Parts needing replacement after Airbag deployment?

[Bob_Comitalo]

Hi guys, 1st post here, long time lurker, figured hardcore ford techs might know or have an explanation to my concern.

 

Heres my story... I work for a municipal fleet that consists of about 70% ford vehicles in our car/light truck fleet.

 

Assigned to an '01 Focus that was involved in an accident. Vehicle was driven on a dirt road and driver somehow maneuvered into a decent sized hole in the ground. Air bags/pretensioners deployed.

 

Body work was done by city body shop and now its at our garage to repair suspension damage and Supplemental Restraint System.

 

according to the workshop manual's descriptions and operation of the Supplemental Restraint System section 501-20B, it mentions what MUST be replaced in the event of airbag deployment.

 

"A new driver air bag module and wiring harness with the air bag module electrical connectors must be installed following deployment."

 

"A new instrument panel, front passenger air bag module and wiring harness with the air bag module electrical connectors must be installed following deployment."

 

I don't understand what harness needs replacement. The harness for the airbag modules are incorporated with the interiors main harness. The only detachable harness found is the typical squib harness for the drv. sd. airbag(from clockspring to airbag). I was on the phone today with the hotline and the guy I spoke with seemed to not have a clue, no answers/explantions, actually couldn't even fine what i was talking about from the workshop manual, so that was a waste of time.

 

Anyone have any experience with this type of repair? Can anyone provide some explanation as to what ford wants replaced? I was kind of thrown off when it mentions to replace the instrument panel but I can see why since the passenger air bag opens so violently it busts the windshield, but this statement about replacing harness' and connectors has me really baffled.

 

Thanks for taking the time,

Bob Comitalo

[Alex Bruene]

Typically any deployed component, components damaged by the deployement (headliners, instrument panel, windshield), the restraint control module (RCM) and clock-spring is what gets replaced around here.