Q: What Should You Do When Your Air Bag Deploys in a Collision on 2004 Dodge Ram 1500?
A: After a crash, the air bag supplemental restraint system must be disabled on cars with air bags before you look into or repair anything with the steering wheel, steering column, driver air bag, passenger air bag, seat belt tensioner, side curtain air bag or instrument panel parts. Separate the negative cable connecting to the battery for two minutes, so the system capacitor can exhaust all its charge. Every vehicle used again after a supplemental restraint is triggered should have all used restraints replaced. If the driver air bag has deployed, you have to replace the Clock Spring; if the passenger air bag deploys, you have to replace that air bag door. If either front air bag has been triggered, the seat belt tensioners also need to be replaced. When an air bag is being replaced, all the air bag parts including the headliner and upper A, B and C-pillar trim should be changed, because they can't be saved and may no longer be sturdy. After any impact damage to the vehicle, you should check and secure all mounting spots for the Acm and Siacm properly, as bent, gaping, loose or corroded areas can stop the air bag systems from working properly. A powder residue, formed mostly of harmless by-products from the air bag propellant, will be left inside the vehicle after deployment, but sodium hydroxide powder which may cause irritation to the skin, nose, eyes or throat, could be present, too. Consequently, safety glasses, rubber gloves and a shirt covering your skin are needed when cleaning up. If your skin starts to irritate, rinse the area with water. If it's your throat or nose that hurts, get some outside air for a bit. It's better to vacuum the inside of the car from the outside so you don't sit or kneel on areas you haven't cleaned yet and be sure to clean the heater and air conditioning vents with the vacuum. Remove the air bags and seat belt tensioners from the vehicle and get rid of them according to the appropriate government rules and regulations and then take the deployed supplemental restraints out as well, cleaning the interior a second time to get up any remaining powder.