2008 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 sensor

Black plate (49,1)
Supplemental Restraint System Components
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:lThe air bag system with inflators and air bags.lThe electrical system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations:
lThe steering wheel hublThe front passenger dashboardlThe outboard sides of the front seatbackslThe front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides
The air bags are out of sight until activated.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-37
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page49
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (50,1)
qFront Air Bag System Components
(1)
(7) (11) (8) (7)
(10) (6)
(5)
(4)
(2)
(9)
(3)
(1) Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-40)
(2) Front seats
(3) Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-49)
(4) Front dual stage inflators and air bags
(5) Front air bag sensor
(6) Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-40)
(7) Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-14)
(8) Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-40)
(9) Front passenger seat weight sensor control module
(10) Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(11) Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-40)
2-38
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page50
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (51,1)
qSide and Curtain Air Bag System Components
(2)
(3)
(4)
(2)
(5)
(1)
(1) Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-49)
(2) Side and curtain inflators and air bags
(3) Front seats
(4) Side crash sensor
(5) Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-39
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page51
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (52,1)
How the Air Bags Work
qHow the Front Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the front air bags and after the inflation, the front air bags
quickly deflate.
The front air bags will function only once. After that, the front air bags will not work
again and must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the system components.
The front, dual stage air bags control air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity the front air bags deploy with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, they deploy with more energy. Deployment of the front air bags may
differ between the driver and the front passenger depending on the driver seat position,
front passenger weight and front seat belt usage, all of which provide data from each sensor
to the air bag system.
The front air bags will deploy only
in a frontal or frontal offset impact.
Driver seat slide position sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver seat slide position sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. The sensor is located under the driver seat. The sensor
determines whether the driver seat is fore or aft of a reference position and sends the seat
position to the diagnostic module (SAS unit). The SAS unit is also designed to control the
deployment of the driver air bag depending on how close the driver seat is to the steering
wheel.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a
possible malfunction (page 2-49).
2-40
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page52
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (53,1)
Front passenger seat weight sensors
Your vehicle is equipped with the front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-27). These
sensors are located under both of the front passenger seat rails. These sensors determine the
total seated weight on the front passenger seat. The SAS unit is designed to prevent the
front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from deploying if
the total seated weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when:
lThere is no passenger in the front passenger seat. (The front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not illuminate.)
lThe total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66
lb). (The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)
This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible
malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air
bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. After a specified period of time it
goes out.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page53
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (55,1)
WARNING
Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 42 kg (93 lb) required for air bag deployment is dangerous. The front
passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total seated weight condition
and the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system
will not deploy during an accident. The front passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air bag, which could result in serious injury.
Decreasing the total seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated
weight of approximately 42 kg (93 lb) could result in an air bag not deploying under
the following conditions, for example:
ØA rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with the feet.
Ø Luggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the
front passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat
bottom.
Ø The front passenger seat occupant sits in a manner that does not place the entire
weight of the occupant on the seat such as by sitting too close to the door,
grasping the assist grip or the rim of the moonroof and sitting with the seatback
reclined too far.
Ø Any accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
Ø Tension in the upward direction is placed on the seat belt slide bar such as by
pulling up on the seat belt.
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66
lb) and they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lb).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-43
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page55
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (56,1)
Do not increase the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 30 kg (66 lb) is dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors
will detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the unexpected
deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system in an accident and may cause serious injury. Increasing the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat beyond the total seated weight of approximately
30 kg (66 lb) could result in the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system deployment in an accident under the following conditions, for
example:
ØLuggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
Ø A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.
Ø A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with the feet.
Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.
Ø The seat is washed.
Ø Liquids are spilled on the seat.
Ø The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
Ø The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.
Ø Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver
seat.
Ø Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
Ø Feet or other items are placed on the seat belt slide bar.
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than
approximately 30 kg (66 lb) and they will reactivate when the weight exceeds
approximately 42 kg (93 lb).
CAUTION
Ø To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the
sensors in the front seat bottoms:
ØDo not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on
them.
ØDo not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
Ø To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
ØAdjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
ØIf you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint
system properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page
2-27).
2-44
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page56
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (57,1)
NOTElThe system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front passenger front and
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
lThe front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or
other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior
changes suddenly.
lThe front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat changes.
lIf the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, install the child-restraint system on the rear
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Driver and front passenger buckle switches
The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the front seat belts are
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.
qHow the Side and Curtain Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the side and curtain air bags and after the inflation, the side
and curtain air bags quickly deflate. However, the side air bag system for the front
passenger is designed to only deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat.
The side and curtain air bags will function only once. After that, the side and curtain air
bags will not work again and must be replaced. Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can
replace the systems.
The side and curtain air bags will deploy only on the side the
vehicle receives the force of the impact.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-45
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page57
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G