1999 NISSAN FRONTIER Owners Manual

WARNING
INever let children ride unrestrained.
Do not attempt to hold them in your
lap or arms. Some examples of dan-
gerous riding positions are shown in
the previous illustrations.
IChildren may be severly injured or
killed when the supplemental air bag
inflates if they are not properly re-
strained.
INever install a rear-facing child re-
straint in the front seat without turn-
ing OFF the air bag. Be sure to turn
the air bag OFF. An inflating supple-
mental air bag could seriously injure
or kill your child. See ``Child re-
straints'' later in this section for de-
tails.
ARS1043
ARS1044
ARS1098
ARS1099
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-11
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The driver supplemental air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel. The passen-
ger supplemental air bag is located in the top
right section of the instrument panel.
These systems are designed to meet optional
certification requirements under U.S. regula-tions. They are also permitted in Canada. The
optional certification allows air bags to be
designed to inflate somewhat less forcefully
than previously.However, all of the informa-
tion, cautions and warnings in this manual
still apply and must be followed.
The supplemental air bag system is designed
to inflate in higher severity frontal collisions,
although it may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. It may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or
lack of it) is not always an indication of proper
supplemental air bag system operation.
The front passenger supplemental air bag is
equipped with an ON/OFF switch. Because
no rear seat exists where a rear facing child
restraint can be secured, the switch is de-
signed to turn OFF the passenger supple-
mental air bag so that a rear facing child
restraint can be used in the front passenger
seat. See ``Passenger supplemental air bag
ON/OFF switch and light'' later in this section
for details.
When the supplemental air bag inflates, a
fairly loud noise may be heard, followed by
the release of smoke. This smoke is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire, but
care should be taken not to unintentionally
inhale it, as it may cause irritation and
choking. Those with a history of a breathing
condition should get fresh air promptly.
The supplemental air bags, along with the use
of the seat belts, helps to cushion the impact
force on the face and chest of the occupant. It
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SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
SYSTEM
1-12Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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can help save lives and reduce serious inju-
ries. However, an inflating supplemental air
bag may cause facial abrasions or other inju-
ries. Supplemental air bags do not provide
restraint to the lower body.
Seat belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far
as practical away from the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Since the supplemental
air bags inflate quickly in order to help
protect the front occupants, the force of the
supplemental air bag inflating can increase
the risk of injury if the occupant is too close
to or against the supplemental air bag mod-
ule during inflation.
The supplemental air bags deflate quickly
after a collision.
The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
WARNING
IDo not attach any objects to the
steering wheel pad or on the instru-
ment panel. Also, do not place any
objects between any occupant and
the steering wheel or on the instru-
ment panel. Such objects maybecome dangerous projectiles and
cause injury if the supplemental air
bag inflates.
IRight after inflation, several supple-
mental air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you
may severely burn yourself.
I
No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental air bag system. This
is to prevent accidental inflation of
the supplemental air bag or damage
to the supplemental air bag system.
IDo not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle's electrical system, sus-
pension system or front end structure.
This could affect proper operation of
the supplemental air bag system.
ITampering with the supplemental air
bag system may result in serious per-
sonal injury. Tampering includes
changes to the steering wheel and the
instrument panel assembly by placing
material over the steering wheel pad,
above the dashboard, or by installing
additional trim material around the
supplemental air bag system.IWork around and on the supplemental
air bag system should be done by an
authorized NISSAN dealer. Installa-
tion of electrical equipment should
also be done by an authorized NIS-
SAN dealer. The yellow SRS wiring-
should not be modified or discon-
nected. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the supple-
mental air bag system.
ISRS wiring harnesses are covered
with yellow insulation either just be-
fore the harness connectors or over
the complete harness for easy iden-
tification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the supplemental
air bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this owner's manual.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-13
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PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL
AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH AND
LIGHT
WARNING
Air bags and seat belts are designed to
work as a unit. Do not switch the air bag
OFF unless you meet federal govern-
ment criteria. Switching off the air bag
may increase the risk of serious or fatal
injuries in a collision where the air bag
would have inflated.
In rare instances, some passengers are
exposed to serious injury risks from inflating
air bags, especially if not properly re-
strained. The U.S. and Canadian federal
governments recognize other limited circum-
stances in which an air bag could reduce
safety. The passenger air bag ON/OFF
switch is, therefore, allowed in this vehicle.
Because the overall benefits of air bags are
great, in most situations air bags should not
be switched off unless special government
criteria exist.
The passenger air bag ON/OFF switch is
located in the center of the instrument
panel, near the ashtray. It can be used to
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1-14Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF.
The ON/OFF switch should ONLY
be used
to turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF when the following government criteria
exists:
IInfants (less than 1 year old) in rear
facing child restraints MUST
be placed
in the front passenger seat.
IChildren ages 1-12 years MUST
be
placed in the front passenger seat.
I
The passenger has a medical condition
which, according to a physician, causes
the air bag to pose a special risk and
makes the potential harm from the air-
bag greater than the potential harm
from turning off the air bag.
Seat belts and child restraints should al-
ways be properly used. See ªPrecautions
on seat belt usageº and ªChild restraintsº
later in this section for details.
To turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF, insert the ignition key in the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch and
turn the switch clockwise to the OFF position.
Then remove the key. When the ignition is
turned to the ON or START position thepassenger air bag OFF indicator light will
illuminate to indicate the air bag is OFF. To
turn the passenger supplemental air bag ON,
insert the ignition key in the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch and
turn the switch counter clockwise to the ON
position. Then remove the key. When the
ignition is turned to the ON or START posi-
tion the passenger air bag OFF indicator light
will illuminate for 7 seconds to indicate the
system is working properly and then go out to
indicate that the passenger supplemental air
bag is ON.
When the switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion, the passenger supplemental air bag is
enabled and could inflate in a frontal colli-
sion. When the switch is turned to the OFF
position, the passenger supplemental air
bag is disabled and will not inflate in a
frontal collision. The passenger supplemen-
tal air bag OFF indicator light on the instru-
ment panel illuminates when the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch is
turned to the OFF position. The driver's side
supplemental air bag always remains en-
abled and is not affected by the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch.
The passenger supplemental air bag light,displaying OFF in the center of the instru-
ment panel, monitors the position of the
passenger supplemental air bag ON/OFF
switch. When the ignition key is in the ON or
START position, the light illuminates for
about 7 seconds and then turns off if the air
bag is ON/OFF switch is in the ON position,
or stays on if the passenger supplemental
air bag ON/OFF switch is in the OFF
position.
WARNING
IDo not switch the airbag OFF unless
you meet the federal government cri-
teria outlined previously. This ve-
hicle is equipped with seat belts with
a²load limiter²feature. The seat
belts are designed to work with the
air bags to reduce the risk of injury
in a collision. The seat belts are
designed to release additional belt
webbing during some collisions to
reduce the concentration of force on
the occupant's chest area. In a colli-
sion with the airbag turned OFF, the
seat belt may allow the occupant
enough forward movement to incur
serious or fatal injuries.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-15
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IKeep the passenger supplemental
air bag ON/OFF switch turned ON
unless
a rear-facing child restraint
must be used in the front seat, if
children ages 1-12 must be placed in
the front seat, or if the passenger
has a medical condition, which, ac-
cording to a physician, causes the
air bag to pose a special risk of harm
(the federal government criteria). If
the switch is OFF, the air bag will not
inflate in a collision as designed and
the extra protection provided by the
air bag may be lost.
IBe sure to turn the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch
OFF when using a rear facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
If it is not OFF, the air bag may inflate
in a collision. The force of the rapidly
inflating air bag could cause serious
injury or kill the child in the child
restraint. Children ages 1-12 and
persons with special medical condi-
tions may also be at risk from an
inflating air bag.IIf the supplemental air bag warning
light located in the instrument panel
next to the speedometer comes on
when the passenger supplemental
air bag OFF light is also illuminated,
something may be wrong with the air
bag system. Infants, children ages
1-12 or persons with special medical
conditions should not use the front
passenger seat until the system is
checked by your NISSAN dealer.
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Warning labels about the supplemental air
bag system are placed in the vehicle as
shown in the illustration.The supplemental air bag warning light,
displaying
in the instrument panel,
monitors the circuits of the supplemental air
bag system. The circuits monitored by the
supplemental air bag warning light are the
diagnosis sensor unit, the supplemental air
bag modules and all related wiring.
When the ignition key is in the ON or START
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates for about 7 seconds and
then turns off. This means the system is
operational.
If any of the following system conditions
occur, the supplemental air bag system
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WARNING LABELS SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-17
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needs servicing and should be taken to your
nearest authorized NISSAN dealer:
1. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on and remain on for 7
seconds and then go off as described.
2. The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently or remains on.
3. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the Supplemental
Restraint System (supplemental air bag
system) may not function properly. It must
be checked and repaired.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning
light is on, it could mean that the
supplemental air bag system will not
operate in an accident.
Repair and replacement procedure
The supplemental air bag modules are de-
signed to inflate on a one-time-only basis.
As a reminder, unless it is damaged, the
supplemental air bag warning light remains
illuminated after inflation has occurred.Repair and replacement of the supplemen-
tal air bag system should be done only by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
To ensure long-term functioning, the
supplemental air bag system must be
inspected 10 years after the date of
manufacture noted on the certification
label located on the driver side rear door
jamb pillar.
When maintenance work is required on the
vehicle, the supplemental air bag system
and related parts should be pointed out to
the person conducting the maintenance. The
ignition key must always be in the LOCK
position when working under the hood or
inside the vehicle.
WARNING
IOnce the supplemental air bag in-
flates, the supplemental air bag
module will not function again and
should be replaced by an authorized
NISSAN dealer. The supplemental air
bag module cannot be repaired.IThe supplemental air bag system
should be inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer if there is any
damage to the front end portion of
the vehicle.
IIf you need to dispose of the supple-
mental air bag or scrap the vehicle,
contact an authorized NISSAN
dealer. Correct supplemental air bag
disposal procedures are set forth in
the appropriate NISSAN Service
Manual. Incorrect disposal proce-
dures could cause personal injury.
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