SRS Inspection and Component Replacement
Inspection and replacement of safety restraint system (SRS) components after a collision.
This document provides instructions on what safety restraint system (SRS)
components to inspect and replace following a collision.
Warning
After any
collision, inspect the impact sensor(s) near the collision area for damage. If a sensor is
damaged, replace the sensor and the hardware that secures the sensor to the body.
Parts That Must Always be Inspected Following Airbag or Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment, and Replaced if Damaged
After any collision:
- Inspect the harnesses and harness connectors that connect to all deployed airbags, pretensioners, and to all damaged components. Replace any damaged harnesses.
- Inspect all seats and seat belts for visible deformation or signs of wear on the webbing. Replace any damaged components.
- Inspect all seats, seat belts, and
retractors with pretensioners for visible signs of deformation or signs of wear. Replace
any damaged components. NoteWhen inspecting the seat belt system, pay special attention to the area around the D-ring, where the seat belt webbing passes through the seat shoulder.
- Inspect all seat belt anchor points for damage. Check for tears, bends, dents, fastener damage, or mount point damage. Assess fixing this damage before replacing any sort of seat belt component.
- Inspect any impact sensor(s) near the
collision area for damage. If the sensor is damaged, replace the sensor, and the hardware
that secures it to the vehicle. Refer to the Service Manual for more information about
impact sensor replacement.WarningAlways replace any plugs or tape removed from the front door shells when replacing a front door pressure sensor. Additional holes in the door create more escape paths for air, which decreases the sensor's ability to detect a side impact, and can negatively affect airbag deployment.
- Inspect any undeployed knee airbag:
- If the knee airbag cover is damaged, or if there are 3 or more consecutive broken bridges (as shown below) or 5 or more broken bridges total, replace the complete knee airbag assembly.
- If there are visible signs of damage to the knee air bag cushion (such as scuffs, rips or holes) replace it.
- Inspect the knee airbag module for visual damage (such as bent hooks or scuffing), and replace it if damaged.
-
For vehicles built before April 10th,
2016: Inspect the top of the steering column. The tabs highlighted below move toward
the front of the vehicle as the steering column collapses. If the tabs are recessed more
than 2 mm inside the carrier, replace the steering column.
- Front of vehicle
- Tab is flush with the carrier
- For vehicles built after April 10, 2016: Adjust the steering column so that the column shaft (shown in yellow below) is fully retracted inside of the housing. Measure the C-channels (shown in red) on the side of the steering column. If the left C-channel is recessed more than 2.1 mm into the housing, or the right C-channel protrudes less than 19.5 mm from the housing, replace the steering column.
- Inspect Pedestrian Protection components on the vehicle if it is equipped with Pedestrian Protection (see Pedestrian Protection Components for more information), and replace any damaged components.
- Use Toolbox to test the supplementary
restraint system for proper operation.
- Connect a laptop to the diagnostic port of the vehicle, and then use Toolbox 3 to locally connect to the vehicle. See Toolbox 3 (Connect and Disconnect).
- Unlock the vehicle gateway for diagnostic communication. See Gateway Unlock.
- In Toolbox 3, click , and then select SDM or RCM depending on the vehicle Restraint Control Type.
- Click Read DTCs to display the DTCs.
- Power cycle the vehicle.
- Click Clear DTCs to clear the DTCs.
- Determine the RCM type of the vehicle under cfg_restraint_controls. See Gateway Configuration (Display and Change). If the config shows "DelphiSDM", revert to Toolbox 2 to test the restraint system. If the config shows "BoschRCM", perform the next steps:
- Turn on the drive rails.
- In Toolbox 3, click the Actiions tab, type "RCM" into the search field, select PROC_RCM_X_SERVICE-TASKS, click Run, and allow the routine to complete.
- Cycle the drive rails.
Parts That Must be Replaced Following Airbag or Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment
After a collision when a seat belt pretensioner deployed, replace the following
items and all accompanying fasteners:
- The RCM (Restraint Control Module).
- Any seat belt that has a deployed pretensioner, and the accompanying seat belt buckle.
- Any seat belts and buckles that were in use during the collision.
- If any airbag has deployed, replace the
pyrotechnic battery disconnect fuse. NoteIf a seat belt pretensioner deployed, but no airbag deployed, replace the pyrotechnic battery disconnect fuse only if blown.NoteDo not replace the pyrotechnic battery disconnect fuse unless it has been positively confirmed that the vehicle will be repaired.
In addition to the parts replaced after a seat belt pretensioner deployed,
replace the following items and all accompanying fasteners after a collision when an airbag
deployed:
- Replace any deployed airbag and all accompanying fasteners.
- If the driver’s front airbag has deployed, replace the steering wheel assembly.
- If a side (seat mounted) airbag has deployed, replace the 1st row seat assembly that contains the deployed airbag.
Pedestrian Protection Components
Model S vehicles are equipped with Pedestrian Protection components such as a pressure sensing tube, and hood actuators.
To determine if a vehicle is equipped with Pedestrian Protection components, open the hood and look for Pedestrian Protection hood actuators, as shown above.
If the vehicle is equipped with Pedestrian Protection components, after a frontal collision:
- Replace the Pedestrian Protection hood actuators if they deployed.
- Inspect the Pedestrian Protection pressure sensor tube and connector for signs of damage, such as tears in the tube and cracks in the connector. Replace the pressure sensor assembly if any part has been damaged.
Part Information
Current airbag component part information can be obtained through the VIN decode feature of the Parts Manual.