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Side Airbag - Driver - Remove And Replace: Remove

WARNING: This procedure is a DRAFT, although it has been validated. Warnings and Cautions might be missing. Follow safety requirements and use extreme caution when working on or near high voltage systems and components. Provide corrections and feedback to ServiceDevelopment@teslamotors.com.
  1. Remove the driver seat from the vehicle. See Seat Assembly - 1st Row - LH (Remove and Install) .
  2. With assistance, place the driver seat on a protected surface so that the underside of the seat can be accessed.
  3. Remove the screw that attaches the driver seat outboard side shield to the seat assembly.

    Tip: Use of the following tool(s) is recommended:

    • Torx T20 socket
    • 2 in extension
    • Ratchet/torque wrench
    G15407782Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  4. Carefully release the clips (x7) that attach the driver seat outboard side shield to the seat assembly, but do not fully remove the side shield from the seat assembly.
    G15407783Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  5. Disconnect the electrical harness from the seat switch.
    G15407784Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  6. Remove the front seat side shield LH carrier from the driver seat. See Carrier - LH - Side Shield - Outboard - Front Seat (Remove and Replace) .
  7. Remove the driver seat inboard side shield. See Side Shield - Inboard - Driver Seat (Remove and Replace) .
  8. Remove the front seat side shield RH carrier from the driver seat. See Carrier - RH - Side Shield - Inboard - Front Seat (Remove and Replace) .
  9. Release the seat back elastic straps (x2) from the seat frame.
    G15407785Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  10. Disconnect the FSB vent heat pad electrical connector from the driver seat controller.
    G15407786Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  11. Release the clip and bracket that attach the FSC and FSB vent heat pad harnesses to the seat assembly, and then remove the harnesses from the assembly.
    NOTE: One harness is for the seat cushion and the other is for the seat back. The upper bracket aids in routing while the lower clip secures them.
    G15407787Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  12. Remove the driver seat headrest. See Trim - Headrest - Driver (Remove and Replace) .
  13. Remove the driver seat back shell. See Shell - Seat Back - Driver (Remove and Replace) .
  14. Disconnect the fan controller electrical connector from the seat harness.
    G15407788Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  15. Disconnect the driver seat microphone electrical connector, and then release clip that attaches the harness to the driver seat back rest foam.
    G15407789Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407790Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  16. Release the female side of the microphone connector and harness clips (x2) from the seat back suspension.
    G15407791Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  17. Release the trim strap, and then release the trim retainers (x6) that attach the seat back trim retainers to the seat back frame.
    G15407792Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  18. Carefully release the driver seat cover from the driver seat, and then set the cover aside for access.
    G15407793Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407794Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  19. Push down on the tab to release the driver seat side air bag electrical connector, and then disconnect the connector.
    G15407795Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407796Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  20. Release the clip that attaches the driver seat side airbag harness to the driver seat, seat frame.
    G15407797Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  21. Remove the bolt that attaches the driver seat backrest lumbar support to the seat back frame.

    5 N.m (3.7 ft-lbs) 

    Tip: Use of the following tool(s) is recommended:

    • 10 mm socket
    G15407798Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  22. Release the tabs (x2) that attach the lower portion of the driver seat backrest lumbar support to the seat back frame.
    G15407799Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  23. Carefully pull the seat cover and foam assembly away from the frame, and then remove and discard the nuts (x2) that attach the driver seat side air bag to the seat back frame assembly.

    5.4 N.m (4.0 ft-lbs) 

    Tip: Use of the following tool(s) is recommended:

    • 11 mm socket
    G15407800Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407801Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407802Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  24. Release the RH side of the driver seat back trim assembly, and then move the trim aside for access.
    G15407803Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407804Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  25. Release the clip that attaches the driver seat harness to the RH side of seat back frame.
    G15407805Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  26. With assistance, remove the driver seat back trim assembly from the seat frame.
    G15407806Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407807Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  27. Release the Velcro strips (x4) that attach the driver seat back rest trim to the seat back rest foam, and then remove the trim from the assembly.
    G15407808Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407809Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15407810Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  28. Slide the airbag chute with the airbag still inside through the seatback foam, and then carefully remove the airbag from the airbag chute.
    CAUTION: Make sure that the driver side airbag mounting studs do not catch in the holes of the airbag chute.
    CAUTION: Handle the airbag with extreme care when removing it from the airbag chute. The airbag is configured/folded in a specific manner and will need to be replaced if it is dropped, altered or manipulated in any way.
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