OEM 2009 Mercury Sable Air Bag

2009 Mercury Sable Air Bag Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How should one service and repair the side air bag module to prevent accidental deployment and ensure safety on 2009 Mercury Sable?

  A: Every service and repair of side air bag modules requires treating whole modules with air bag and deployment door/trim cover/tear seam directed away from people to stop potential serious injuries from accidental deployment. The connections on air bag modules and Safety Canopy® and side air curtain modules should never receive probing because it can trigger an accidental deployment. The seat side air bag module requires a replacement when either the cover shows damage or the air bag material becomes exposed instead of conducting any repair work. Seats with side air bags require replacement of their front backrest trim covers but cleaning is permitted. A scan tool must be used for OCS system reset during front passenger seat cushion disassembly or when installing new trim cover or OCS system service kits to avoid system failure. A deployed side air bag requires the replacement of the seat back pad along with the trim cover and side air bag module as well as a possible replacement of the seat back frame. The indicator on the air bags will light up if the correct RCM fuse is taken out and the ignition is turned ON. Fixed SRS systems must be both operational and faultless before handing the car back to customers. The first step requires seat front removal then the removal of manual recline handles and seat cushion side shields. To begin remove the seat control switch electrical connector when needed followed by disengaging the rear seat cushion trim cover J-clip and hook-and-loop strip at the back of the cover. The seat side air bag module electrical connector should be unplugged while releasing all routing wire clips. The first step requires removing the manual lumbar handle if it exists before opening J-clip on the seat back lower trim cover. Pull gently on hook-and-loop strips of the seat backrest trim cover starting from the loop to the first hook rings to separate it completely. Then remove all hog rings. Proceed by unfastening the trim cover from its second row of hog rings while allowing release of the J-clips along with the side air bag module backrest trim cover chute J-clip. Route the chute along with the J-clip retainer through the pad opening of the backrest foam inside the side air bag module and let go of the hook-and-loop strip followed by removing both hog rings from the front and rear positions. Take out all hog rings holding the lumbar basket and backrest support to the backrest frame then set the foam pad to the side. Unclip the wire routing brackets securing the side air bag module then remove the two mounting nuts of the module. You must inspect the cavity of the side air bag module seat while checking for any foreign objects before examining both the module and mounting areas for damage or debris. Fasten the two nuts securing the side air bag module at 10 Nm (89 lb-in) torque while installing wire routing clips before attaching hog rings on the lumbar basket or backrest support. Roll down the trim cover and apply hog rings afterward before reattaching both J-clip retainers and backrest chute of the side air bag module trim cover. The assembly should begin by fastening J-clips to the trim cover back before placing hook-and-loop strips and installing hog rings for the second and first rows. At the end of the process install the manual lumbar handle if present and connect the electrical connector to the side air bag module. After reconnecting the seat control switch when present, complete seat front installation and final assembly of the seat cushion side shield. Complete the OCS system reset only after full passenger seat repair and correct component assembly through a voltage check between 8.0 and 18.0 volts and temperature evaluation between 6°C and 36°C (42°F to 97°F). First attempt the reset yet if unsuccessful then check OCS system wiring and components for damage and repair them before making a second reset attempt. A verification of the SRS system requires the driver to cycle ignition power from ON to OFF and back to ON while inspecting the air bag warning indicator for proper signal. The system must be diagnosed and faults must be repaired until all continuous DTCs from RCM and OCSM are cleared by a scan tool.