RESTRAINT, Active Head: Description: Description

Active Head Restraint (AHR) units are standard equipment for both front seating positions in this vehicle. One AHR unit is located atop each front seat back (2). An AHR can be readily distinguished from a non-active head restraint by the two-piece construction used for an AHR. The forward-facing pad (1) consists of a molded reinforced plastic convex form covered with a dense foam pad and is trimmed in a material coordinated with the other soft trim on the seat. The rearward-facing surface is equipped with a hard molded plastic trim cover (3) that matches the other hard trim on the seat.

Located between the pad and the trim cover are the support structure of the AHR and both the mechanical and electrical components of the unit. The support structure includes a molded plastic carrier that is securely clamped to a U-shaped, bright-plated metal tube, the legs of which form the two visible posts (4) that are used to secure the unit in the two plastic guide sleeves (5) located at the top of the seat back frame. These posts feature numerous notches that engage spring-loaded detents integral to the plastic guide sleeves which are used for manually adjusting the vertical height of the AHR unit to properly fit the seat occupant.

The mechanical components of the AHR include the linkage that permits the lower part of the pad to be tilted forward or rearward for comfort as well as the linkage that articulates the pad during deployment, a pair of heavy wire springs, a caliper-type latch mechanism and the latch striker. The single electrical component of the AHR unit is a latch-release solenoid and the pigtail wire that connects the solenoid to the vehicle electrical system. The pigtail wire and connector are routed through the center of one of the support posts and down through the guide sleeve into the interior of the seat back, where it is connected to a dedicated take out and connector of the seat wire harness.

The AHR cannot be repaired. If damaged or ineffective, it must be replaced with a new unit. However, unlike many other Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) components, following an AHR deployment, if no visible damage to the unit is observed it can usually be successfully reset and reused. Refer to RESTRAINT, Active Head, Standard Procedure .