2003 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ). Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II). 52
SRS Components
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety54
(1) Driver’s Airbag
(2) Front Passenger’s Airbag
(3) Control Unit
(4) Seat Belt Tensioners
(5) Side Airbags
(6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
(8) Front Sensor
(9) Passenger Airbag Cutoff Indicator
(5)
(9)
(2)
(8)
(3)
(7)
(4)
(4) (1)
(5)
(6)
(7)

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During a frontal crash, your seat
belts help restrain your lower body
and torso. Your airbag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.
Since both airbags use the same
sensors, both airbags normally
inf late at the same time. However, it
is possible f or only one airbag to
inf late.
This can occur when the severity of
a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal.
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
f ront airbags. Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, dual-threshold airbags to help
reduce the chance of airbag-caused
injuries.
A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the driver’s seat position
and adjusts the inf lation and
timing of the driver’s airbag (see
page ).
Front passenger’s weight sensors
that monitor the weight on the
seat. These prevent the passenger’s
airbag from inflating if the weight
is less than about 65 lbs (30 kg)
(see page ).
An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
56
57 59
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How Your Front A irbags Work
55

The total time for inflation and
def lation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so f ast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.
Af ter inf lating, the f ront airbags
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls. Your vehicle has a driver’s seat
position sensor as a part of the
advanced airbag system. The sensor
is located under the driver’s seat.
This sensor monitors the driver’s
seat sliding position and sends the
inf ormation to the control unit. If the
seat is too far forward, the control
unit will control the inf lation of the
driver’s airbag.
Do not put any cargo or metal
objects under the driver’s seat, and
do not cover the sensor with
anything, including the rear seat
passenger’s f eet.
This will cause the sensor to work
improperly and will damage it.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver’s Seat Posit ion Sensor
56

If there is a problem in the sensor,
the SRS indicator in the instrument
panel comes on. In this case, the
driver’s airbag will inf late normally
during a crash regardless of the
driver’s seating position.Your vehicle has front passenger’s
weight sensors as a part of the
advanced airbag system. They are
located under both of the f ront
passenger’s seat rails. These sensors
monitor the total weight on the seat.If there is no passenger in the f ront
passenger’s seat, the passenger
airbag cutoff indicator does not
come on, however the system shuts
of f the f ront passenger’s airbag.
If the total weight on the seat is
about65lbs(30kg)orless,the
system shuts of f the f ront passenger’s
airbag and the passenger airbag
cutof f indicator comes on. It reminds
you that the f ront passenger’s airbag
will not inf late during a crash.
CONT INUED
Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety57

The driver’s and f ront passenger’s
seat sensors may not work properly
if :Be caref ul not to spill any liquids.
Spilled liquids could damage the
sensors under the f ront seats.
If your vehicle sustains a severe
impact, have the driver’s seat
position sensor and the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors
inspected by your Honda dealer.
You do not wear your seat belt
properly.
You do not sit upright and as f ar
back as possible f rom the steering
wheel or the dashboard (see page
).
You do not secure the child seat
properly, and move the f ront seat
as far back as possible. For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled
that came with your
owner’s manual.
For additional information on how
your airbags work, ask your dealer
f or a copy of the booklet titled
20
SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags
SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags
.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
U.S.Owners
Canadian Owners
58

Your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags f or the driver and a f ront
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the f ront
seat-backs, and both are marked
‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
The SRS indicator light
alerts you to a potential
problem with your f ront airbags and
automatic seat belt tensioners.
This light will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags, passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system (see page ), or the driver’s seat position
sensor and the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors (see pages and ).
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light brief ly then
go out. This tells you that the system
is working properly. 60
57
62
CONT INUED
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How Your Side A irbags Work How the SRS Indicator L ight
Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
59

If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or f lashes on
andoff whileyoudrive. This light alerts you that
the passenger’s side airbag
has been automatically shut off.
Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in the f ront, this
system is designed to shut of f the
side airbag if a child leans sideways
and the child’s head is in the side
airbag deployment path.
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
If you see any of these indications,
your f ront or side airbags may not
deploy, your passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system may not
work properly, your seat belt
tensioners may not work, or the
sensors under the f ront seats may
not work properly when you need
them. See your Honda dealer as soon
as possible. It does not mean there is a problem
with your side airbags. It means that
thesideairbagcutoff systemhas
activated to prevent the side airbag
f rom deploying.
To reduce the risk of injury f rom an
inf lating side airbag, your vehicle has
an automatic cutoff system for the
passenger’s side airbag.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How the Side Airbag Cutof f
Indicator L ight Works
60
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags, cutoff
system, or tensioners do not
work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a
potential problem.

If a small-statured adult leans
sideways, or larger adult slouches
and leans sideways into the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system may also shut of f the side
airbag.A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the indicator should light
brief ly and go out (see page ). If it
doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on
while driving without a passenger in
the front seat, have the system
checked.
If the side airbag cutof f indicator
light comes on, you should have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the deployment
path of the side airbag, the system
will turn the airbag back on and the
light will go out. 73
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety61