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY (Continued)