Airbag System: Notes

The JR Airbag System contains the following components: two types of Occupant Restraint Controller or (ORC), base and premium, Airbag Warning Indicator, Clockspring, Driver and Passenger Dual Squib Airbags, Seat belt Tensioners, Left and Right Side Impact Sensors, and Curtain (roof mounted) Airbags. The (ORC) is a new type of Airbag Control Module (ACM) that supports staged airbag deployment. The term Airbag Control Module or ACM will be used throughout the airbag diagnostic section and in the Diagnostic Readout Box or DRB III®. The Base ACM can be identified by the present of a single yellow 23 - way connector. This module supports the Driver and Passenger Seat Belt Tensioners and dual squib airbags.

The ACM has four major functions: PCI Bus communications, onboard diagnostics, impact sensing, and component deployment. The ACM sends and/or receives PCI Bus messages with the Instrument Cluster (MIC), Body Control Module (BCM), and Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Diagnostic trouble codes will be set if the communication with these modules is lost or contains invalid information. If the ACM detects a monitored system fault, it sends a message to the instrument cluster via PCI bus to turn on the Airbag Warning Indicator. The ACM can set both active and stored diagnostic trouble codes to aid in the diagnosing system problems. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES .

The ACM has an internal accelerometer that senses the rate of vehicle deceleration, which provides verification of the direction and severity of an impact. A pre-programmed decision algorithm in the ACM microprocessor determines when the deceleration rate is severe enough to require airbag system protection. The ACM also uses the crash severity to determine the level of driver and front passenger deployment, staged deployment low medium or high. Staged deployment is the ability to trigger airbag system squib inflators all at once or individually as needed to provide the appropriate restraint for the severity of the impact. When the programmed conditions are met, the ACM sends an electrical signal to deploy the appropriate airbag system components. The ACM stores enough electrical energy to deploy the airbag components for two seconds following a battery disconnect or failure during an impact.

The Premium ACM can be identified by the present of a two yellow 32 - way connectors and the presents of side curtain airbag. In addition to the base system components and DTC's the premium ACM supports the Side Impact Sensors, side Curtain Airbags. In addition to the ACM accelerometer the premium module uses Side Impact Sensors to identify the direction and severity of a side impact and deploy the appropriate side curtain airbag. In addition to the base ACM DTCs the premium ACM provides DTC's for the additional circuit and component.

Both modules are secured to the floor panel transmission tunnel between the front seats inside the vehicle. Airbag Control Modules cannot be repaired or adjusted and must be replaced.