2009 OPEL MERIVA Owners Manual

67
Seats, Interior
Picture no: 16424s.tif
Airbag system Front airbag
The front airbag system consists of one
airbag in the steering wheel and one in the
instrument panel. These can be identified
by the word AIRBAG.
The front airbag system comprises:
z an airbag with inflator in the steering
wheel and a second one in the
instrument panel 3,
z the control electronics with impact
sensor,
z the control indicator for airbag
systems v in the instrument,
Picture no: 14317s.tif
z seat occupancy recognition 3,
z the control indicator for Opel child
restraint systems
y
with transponders 3
in the courtesy lamp.
The front airbag system will be triggered:
z depending on the severity of the
accident,
z depending on the type of impact,
z within the range show n in the illustration,
z independently of the side airbag
system 3 and curtain airbag system 3.
The ignition must be switched on. Exception:
Passenger seat with a seat occupancy
recognition system
3. The occupancy
recognition system deactivates the front
and side airbags for the passenger when
the seat is unoccupied or an Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3 is
fitted to the passenger seat. Seat
occupancy recognition 372. Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3 3 73.
Examples of events triggering the front
airbag system:
z Impact against a non-yielding obstacle:
the front airbags are triggered at low
vehicle speed.
z Impact against a yielding obstacle (such
as another vehicle): the front airbags are
only triggered at a higher vehicle speed.

68 Seats, Interior
Picture no: 14125s.tif
When triggered, the front airbags inflate in
milliseconds to form a safety cushion for
the driver and front passenger. The
forward movement of the front seat
occupants is checked, thereby
substantially reducing the risk of injury to
the upper body and head.
No impairment of view will occur, because
the airbags inflate and deflate so quickly
that it is often not even noticed in an
accident.
Picture no: 18530s.tif Picture no: 18531s.tif
The front airbag system will not be
triggered in the event of
zthe ignition is switched off,
z minor frontal collisions,
z accidents in which the vehicle overturns,
z collisions involving a side or rear impact,
that is to say, if it would not be of benefit to
the occupants.
9 Warning
Optimum protection is only provided
with the seat in the proper position 345.
Keep the area in which the airbag
inflates clear of obstructions.
Wear the three-point seat belt properly
fastened. The front airbag system is an
additional safety device, not a
replacement for your seat belt.

69
Seats, Interior
In addition, the front airbag system will not
be triggered for the front passenger in
versions with seat occupancy recognition 3
if
z the front passenger seat is unoccupied,
z or there is a properly mounted Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3.
Seat occupancy recognition 372. Opel
child restraint system with
transponders 3 3 73.
Picture no: 14741s.tif
Side airbag 3
The side airbag system consists of an
airbag in each front seat backrest. This can
be identified by the word AIRBAG.
The side airbag system comprises:
z an airbag with inflator in the back of the
driver’s and front passenger seat
respectively
z the control electronics,
z the side impact sensors,
z the control indicator for airbag
systems v in the instrument,
z seat occupancy recognition 3,
z the control indicator for Opel child
restraint systems
y
with transponders 3
in the courtesy lamp.
Picture no: 14318s.tif
The side airbag system will be triggered:
z depending on the severity of the
accident,
z depending on the type of impact,
z within the range shown in the illustration
on the centre door pillar of the driver’s or
front passenger side,
z independently of the front airbag
system.
The ignition must be switched on.

70 Seats, InteriorException:
Passenger seat with a seat occupancy
recognition system 3. The occupancy
recognition system deactivates the front
and side airbags for the passenger when
the seat is unoccupied or an Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3 is
fitted to the passenger seat. Seat
occupancy recognition 372. Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3 3 73.
Picture no: 14742s.tif
When deployed, the side airbag inflates
within milliseconds to form a safety cushion
for the driver or front passenger in the
respective front door area. This
substantially reduces th e risk of injury to
the upper body and pelvis in the event of a
side-on collision. The side airbags will not be triggered in the
event of
z
the ignition is switched off,
z frontal collisions,
z accidents in which the vehicle overturns,
z collisions involving a rear impact,
z collisions involving a side impact outside
the passenger cell.
In addition, the side airbag system will not
be triggered for the front passenger in
versions with seat occupancy recognition 3
if
z the front passenger seat is unoccupied
z or there is a properly mounted Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3.
Seat occupancy recognition 372. Opel
child restraint system with
transponders 3 373.
9 Warning
Keep the area in which the airbag
inflates clear of obstructions.

71
Seats, Interior
Picture no: 14129s.tif
Curtain airbag 3
The curtain airbag system consists of an
airbag in the roof fram e on each side. This
can be identified by the word AIRBAG on
the roof pillar.
The curtain airbag system comprises:
z an airbag with inflator in the roof frame
on the driver’s and front passenger side
respectively,
z the control electronics,
z the side impact sensors,
z the control indicator for airbag
systems v in the instrument.
Picture no: 14318s.tif
The curtain airbag system will be triggered:
z depending on the severity of the
accident,
z depending on the type of impact,
z within the range shown in the illustration
on the centre door pillar of the driver’s or
front passenger side,
z together with the side airbag system,
z irrespective of seat occupancy
recognition,
z independently of the front airbag
system.
The ignition must be switched on.
Picture no: 14127s.tif
When the curtain airb ag is triggered it
inflates within milliseconds and provides a
safety barrier in the head area on the
respective side of the vehicle. This reduces
the risk of injury to th e head considerably in
case of a side impact.

72 Seats, InteriorThe curtain airbags will not be triggered in
the event of
zthe ignition is switched off,
z frontal collisions,
z accidents in which the vehicle overturns,
z collisions involving a rear impact,
z collisions involving a side impact outside
the passenger cell.
Picture no: 17885s.tif
Control indicator v for airbag systems
The function of the airbag systems and
seat occupancy recognition 3 is monitored
electronically and indicated via control
indicator v. When the ignition is turned on,
the control indicator comes on for
about 4 seconds. If it does not light, does
not go out after 4 seconds or comes on
during driving, there is a fault in the airbag
systems, the seat occupancy recognition
system 3 or the belt tensioners 361. The
systems may fail to deploy in the event of
an accident.
Deployed airbags are indicated by
continuous illumination of v. The system’s integrated self-diagnostics
allows faults to be quickly remedied.
Seat occupancy recognition
3
The seat occupancy recognition system
deactivates the front and side front
passenger airbags if the front passenger
seat is unoccupied or an Opel child
restraint system with transponders 3 has
been fitted to the front passenger seat. The
curtain airbag system 3 remains activated.
The control indicator for seat occupancy
recognition
y is located in the courtesy
lamp. If this control indicator
y illuminates
for approx. 4 seconds after the ignition is
switched on, the vehicle is equipped with
seat occupancy recognition 373,
Fig. 12097 S.
If an Opel child restraint system with
transponders 3 is fitted, this control
indicator
y lights permanently after the
ignition is switched on as soon as the
system has detected the child restraint
system. Only then may the child restraint
system with transponders 3 be used on the
passenger seat.
9 Warning
Keep the area in which the airbag
inflates clear of obstructions.
9 Warning
Have the cause of the fault remedied
immediately by a workshop.

73
Seats, Interior
Picture no: 15844t.tif
Vehicles with seat occupancy recognition
can be identified by the sticker on the front
passenger seat or on the side of the
instrument panel.
Opel child restraint systems with
transponders 3 are detected
automatically when installed properly on
the passenger seat. When these child
restraint systems are used on the
passenger seat, the front and side airbag
systems for the passenger seat are
deactivated. The curtain airbag system
remains activated. Observe the control
indicator
y for seat occupancy
recognition 3 373. Opel child restraint systems with
transponders
3 can be identified by a
sticker or badge.
Control indicator
y for Opel child
restraint systems with transponders 3
The presence of an Opel child restraint
system with transponders 3 is indicated
after the ignition has been switched on by
permanent illumination of the control
indicator
y in the courtesy lamp, as soon
as the seat occupanc y recognition system
has detected the child restraint system.
Picture no: 12097s.tif
If the control indicator does not come on
while driving, the front and side airbags for
the passenger are not de-activated and
there is a risk of injury or death to the child.
Fit child restraint syst ems on the rear seat.
Have the cause of the fault eliminated by a
workshop.
If the child restraint system is not correctly
installed or the transponders are defective,
the indicator lamp will flash. Check for
correct child restraint system installation.
For installation of ch ild restraint system
with transponders 3 – see instructions
provided with child restraint system.
9 Warning
Only Opel child restraint systems with
transponders 3 should be fitted on the
front passenger seats. Use of systems
without transponders poses a risk of
fatal injury.

74 Seats, InteriorIf the control indicator flashes when the
child restraint system with transponders 3
is correctly fitted, there is a fault with risk of
injury to the child. Fit child restraint systems
on the rear seat. Have the cause of the
fault eliminated by a workshop.
If no Opel child restraint system with
transponders 3 is fitted, the control
indicator must not light or flash as the
passenger airbag systems would not
deploy. Have the cause of the fault
eliminated by a workshop. Important
z
Placing accessories and objects in the
expansion region of the airbag systems
is not permitted due to the risk of injury if
the airbag is triggered.
z Do not place any objects between the
airbag systems and the vehicle
occupants; danger of injury.
z Use the hooks in the roof frame only to
hang up light articles of clothing or coat
hangers. Do not place any objects in the
pockets of the hanging items – risk of
injury.
z The airbag systems and belt tensioner
control electronics can be found in the
centre console area. In order to avoid
malfunctions, do not store magnetic
objects in this area. z
Do not stick anything on the steering
wheel, instrument panel, front seat
backrests or roof frame in the vicinity of
the airbags, or on the front passenger’s
seat cushion, or cover any of those areas
with other materials.
z Use only a dry cloth or interior cleaner to
clean the steering wheel, instrument
panel, front seat backrests, roof frame
and seat cushion of the front passenger
seat. Do not use any aggressive cleaning
agents.
z Only protective covers which are
approved for your vehicle with side
airbag may be fitted on the front seats.
When fitting the protective covers, make
sure that the airbag units on the
outboard sides of the front seat
backrests are not covered.
z The airbag systems are triggered
independently of each other depending
on the severity of the accident and the
type of impact. The side airbag system 3
and the curtain airbag system 3 are
triggered together.
z Each airbag deploys once only. Have a
workshop replace deployed airbags
immediately.
9 Warning
If the Opel child restraint system with
transponders 3 has been fitted
according to the inst ructions, the control
indicator for Opel restraint systems with
transponders must illuminate in the
courtesy lamp when the ignition is
switched on.
If the control indicator does not come on
while driving, the passenger airbag
systems are not de-activated and there
is a risk of injury or death. In this case fit
child restraint system s on the rear seat.
Have the cause of th e fault eliminated
by a workshop.
9 Warning
As with any other ob ject, child restraint
systems must not be carried on a
passenger’s lap. Danger to life.