Ford Focus Service Manual: Side Airbag

NOTE:

Driver seat shown, passenger seat similar.

Removal and Installation

WARNING: Never
probe the electrical connectors on airbag, Safety Canopy or side air curtain assemblies. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the accidental deployment of these assemblies, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death.

WARNING: If the
seat side airbag cover has been damaged or separated from its mounting, or if the airbag material has been exposed, install a new seat side airbag assembly. Never try to repair the seat side airbag assembly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side airbag deploying incorrectly, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

WARNING: Front
seat backrest trim covers installed on seats equipped with seat side airbags cannot be repaired. A new trim cover must be installed. Cleaning is permissible. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side airbag deploying incorrectly and increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

NOTE:

If a side air bag deployment took place, a new seat backrest pad, trim cover, side air bag module and nuts must be installed. A new seat backrest frame should be installed if necessary.

NOTE:

The air bag warning indicator illuminates when the correct Restraints Control Module (RCM) fuse is removed and the ignition is ON.

NOTE:

The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

1. Depower the SRS . For additional information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Depowering and Repowering in the General Procedures portion of this section.

1. Remove the seat. For additional information, refer to Section  501-10.

1. Release the 2 seat backrest trim cover elastic straps from the rear of the cushion frame.
   • Release the side shield rear retainer to access the outboard seat backrest trim cover strap.

1. NOTICE: Use caution when pulling the J-clip through the seat bight line to avoid damaging the seat backrest wiring.

   Release the seat backrest trim cover lower J-clip and partially invert the trim cover up the seat backrest to expose the 2 tensioning rods and hog rings.

   • For installation, make sure the wire harness(es) is routed correctly before fastening the J-clip.
     • Route the side air bag wire harness to the outboard side of the seat backrest.
     • If equipped, route the heater mat wire harness out the inboard side of the driver seat backrest or the outboard side of the passenger seat backrest.

1. Remove the 2 hog rings attaching the tensioning rods to the lower end of the foam pad.

1. NOTE:

   Make sure the upper ends of the tensioning rods are correctly positioned behind the listing wire in the foam pad or the backrest trim cover will not be correctly fitted to the backrest foam pad.

   NOTE:

   The tensioning rods are removed from the backrest trim cover for clarity.

   Pull out and remove the 2 tensioning rods from the backrest trim cover.
   • For installation, make sure the upper end of each tensioning rod is positioned behind the foam pad listing wire.

1. Invert the backrest trim cover to the row of hog rings and side air bag module deployment chute.

1. WARNING: Check
   the seat side air bag deployment chute for damage. The deployment chute must not be repaired. If there is any damage to the deployment chute, a new seat back trim cover and deployment chute must be installed as a unit. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side air bag module deploying incorrectly and increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

   WARNING: Before
   installing the seat side air bag module/deployment chute assembly:

   • Inspect the side air bag module and mounting surfaces for any damage or foreign material.
   • Remove any foreign material from the mounting surfaces of the deployment chute, the seat backrest frame mounting bracket and the air bag module cavity in the seat backrest foam pad.
   • Install new parts if damaged.

   Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side air bag deploying incorrectly, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

   WARNING: Make
   sure the backrest foam pad is correctly installed over the backrest frame and that the seat side air bag module is centered in the opening of the backrest foam pad. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the seat side air bag module deploying incorrectly and increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

   NOTE:

   It is unnecessary to remove the plastic rivets when releasing the deployment chute J-clips. New plastic rivets are supplied with a new backrest trim cover.

   NOTE:

   Rear of backrest shown.

   Release the side air bag module deployment chute J-clips and route through the backrest foam pad and backrest frame.
   1. For installation, route the deployment chute front flap through the hole in the foam pad and wrap around the side air bag and backrest frame.
   1. For installation, route the deployment chute rear flap around the back of the foam pad and fasten the J-clips.

1. Remove the row of hog rings.

1. Release the inner seat backrest trim cover J-clip from the rear of the seat backrest frame.

1. NOTICE: Use care when separating the seat backrest trim cover from the hook-and-loop strips, or the hook-and-loop strips can be torn from the seat backrest foam pad.

   Invert the trim cover and release the hook-and-loop strip near the top of the seat backrest.

1. Detach the pin-type retainers and route out the side air bag module harness from the seat backrest frame.

1. WARNING: Before
   installing the seat side air bag module/deployment chute assembly:
   • Inspect the side air bag module and mounting surfaces for any damage or foreign material.
   • Remove any foreign material from the mounting surfaces of the deployment chute, the seat backrest frame mounting bracket and the air bag module cavity in the seat backrest foam pad.
   • Install new parts if damaged.

   Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side air bag deploying incorrectly, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

   WARNING: If
   the seat side airbag cover has been damaged or separated from its mounting, or if the airbag material has been exposed, install a new seat side airbag assembly. Never try to repair the seat side airbag assembly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side airbag deploying incorrectly, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

   Remove the 2 nuts and side air bag module.
   • To install, tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).
     • Note the side air bag locator pin position for installation.

1. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

1. Repower the SRS . For additional information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Depowering and Repowering in the General Procedures portion of this section.