OEM 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Van Air Bag

2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Van Air Bag Parts and Q&A

• Q: What essential steps and precautions concerning the Air Bag must be taken before diagnosing or servicing the steering wheel, steering column, or instrument panel components on 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Van?

  A: air bag disconnection and isolation is necessary before doing any diagnosis or service on the steering wheel, steering column or instrument panel, as you must wait two minutes for the air bag capacitor to discharge. If you remove an air bag from a vehicle, put on rubber gloves, safety glasses and have a long-sleeved shirt on because the air bag may contain irritant debris. The driver air bag unit relies on the horn switch, so it should only be repaired by technicians with the proper knowledge to prevent accidental deployment of the air bag. Special care needs to be applied to make sure no unwanted items reach or get stuck in the air bag, as this may harm the face of an occupant during deployment. Do not paint the driver air bag trim cover because replacement covers are produced in their original colors and painting may affect how the air bag works. To disconnect, disconnect the negative battery cable, take out the air bag in the steering wheel, press the air bag housing into the slot on the outside trim, pull back the side corners to remove the outside trim cover and remove the air bag housing, inflator, cushion and horn switch as one piece. Take out the plastic wire holder, loosen the nut and washer attaching the horn switch ground pigtail wire to the eyelet and move the horn switch and tray to pull away from its holder. To assemble, put the horn switch and tray unit into the pouch on the driver air bag cushion retainer strap, assuring both parts are facing the right direction and wires are clear, snip the ground pigtail wire through the notch, secure and fasten the eyelet terminal and tighten the nut to 7 Nm (65 in. lbs.). Take the black air bag feed wire through the sub frame direct feed channel, push the plastic wire retainer over the above stud into the inflator stud, insert the air bag into the trim cover receptacle, activate each of the twelve hooks and verify that the blocking tabs are right side up. Next, make sure the hooks of the air bag housing are engaged and put the driver's air bag back onto the steering wheel.