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Passenger's Airbag Module: Removal

CAUTION: Refer to CAUTION  of "General Description" before handling the airbag module. General Description.
  1. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
  2. Disconnect the ground cable from battery and wait for at least 60 seconds before starting work.
  3. Remove the console front cover assembly.
    • MT model
      1. Remove the shift knob.
      2. Release the clips and claws, then pull up the console front cover assembly.
        Fig 1: Removing Console Front Cover Assembly (MT Model)
        G06653100Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
        NOTE: Turn over the front center pocket mat (a) and pull up the console front cover from the slit.
      3. Disconnect the harness connector and remove the console front cover assembly.
    • AT model
      1. Remove the select lever knob.
        1. Lower the cover grip AT.
        2. Remove the clamp grip pin, then remove the select lever knob.
      2. Release the clips and claws, then pull up the console front cover assembly.
        Fig 2: Removing Select Lever Knob
        G06653101Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
        NOTE: Turn over the front center pocket mat (a) and pull up the console front cover from the slit.
      3. Disconnect the harness connector and remove the console front cover assembly.
  4. Remove the left and right console front side cover assembly.
    1. Remove the screws and release the clips (A) to (D) in order.
    2. Remove the console front side cover assembly by pulling it up.
    Fig 3: Identifying Left And Right Console Front Side Cover Assembly Clips And Screws
    G06653102Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  5. Remove the console box assembly.
    1. Move the seat forward, and remove the bolts after detaching the left and right caps.
      NOTE: For a model with power seat, connect the battery ground cable and move the seat. Then, disconnect the battery ground cable again and wait for 60 seconds at least before restarting the work.
    2. Remove the screws, disconnect the harness connector and remove the console box assembly.
    Fig 4: Locating Console Box Assembly Screws
    G06653103Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  6. Remove the instrument panel lower cover.
    1. Remove the clips, and remove the instrument panel side cover LH.
      Fig 5: Identifying Instrument Panel Lower Cover Clips
      G06653104Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Remove the clips and data link connector, and remove the instrument panel lower cover under.
      Fig 6: Identifying Instrument Panel Lower Cover Clips
      G07915666Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    3. Remove the screws and clips and release the claws, and remove the instrument panel lower cover while disconnecting the harness connectors.
    Fig 7: Identifying Instrument Panel Lower Cover Clips And Screws
    G06653106Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  7. Remove the center panel assembly.
    CAUTION: Do not put your finger on the fin of the air vent grille. Doing so may damage the fin.
    1. Attach the protective tape (a) to the meter visor.
      Fig 8: Identifying Protective Tape On Meter Visor
      G06653107Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Insert a finger into the air vent grille and release the left and right clips at the top of the center panel. (A), (B)
    3. Insert a finger into the air vent grille and release the left and right clips at the center of the center panel. (C), (D)
    4. Release the clips at the bottom of the center panel and remove the center panel assembly.
    Fig 9: Removing Center Panel Assembly
    G06653577Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  8. Remove the combination meter assembly.
    CAUTION:
    • Be careful not to damage the meter or instrument panel.
    • Pay particular attention to avoid damaging the meter glass.
    1. Remove the screws and release the claws, then detach the starter cover assembly.
      Fig 10: Locating Starter Cover Assembly Screw
      G06653109Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Release the lock, tilt the steering column to the lowest end and fully extend the column by the telescopic system.
      Fig 11: Releasing Lock
      G06653110Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    3. Release the screws and clips, then detach the meter visor assembly.
      Fig 12: Locating Meter Visor Assembly Screws
      G06653111Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    4. Remove the screws and pull the steering COMPL upper cover toward you.
      Fig 13: Pulling Meter Visor Assembly
      G06653112Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    5. Remove the screws and pull out the combination meter toward you to disconnect the connectors.
      Fig 14: Locating Combination Meter Screws
      G06653113Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    6. Remove the combination meter assembly as shown in the figure.
    Fig 15: Removing Combination Meter
    G06653114Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  9. Remove the audio assembly.
    1. Remove the left and right screws, and partially pull the audio out from center console.
    2. Disconnect the connectors, and remove the audio assembly.
    Fig 16: Locating Audio Assembly Screws
    G06653115Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  10. Remove the navigation assembly. (model with navigation)
    1. Remove the left and right screws.
    2. Disconnect the connectors, and remove the navigation assembly.
    Fig 17: Locating Navigation Assembly Screws
    G06653116Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  11. Remove the control panel assembly.
    1. Remove the screws, and pull out the control panel assembly toward you.
    2. Disconnect the connector, and remove the control panel assembly.
    Fig 18: Locating Control Panel Assembly Screws
    G06653117Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  12. Remove the multi display assembly.
    CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the multi display or instrument panel.
    1. Detach the center speaker cover by releasing the claws and hooks.
      Fig 19: Identifying Center Speaker Cover Claws
      G06653118Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
      NOTE: An easy way of removal is to first remove the audio assembly or navigation assembly and push up the cover from the backside.
    2. Release the clips and claws, detach the multi display panel LWR.
    3. Remove the screws and pull out the multi display toward you to disconnect the connectors.
    Fig 20: Locating Multi Display Panel LWR Screws
    G06653119Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  13. Remove the left and right front side speaker assembly. (Models with front side speaker)
    1. Release the clips and claws, then detach the side speaker cover.
      CAUTION: To remove the cover, use a plastic clip remover or equivalent tool.
    2. Remove the screws.

      Preparation tool: Stubby screwdriver 

    3. Disconnect the connector and remove the front side speaker assembly.
    Fig 21: Locating Front Side Speaker Assembly Screws
    G06653120Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    NOTE: On the passenger's side, also disconnect the sunload sensor connector.
  14. Remove the left and right front pillar trims.
    1. Pull the upper part of the front pillar trim towards the center of the vehicle.
    2. Insert long-nose pliers into the top part of the trim, grip the clip with the pliers and twist 90° in that position.
      CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the pillar trim surface and curtain airbag module when inserting the pliers.
    3. Holding the clip twisted as in the previous step, remove the front pillar trim from the clip.
    4. Remove the clip and the front pillar trim.
    Fig 22: Removing Front Pillar Trim
    G06653121Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  15. Remove the glove box lid assembly.
    1. Remove the glove box damper.
    2. Release the stoppers and remove the glove box lid assembly by pulling it toward you.
    Fig 23: Identifying Glove Box Lid Assembly Stopper
    G06653122Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  16. Remove the glove box back panel.
    1. Release the clips, and remove the instrument panel side cover RH.
      Fig 24: Identifying Instrument Panel Side Cover RH Clips
      G06654040Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Release the clips, and remove the glove box under cover.
      Fig 25: Identifying Glove Box Under Cover Clips
      G06653124Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    3. Release the clips and claws, and remove the ornament panel assembly P.
      Fig 26: Identifying Ornament Panel Assembly P Clips And Claws
      G06653125Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    4. Remove the screws and release the claws, then detach the glove box back panel.
      CAUTION: Pay attention to the glove box light LED harness.
      Fig 27: Locating Glove Box Back Panel Screws
      G06653126Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    5. Disconnect the glove box light LED connector.
  17. Disconnect the connector from the passenger's airbag module assembly and remove the bolt.
    1. Release the connector and harness clamps and disconnect the airbag connector.
      Fig 28: Identifying Passenger's Airbag Module Assembly Connector
      G06653127Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Remove passenger's airbag module assembly bolts.
    Fig 29: Locating Passenger's Airbag Module Assembly Bolts
    G06653128Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  18. Remove the steering shaft assembly. Refer to STEERING COLUMN
  19. Remove the instrument panel assembly.
    1. Remove the screws. (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I)
      Fig 30: Locating Instrument Panel Assembly Screws
      G06653129Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Pull out the instrument panel assembly toward you and release the clamps of the left and right front side speakers.

      Preparation tool: Stubby screwdriver 

      Fig 31: Identifying Left And Right Front Side Speakers Clamps
      G06653130Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    3. After checking that all harness clamps and connectors are released and disconnected, remove the instrument panel assembly.
    CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the instrument panel surface and interior trims.
  20. Remove the heater vent duct.
    1. Remove the screws, and remove the center vent duct.
    2. Release the claws and remove the screws, then detach the side vent duct RH.
    Fig 32: Locating Side Vent Duct RH Screws
    G06653131Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  21. Remove the claws, and remove the passenger's airbag module.
    Fig 33: Locating Passenger's Airbag Module Claws
    G06653132Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  22. For handling of the removed airbag module, refer to CAUTION  , General Description.
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