Passenger Airbag Door: Removal

WARNING: TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, AIRBAG, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
Remove the passenger airbag from the instrument panel. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/PASSENGER AIRBAG - REMOVAL) .
Remove the five screws that secure the upper flange of the passenger airbag door to the top of the instrument panel structural support. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Passenger Airbag Door Upper Flange Remove/Install
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SCREW (5)

2 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR
Remove the grab handle bezel from the instrument panel. (Refer to BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/GRAB HANDLE BEZEL - REMOVAL) .
Remove the five screws that secure the lower flange of the passenger airbag door to the upper glove box opening reinforcement.

Remove the two screws that secure the ends of the passenger airbag door bracket to the instrument panel structural support. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Passenger Airbag Door Remove/Install

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - J-NUT (2)

2 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR

3 - STRUCTURAL SUPPORT

4 - SCREW (2)

Remove and discard the two passenger airbag door bracket J-nuts from the instrument panel structural support. These J-nuts must be replaced with new parts whenever the passenger airbag door bracket screws are removed.
Remove the passenger airbag door from the instrument panel.