Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
²Occupant Restraint Controller
²Airbag Warning Light
²Driver and passenger frontal airbag/inflator units
²Driver and passenger side airbag/inflator units
²Driver and Passenger Inflatable Knee Blocker
²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
²Side impact sensors
²Front Passenger Seat Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
How the Front Airbag System Works
²
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. Based on the level of collision
severity, the front control module determines the
proper rate of inflation. The front airbag inflators are
designed to provide different rates of airbag inflationfrom direction provided by the ORC. The ORC may
modify the rate of inflation based on the occupant size
provided by the Occupant Classification Module. The
ORC will not detect roll overs. The ORC monitors the
readiness of the electronic parts of the system when-
ever the ignition switch is in the START or RUN
positions. If the key is in the OFF position, in the ACC
position, or not in the ignition, the airbags are not on
and will not inflate.
Also, the ORC turns on the AIRBAG warning light
(located in the instrument cluster) and Passenger
Airbag Disable (PAD) indicator light (located in the
center console) for 4 seconds for a self-check when the
ignition is first turned on. After the self-check, the
AIRBAG warning light will turn off. The PAD indica-
tor light will function normally (Refer to ªPassenger
Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Lightº in this section).
If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the
system, it turns on the AIRBAG warning light either
momentarily or continuously.
34 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG light in your instrument panel
could mean you won't have the airbags to protect you
in a collision. If the light does not come on, stays on
after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have the airbag system checked right away.
WARNING!
Do not put anything on or around the airbag covers
or attempt to manually open them. You may damage
the airbags and you could be injured because the
airbags are not there to protect you. These protective
covers are designed to open only when the airbags
are inflated.
²TheDriver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Unitsare
located in the center of the steering wheel and the right
side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a
collision requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator
units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
may be possible based on collision severity and occu-
pant size. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the
upper right side of the instrument panel separate and
fold out of the way as the bags inflate to their full size.
The bags fully inflate in about 50±70 milliseconds. This
is about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes. The
bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain the
driver and front passenger. The driver 's front airbag
gas is vented through vent holes in the sides of the
airbag. The passenger 's front airbag gas is vented
through vent holes in the sides of the airbag. In this
way the airbags do not interfere with your control of
the vehicle.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 35
2
²The operational readiness of the side airbag system is
verified by the airbag indicator light in the instrument
cluster when turning the key in the ignition switch to
the ON/RUN position. If no fault is detected, the light
will go out after approximately four seconds. After the
light goes out, the system continues to monitor the
components and circuitry of the airbag system and
will indicate a malfunction by coming on again. If the
light does not come on at all, or if it fails to go out after
the four seconds, or if it comes on thereafter, a mal-
function in the system has been detected. See your
authorized dealer for service.WARNING!
²The door mounted side airbag deploys with con-
siderable force. Being too close to the door panel
during airbag deployment could cause serious
injury or death.
²All occupants must be in the appropriate restraint
for their size and age, especially children 12 and
under.
²To help avoid the potential for serious injury and
death should the side airbag be activated, please
follow these guidelines:
1. Occupants, especially children, should never lean
against the door in the area where the side airbag
inflates;
2. Occupants need to sit upright in the center of the
seat to give the side airbag room to inflate;
3. Always use the appropriate restraint for the occu-
pant and ensure it is properly used.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
2
How the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
System Works
The Occupant Classification System (OCS) will classify
an occupant in the front passenger seat into a size
category based on sensor readings from within the seat
cushion. Occupants should try to remain in a normally
seated position. If the occupant's weight is transferred to
another object in the vehicle (i.e. feet on the dashboard),
the OCS may not be able to properly approximate
occupant size. Furthermore, the occupant size may ap-
pear to increase or decrease due to objects hanging on the
seat, other passengers pushing on the seat, or objects
lodged underneath the seat. If there is a rapid change in
temperature or humidity, the OCS may not be able to
properly approximate occupant size. If your seat includ-
ing your trim cover and cushion needs to be serviced in
any way, take the vehicle to your authorized dealer. Only
manufacturer approved seat accessories may be used. If
there is a fault present in the system, the AIRBAG
warning light will light indicating that you should take
the vehicle to an authorized dealer. In the presence of an
occupant in the passenger seat, if both the PAD indicatorlight (located in the center console) and AIRBAG warn-
ing light (located in the instrument cluster) are illumi-
nated the airbag will be disabled. The ORC will not allow
front airbag deployment in the event of a collision for
occupants classified into the empty or child size catego-
ries. The PAD indicator light will illuminate indicating
that the Passenger Airbag is OFF when the OCS has
determined that the occupant size category is a child.
Also, when the seat is empty or an object that weighs less
than a predetermined threshold is placed on the seat, the
light will remain OFF. (The PAD indicator light is an
amber light located in the center console.) For almost all
sizes of properly seated adults, the passenger frontal
airbag will be enabled in the event of a collision. For
small teenagers and some small adults, depending on
size, the airbag may or may not be enabled in the event
of a collision. Both drivers and passengers should always
use the PAD indicator light as an indication if the front
passenger is properly positioned or not. If the PAD
indicator light comes on when an adult is in the passen-
ger seat, have the passenger re-position themselves in the
seat until the light goes out. Remember, if the PAD
indicator light is illuminated the passenger front airbag
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
How the Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
Works
The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is located
beneath the passenger seat.. The OCM classifies the
occupant into one of three size categories based on the
input from the Bladder Assembly and a Belt Tension
Sensor. The size categories include empty, child, and
adult. The OCM sends the Occupant Classification to the
ORC to determine if a front passenger airbag is allowed.
If a fault is present, the AIRBAG warning light is illumi-
nated.
How the Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD)
Indicator Light Works
The Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
indicates to the driver and passenger when the airbag is
turned OFF. In the presence of a properly seated occu-
pant, when the PAD indicator light is illuminated, the
airbag is OFF. Also, when the Occupant Classification
System detects either an empty seat or a weight less than
the predetermined threshold, the ORC will not illuminate
the PAD indicator light even though the airbag is turned
OFF.
How the Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) Works
The Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) is located at the outboard
passenger lap belt anchor. The BTS creates a signal based
on outboard lap belt tension. This signal is sent to the
OCM to ensure that the resultant bladder pressure in-
crease due to applied lap belt tension does not cause a
small occupant to be classified as a larger occupant
How the Bladder Mat and Pressure Sensor Works
The Bladder Mat and Pressure Sensor are located beneath
the seat cushion foam. The pressure sensor sends a signal
to the OCM. The passenger seat assembly contains criti-
cal components that affect the passenger airbag deploy-
ment. Correctly functioning passenger seat components
are critical for the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
to properly classify the passenger and calculate the
proper airbag deployment. Do not make any modifica-
tions to the passenger seat components, assembly, or to
the seat cover.
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
To Shut Off the Passenger Airbag:
²Place the ignition key in the on/off switch, turn the
key clockwise, and remove the key from the switch.
This will shut off the passenger front airbag.
²The air bag will remain off until the switch is turned
back to the ON position.
²The switch does NOT turn off the side airbag.To Turn On the Passenger Airbag:
²Place the ignition key in the on/off switch, turn the
key counterclockwise, and remove the key from the
switch. This will turn on the passenger airbag. The
Passenger Airbag Off light on the console will turn off,
or will not be illuminated when the ignition is turned
to the ON position.
WARNING!
The airbag may malfunction and serious injury could
result if key is left in the airbag shut off switch.
Always remove the key.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2
Airbag Light
You will want to have the airbags ready for
your protection in case of a collision. While the
airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) is
designed to be maintenance free, if any of the
following occurs, have an authorized dealer service the
system immediately.
²The AIRBAG light does not come on or flickers during
the four seconds when the ignition switch is first
turned on.
²The light remains on or flickers after the four second
interval.
²The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, babies and children, too. Every state in the United
States and all Canadian provinces require that small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law,
and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
WARNING!
In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny baby,
can become a missile inside the vehicle. The force
required to hold even an infant on your lap could
become so great that you could not hold the child, no
matter how strong you are. The child and others
could be badly injured. Any child riding in your
vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the child's
size.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
2
7. When the top engages to the header, turn the latch
handle counterclockwise just over one quarter turn to the
lock position and push the latch handle up to the stored
position. The top is now secured in the closed position.
NOTE:The convertible top switch indicator will light
up and an audible warning will be heard if you start
driving the vehicle without the top fully locked in the
closed position.
WARNING!
To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle only
with the convertible top either completely closed and
locked, or fully lowered into its storage compartment.
8. Once the top has been raised and locked, the cargo
compartment divider can be unhooked and folded for-
ward to increase the cargo compartment capacity. Follow
the steps shown on the label affixed to the decklid trim.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 69
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