TECHNICAL NOTE

Edition Anglaise
APRIL 1997
77 11 194 089
439A
Service 0422
Type S/Section

Safrane B54 X 75

75 STRIPPING A FRONT SEAT ON A VEHICLE FITTED WITH A SIDE AIR BAG

Other relevant sub-sections: 54 59

In this technical note you will find all of the instructions and recommendations for removing and changing
the trims and frames of front seats fitted with side air bags.

The new SAFRANEs may, as an option, be fitted with the side air bag system.

The two side air bags are in addition to the driver and passenger air bags and the front seat belt pre-
tensioners.

They are located in the backrest of the front seat. They inflate between the seat and the interior trims of the
door and the ’B’ post and are operated by a firing pin under the side seat slide cover.

The "side air bag" function comprises:

- 1 10 litre air bag secured to the seat backrest frame,
- 1 impact detector called a "firing pin",
- 1 impact absorber secured at the bottom of the door inner panel which ensures correct operation of air
bag sensor in the event of a collision.

IDENTIFICATION

Vehicles fitted with this system can be identified by a label sewn onto the side of the seat backrest trim and
label attached to the vehicle windscreen (refer to the section "Identification labels" page 54-1).

IMPORTANT: ALL WORK ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEMS MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY QUALIFIED, TRAINED
PERSONNEL.

"The repair methods given by the manufacturer in this document are based on the
technical specifications current when it was prepared.
The methods may be modified as a result of changes by the manufacturer in the
production of the various component units and accessories from which his vehicles
are constructed".
All copyrights reserved by Renault.
Copying or translating, in part or in full, of this document or use of the service part
reference numbering system is forbidden without the prior written authority of
Renault.

C Renault 1997
 WINDOWS
Identification labels 54

PRJ5401

A vehicle fitted with the side air bags option can be identified by two self-adhesive labels (1) in the lower
corner of the windscreen.

When the windscreen is changed, do not forget to attach the adhesive labels which indicate that the vehicle
is fitted with air bags.

The labels are available in a set under part number 77 01 205 442.

Also, it is possible to identify the presence of side air bags by the label sewn onto the side of the backrest seat
trim.

54-1
 INTERIOR SAFETY COMPONENTS
Front seat 59
DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM IMPORTANT: in order to change the side air bag
after operation, refer to technical note 2798A
The air bag (A), secured to the seat backrest
frame, is housed under the backrest trim foam.

It is triggered by the firing pin (B) under the slide

cover. The firing pin is connected to the air bag by
two tubes covered in powder which cannot be ESSENTIAL PRECAUTIONS:
removed. These components cannot be separated.
• Do not place any object:
When the air bag inflates, it automatically tears - in the air bag inflation zone,
the seat backrest trim. - or tool between the base of the seat and
the door.

• Removal by anyone who is not qualified and

WARNING: this autonomous device, which has no
electrical components, can be triggered at any
time in the event of a collision, even if the ignition
is switched off. When carrying out any work on
the seat, if the air bag has not been triggered, it is
essential to fit a safety cap to the firing pin in
order to prevent the air bag fro being triggered
accidentally during removal.
has no air bag training is extremely
inadvisable.
• Before carrying out any work, do not forget to
fit the safety cap to the firing pin if the air bag
has not been triggered.
• Do not hammer the base of the seat.

12395R8

59-1
 INTERIOR SAFETY COMPONENTS
Impact absorber 59
DESCRIPTION REMOVAL

The doors of vehicles fitted with the side air bag
system have an additional impact absorber at the
bottom of the inner panel which triggers the
airbag in the event of a collision.
The absorber is secured by two bolts (A) at the
bottom of the door inner panel.
In order to remove it from the inner panel, the
same removal method must be followed as for the
exterior impact absorber.

PRJ5902 12394R1

59-2
 FRONT SEAT SLIDES AND FRAMES
Seat height adjuster and slides 75
REMINDER: a visible "Air bag"label, sewn onto If the air bag has not been triggered, a protective
the backrest trim, indicates that the seat is fitted cap (B) must be fitted to the firing pin (C) in order
with an air bag. to prevent any risk of unintentional triggering.

Remove:
- the two mounting bolts (D) which secure the
firing pin to the height adjuster,

PRJ7501

REMOVAL

Before removing the seat, the procedure below

12395R1
must be followed.

After moving the seat forwards and placing it in
the highest position, remove the slide cover and
disconnect the seat memory and the seat heater
connectors (according to specification).
- the mountings under the body,
- the passenger compartment seat.
it is now possible to remove the seat slides and
height adjuster.

95276S

95270-1

75-1
 FRONT SEAT SLIDES AND FRAMES
Seat frames 75
Strip the seat cushion as described in M.R. 303
section"Seat cushion trim" page 77-1.

PRJ7503

PRJ7502

Remove:
REMOVE THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME - the seat height adjuster and slides,
- the seat cushion frame.
Before removing the seat, the procedure
described on page 75-1 must be followed in order
to prevent any risk of unintentional triggering of
the air bag during the operation.

Remove:
- the seat from its housing,
- the two firing pin mounting bolts (D).

Cut the retaining clamps of the pipes under the

seat cushion.

12395R2

75-2
 FRONT SEAT SLIDES AND FRAMES
Seat frames 75
REMOVING THE BACKREST FRAME Cut the retaining clamp (C) which retains the air
bag module on the backrest frame.
First follow the same recommendations as for the
removal of the seat cushion frame and remove the
firing pin and the pipe retaining clamps as shown
previously.

Remove the backrest trim and foam following the

procedure described in M.R. 303 "Backrest trim "
section page 77-3.

12393R

Cut the retaining clamps (D) of the pipes behind

the backrest and detach the pipes and firing pin
assembly towards the rear of the seat marking the
route of the pipes.

PRJ7504

Special points

It is essential that only a special side air bag

assembly trim is fitted with the "Air bag" label
sewn onto it. Without this special trim, the air
bag will not be able to inflate correctly.

12396R

75-3
 FRONT SEAT SLIDES AND FRAMES
Seat frames 75
Remove the two mounting bolts (E) which secure REFITTING THE AIR BAG MODULE
the air bag module to the backrest frame.
First ensure that the protective cap is present on
Detach the seat assembly and remove the backrest the system firing pin and proceed in the reverse
frame. order to removal.

Follow the original routing of the pipes and their

securing points (plastic clamps), taking care not to
bend the pipes (in a radius of less than 20 mm).

WARNING: the trims and covers of seats fitted

with side air bags are specific. If these components
are changed, be sure to order new parts which are
of the correct specification.

For the specific retrimming of the backrest, refer

to the following pages.

12395R3

IMPORTANT: if the system has not been triggered

and is to be refitted, do not open the air bag
module, the airbag is specially folded.

75-4
 TRIMMING THE FRONT SEATS
Backrest trim 77
REFITTING E5 leather cover version

A Clipping of the front surface of the backrest

IMPORTANT: in order to ensure optimum trim to the frame cloth
inflation of the air bag, it is essential to retrim the B Clipping of the trim to the back of the
seat backrest in accordance with the special backrest on the frame braid
fitting instructions below.
The wefted area represents the position of the air
NOTE: the doubling up of some clips ensures bag module.
automatic tearing of the trim on the air bag
module side when it is triggered.

E2 / E3 cover version

Essential fitting of two clips of the trim to the

frame cloth wire on the air bag module side
(wefted area).

12807R

12808S

77-1
TRIMMING THE FRONT SEATS
Backrest trim 77

12809S

E4 / ELEC/ ERGOS cover version

Essential fitting of 2 X 2 clips to the frame rods.

The wefted area represents the position of the air

bag module.

77-2