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SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are
designed to provide further protection to the driver and
front passenger when added to the primary protection
provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS airbags
work together with the seat belts to help preventing or
reduce injury by inflating, in order to decrease the
likelihood of the driver's or front passenger's head or
chest directly hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.
The passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger
in the front seat.
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªACCº or ªONº position. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the SRS airbags are operating
properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system monitors the front
airbag sensors, center airbag sensor assembly, inflators,
warning light, interconnecting wiring and power sources.
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Airbag sensor assembly
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and
inflator)
Passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
SRS airbag airbag warning light
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
center airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect deceleration and
the system triggers the airbag inflators. Then a chemical
reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with
non±toxic nitrogen gas to help restrain the forward motion of
the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise and
release some smoke along with nitrogen gas. This is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent minor skin irritation.Deployment of the airbags happens in a fraction of a second,
so the airbags must inflate with considerable force. While
the system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor burns or abrasions and swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard)
may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags themselves
will not be hot. The airbags are designed to operate only
once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may break the
windshield as the vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a
passenger airbag the windshield may also be damaged by
absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION!
The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the seat
belt systems of the driver and front passenger.
The front seat occupants are particularly
susceptible to injury if they do not wear their seat
belts; when sudden braking or a collision occurs,
they may be thrown forward. To obtain maximum
protection in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle should always wear
their seat belts when driving because death or
serious injuries can result to unrestrained
occupants. For instructions and precautions
concerning the seat belt system, see ªSeat beltsº
on page 63.
