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Head Restraint System

Body and Frame › Seats
Unified entry — merged from multiple cross-listed pages in the original manual.
Procedures
Active Head Restraint - Installation10 steps
⚠ WARNING
Disable the airbag system before attempting any component diagnosis or service of the front seats, when equipped with front seat air bags. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the airbag system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the airbag system. Failure to take the proper precautions may result in accidental airbag deployment and possible serious or fatal injury.
⚠ WARNING
Improper installation of the headrests may result in reduced protection of the occupants. If, after installation, the headrest can be removed, without simultaneously pressing the buttons on the master and slave guide sleeves, then the head restraint is installed incorrectly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in possible serious or fatal injury.
ℹ NOTE
For reset procedures,
△ CAUTION
Special care should be taken not to damage to the AHR connector.
ℹ NOTE
At the full down position, there will be a gap between the AHR trim and the seat back trim. (The AHR trim doesn't have a touch condition with the seat back trim.)
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  1. Position the AHR electrical connector (1) into the slave headrest sleeve (2).
  2. Insert the AHR (1) rods into the sleeves (2) and seat into the lowest notches fully.
  3. Push the adjust button and seat the AHR (1) down fully and then verify that the adjustment functions properly.
  4. Connect the AHR electrical connector (1).
  5. For seats with a hard back panel (1) verify that the retaining clips (2) are installed onto the panel (1).
  6. Position the lower seat back panel (3) support hooks (2) onto the seat back frame (1).
  7. Rotate the seat back panel (2) up and position the retaining clips into the holes in the seat back frame (1).
  8. Seat the retaining clips (1) fully.
  9. For seats with a soft back cover (2), close the zipper and tuck up into the seat back.
  10. Using a scan tool, check for electrical continuity and clear any diagnostic trouble codes.
Active Head Restraint - Removal11 steps
⚠ WARNING
Disable the airbag system before attempting any component diagnosis or service of the front seats, when equipped with front seat air bags. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the airbag system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the airbag system. Failure to take the proper precautions may result in accidental airbag deployment and possible serious or fatal injury.
⚠ WARNING
Improper installation of the headrests may result in reduced protection of the occupants. If, after installation, the headrest can be removed, without simultaneously pressing the buttons on the master and slave guide sleeves, then the head restraint is installed incorrectly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in possible serious or fatal injury.
ℹ NOTE
For reset procedures,
△ CAUTION
Special care should be taken not to damage to the AHR connector.
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  1. Disconnect and isolate battery negative cable.
  2. For seats equipped with a soft back cover (2), unzip one of the side zippers (1) to gain access to the AHR electrical connector.
  3. For seats equipped with a hard back seat cover (2), using trim stick or equivalent, release the top clips (1).
  4. Separate the lower retaining hooks (2) and remove the seat back cover (3).
  5. Disconnect the electrical connector (1).
  6. Recline the seat to gain enough room to remove the AHR (3).
  7. Press the release button (1) on the left side headrest master sleeve.
  8. Using a thin wire type tool (2), press the hidden release button on the right side headrest slave sleeve.
  9. Slowly lift the AHR (3) up while pressing the buttons simultaneously.
  10. Watch the connector as it reaches the bottom of the tube and guide the connector through.
  11. Remove the AHR (3) fully.
Reset Procedure5 steps
ℹ NOTE
Before attempting to reset, and after each unsuccessful attempt to reset an AHR, inspect the latch mechanism within the AHR rear trim cover (1) to be certain the latch is unlatched. This can be confirmed by placing a finger on the latch catches (4) and gently rocking them rearward and forward. The catches should move freely. If the catches do not move freely, they are in the latched position and the latch must be opened using the diagnostic scan tool. Follow the steps outlined for AHR - Activate Driver and Passenger under Miscellaneous Functions for the ORC/Occupant Restraint Controller menu item. Each time this routine is performed, both the driver and passenger side AHR unit latches are opened and both AHR units will have to be reset.
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  1. Be certain to pull the center of AHR tether strap (2) located between the rear trim cover and the cushion (3) upward as far as possible to prevent it from becoming trapped between the latch striker and the latch catches, which could interfere with successful latching of the striker.
  2. Reaching from behind the seat and below the AHR, position both hands on the top of the AHR cushion as illustrated and brace your forearms or your upper torso against the upper seat back as needed for leverage.
  3. Three separate and distinct physical actions must each be completed in their entirety to successfully reset and latch an AHR. It may help to memorize these actions before attempting the reset as: DOWN, BACK and DOWN. A short explanation of each action follows: a.DOWN: Pull the cushion downward (arrow a) far enough to allow the AHR linkage to drop out of its locked, deployed position to its neutral position. The cushion cannot be compressed against the rear trim cover until after the AHR linkage has been moved to its neutral position. b.BACK: Pull the cushion rearward (arrow b) firmly and evenly against the pressure of the deployment springs until it is flush against the rear trim cover. c.DOWN: Finally, while still holding the cushion tightly against the rear trim cover, pull the cushion downward (arrow c) once again far enough to fully engage the latch striker with the AHR latch mechanism. Listen for an audible click as the latch catches engage the striker.
  4. If the tether remains hanging out between the top of the cushion and the rear trim cover, simply use a finger to tuck it out of sight between the top of the rear trim cover and the cushion.
  5. To confirm a successful reset, there should be no visually obvious space between the cushion and the rear trim cover; although, there may be enough space to physically insert your fingertips between them. Also, operation of the comfort tilt adjustment feature should be restored.
Active Head Restraint - Descriptionreference
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DESCRIPTION Active Head Restraint (AHR) units are standard equipment for both front seating positions in this vehicle. One AHR unit is located atop each front seat back (2). An AHR can be readily distinguished from a non-active head restraint by the two-piece construction used for an AHR. The forward-facing pad (1) consists of a molded reinforced plastic convex form covered with a dense foam pad and is trimmed in a material coordinated with the other soft trim on the seat. The rearward-facing surface is equipped with a hard molded plastic trim cover (3) that matches the other hard trim on the seat. Located between the pad and the trim cover are the support structure of the AHR and both the mechanical and electrical components of the unit. The support structure includes a molded plastic carrier that is securely clamped to a U-shaped, bright-plated metal tube, the legs of which form the two visible posts (4) that are used to secure the unit in the two plastic guide sleeves (5) located at the top of the seat back frame. These posts feature numerous notches that engage spring-loaded detents integral to the plastic guide sleeves which are used for manually adjusting the vertical height of the AHR unit to properly fit the seat occupant. The mechanical components of the AHR include the linkage that permits the lower part of the pad to be tilted forward or rearward for comfort as well as the linkage that articulates the pad during deployment, a pair of heavy wire springs, a caliper-type latch mechanism and the latch striker. The single electrical component of the AHR unit is a latch-release solenoid and the pigtail wire that connects the solenoid to the vehicle electrical system. The pigtail wire and connector are routed through the center of one of the support posts and down through the guide sleeve into the interior of the seat back, where it is connected to a dedicated take out and connector of the seat wire harness. The AHR cannot be repaired. If damaged or ineffective, it must be replaced with a new unit. However, unlike many other Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) components, following an AHR deployment, if no visible damage to the unit is observed it can usually be successfully reset and reused. Reset Procedure.