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Airbag system
34The front airbag system will not be triggered if:•
the ignition is switched off,
•
there is a minor frontal collision,
•
there is a side collision,
•
there is a rear-end collision,
•
the vehicle turns over.
WARNING
•
The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the
occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for
occupants”.
•
If a fault has occured in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal collision
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of frontal airbags
Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and front
passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and
deploy in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒fig. 19 . The fully deployed
airbags cushion the forward movement of the front occupants and help to
reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the body.
The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag. After the collision, the
airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust
Fig. 19 Inflated front
airbags
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Airbag system
38Function of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury in
many side impact collisions.In some side collisions the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of the
vehicle ⇒page 38, fig. 22 .
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust
may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion th e movement of the occupants of the
front seats and the outer rear seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to the
upper body. The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.
Fig. 22 Illustration of
principle: inflated side
airbags on left side of
vehicle
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Page 42 of 293

Airbag system41
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
there is a frontal collision,
•
there is a rear-end collision,
•
if the vehicle rolls,
•
during a minor side collision,
WARNING
If a fault has occured in the airbag system, have the system checked imme-
diately by a qualified workshop. Otherw ise there is a danger that during a
collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.Function of curtain airbags
Fu ll y i n fl a ted a i rb ag s redu ce t h e r i s k o f h ea d o r ch est i n ju r y i n
a side collision.
During some side collisions the curtain airbag is triggered on the impact side
of the vehicle ⇒fig. 24.
In certain types of accident the front, side and curtain airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. In the
process, the curtain bag covers the side windows and door pillars.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags
have to deploy extremely rapidly (withi n thousandth of a second). A fine dust
may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the front occupants and
help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body.
The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.Safety notes on the operation of the curtain airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•
In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the
prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts
fastened while travelling.
•
For safety reasons, the head air bag must be disconnected in those
vehicles fitted with a passenger compartment separation screen. See an
Authorised Service Centre to make this adjustment.
Fig. 24 Deployed curtain
airbags
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