2011 Acura TSX airbag

Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
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Operation
Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the
control unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when
a vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.
How the Front Airbags Work
While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.
The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won't interfere with the driver's visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
How the Front Airbags Work
After a front airbag inflates in a crash, you may
see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder
from the airbag's surface. Although the powder
is not harmful, people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary discomfort. If this
occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.
Although the driver's and front passenger's airbags
normally inflate within a split second of each other,
it is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can
happen if 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 sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.
The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

38Safe Driving
Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
When front airbags should not deploy
Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts
and help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might
occur during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or front passenger to move towards the front of the vehicle. Side
airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which
can cause the driver or passenger to move towards the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a
rear impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not
designed to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: Seat belts, and in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side airbags,
and side curtain airbags offer the best protection in a rollover. Because front
airbags could provide little if any protection, they are not designed to deploy
during a rollover. When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to
deploy. Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low
fixed object that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the
impact is underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent. When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the
airbags would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even
if they had deployed.

39Safe Driving
Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
Advanced Airbags
Your front airbags have advanced features to reduce the likelihood of
airbag related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver's advanced front airbag system
includes a seat position sensor.
If the seat is too far forward, the airbag
inflates with less force, regardless of the
severity of the impact.
The passenger's advanced front airbag
system includes weight sensors.
Although Acura recommends against carrying
an infant or small child in front, if the sensors
detect the weight of a child (up to about 65
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically
turn off the passenger's front airbag.
Advanced Airbags
If there is a problem with the driver's seat position
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and the
airbag will inflate with full (normal) force, regardless
of the driver's seating position.

For both advanced front airbags to work properly:
Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats. tDo not put any object under the passenger’s seat. tMake sure any objects are positioned properly on tthe rear floor. Improperly positioned objects can
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.
All occupants should sit upright and wear their tseat belts properly.
Passenger’s
Seat
Weight
Sensors
Driver’s
Seat
Position
Sensor

Airbags
Side Airbags
40Safe Driving
Side AirbagsThe side airbags help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front passenger
during a moderate to severe side impact.
Housing Locations
The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver's and passenger's
seat-backs.
Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.
Housing
Location
Side Airbags
Do not attach accessories on or near the side
airbags. They can interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags, or hurt someone if an
airbag inflates.
If the impact is on the passenger side, the airbag
deploys even if there is no passenger in the
passenger’s seat.
Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers
without consulting a dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back
covers can prevent your side airbags from properly
deploying during a side impact.
Operation
Side
AirbagWhen
inflated
When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals
the side airbag on the impact side to
immediately inflate.

Airbags
Side Airbags
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When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side
of the vehicle's framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough
impact to deploy the airbag. When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage
appears severe
It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was towards
the far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle's crushable body parts
absorbed most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have
been needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

Airbags
Side Airbags
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Side Airbag Cutoff System
To reduce the likelihood that a front passenger may be injured by an inflating side
airbag, the passenger side airbag is automatically turned off when:
The height sensors detect a child or short-statured adult is seated in the front t
passenger seat.
The position sensor detects that the front passenger is leaning into the t
deployment path of the side airbag.
When the side airbag cutoff system is activated, the side airbag off indicator
comes on.
Side Airbag Off Indicator

P. 4 6
Side Airbag Off Indicator
If the side airbag off indicator comes on, have the passenger sit upright. A few
seconds after the passenger is sitting properly, the side airbag will automatically be
turned on, and the indicator will go off.

If the front passenger is a child, stop when it is safe to do so, and have the child sit
properly restrained in a rear seat.
Side Airbag Cutoff System
The sensors that monitor the front passenger's
height and body position may not work if:
The seat-back is wet tThe passenger is touching a metal or other telectrical conductive object
A seat cushion is on the seat tThe passenger is wearing excessively thick tclothing
Sensors that
monitor the
passenger’s height.
Sensors that monitor
the passenger’s position.

Airbags
Side Curtain Airbags
43Safe Driving
Side Curtain AirbagsThe side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in
outer seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact.
Housing Locations
The side curtain airbags are located in the
ceiling above the side windows on both sides
of the vehicle.
Side Curtain Airbags
The side curtain airbags are most effective when
an occupant is wearing their seat belt properly and
sitting upright, well back in their seat.
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or
roof pillars as they can interfere with the proper
operation of the side curtain airbags.
Operation
The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy
in a moderate-to-severe side impact.
When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision
One or both side curtain airbags may inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled
frontal collision.
In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the front airbags. Side Curtain Airbag StorageDeployed Side Curtain Airbag

Airbags
Airbag System Indicators
44Safe Driving
Airbag System IndicatorsIf a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a
message appears on the multi-information display.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
When the ignition switch is turned to
ON
II
The indicator comes on briefly then goes off.
This tells you the system is working properly.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator
WARNING
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result
in serious injury or death if the airbag
systems or tensioners do not work
properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts
you to a possible problem.
If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the
system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don't, your airbags and seat
belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.