Airbag Control Module: Removal

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification system, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery 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 accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, never strike or drop the airbag control module, as it can damage the impact sensor or affect its calibration. The airbag control module contains the impact sensor, which enables the system to deploy the supplemental restraints. If an airbag control module is accidentally dropped during service, the module must be scrapped and replaced with a new unit. Failure to observe this warning could result in accidental, incomplete, or improper supplemental restraint deployment.

CAUTION: On vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), never replace both the Airbag Control Module (ACM) and the Occupant Classification Module (OCM) at the same time. If both require replacement, replace one. Then perform the supplemental restraint verification test before replacing the other. Both the ACM and the OCM store OCS calibration data, which they transfer to one another when one of them is replaced. If both are replaced at the same time, an irreversible fault will be set in both modules.

Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
Remove the center console from the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel. (Refer to BODY/INTERIOR/FLOOR CONSOLE - REMOVAL) .
CAUTION: Use care when disengaging the Airbag Control Module (ACM) cover latches from the ACM or the cover may be damaged.

The ACM cover is secured to the ACM by a latch tab located on each side of the cover. See Fig 1. Gently pry both latch tabs away from the ACM far enough to disengage the latches from the slots in the base of the ACM housing, then lift the cover off of the ACM.

Fig 1: Airbag Control Module Remove/Install

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - COVER

2 - LATCH (2)

3 - SCREW (3)

4 - BRACKET

5 - SLOT (2)

6 - AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE

Disconnect the two wire harness connectors (one each from the instrument panel and the body wire harnesses) for the ACM from the ACM connector receptacles located on the forward facing side of the module. See Fig 2. To disconnect the wire harness connectors from the ACM, depress the release tab and lift the lever arm on each connector.

Fig 2: Airbag Control Module Connectors

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE

2 - LEVER ARM (2)

3 - WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR (2)

Remove the three screws that secure the ACM to the ACM bracket that is welded onto the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel.
Remove the ACM from the floor panel transmission tunnel.