2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC airbag

How does the side airbag system work?
The design and development of the side airbag system included
recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of side airbags.The side airbag system consists of
the following:
•An inflatable bag (airbag) with an
inflator concealed behind the
outboard bolster of the driver and
front passenger seatbacks.
• A special seat cover designed to
allow airbag deployment.
• The same warning light,
electronic control and diagnostic
unit as used for the front airbags.
• Crash sensors located on the
front doors and on the rocker
behind the C pillar (one sensor
on each pillar on each side of the
vehicle).
Side airbags, in combination with safety belts, can help reduce the risk of
severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision.
The side airbags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the side affected by
the collision will be inflated. The airbag was designed to inflate between
the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact collisions.
The airbag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral
acceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit
that initiates airbag inflation.
The fact that the airbags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that
something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces were
not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Side airbags are designed
to inflate in side-impact collisions, not roll-over, rear-impact, frontal or
near-frontal collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral
deceleration.
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WARNING:Several air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.
WARNING: If the side airbag has deployed, the airbag will not
function again. The side airbag system (including the seat)
must be inspected and serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
airbag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of
injury in a collision.
Side-curtain airbag system
WARNING: Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near
the headliner at the siderail that may come into contact with a
deploying side air curtain. Failure to follow these instructions may
increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a collision.
WARNING: Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near
the side air curtain cover.
WARNING: Do not lean your head on the door. The side air
curtain could injure you as it deploys from the headliner.
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WARNING:Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the side air
curtain system, its fuses, the A, B, or C pillar trim, or the headliner
on a vehicle containing a side air curtain. See your authorized dealer.
WARNING: All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver,
should always wear their safety belts even when an inflatable
curtain is provided.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, do not obstruct or place
objects in the deployment zone of the inflatable curtain.
How does the side air curtain system work? The design and development of the
side air curtain system included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment
of side airbags (including side air
curtain systems).
The side air curtain system consists
of the following:
•An inflatable curtain with a gas
generator concealed behind the
headliner and above the doors.
• The headliner will flex to open above the side doors to allow air
curtain deployment.
• The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front airbags.
• Two pressure sensors located in the front doors.
•
Two crash sensors located on the rocker panel behind the lower C pillar.
Side air curtains and side airbags, in combination with safety belts, can
help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side
impact collision.
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Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the rear seats. The side air curtain will not interfere with children
restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat because it is
designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the doors along
the side window openings.
The side air curtains are mounted to the sheet metal above the first and
second row seats. In certain lateral collisions, the air curtain and
seat-mounted side airbag on the side affected by the collision will be inflated,
except that the passenger sensing system will deactivate the passenger
seat-mounted side airbag if it detects an empty unbuckled passenger seat.
The air curtain was designed to inflate between the side window area and
occupant to further enhance the head protection provided to occupants in
side impact collisions. The seat-mounted side airbag was designed to inflate
between the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection
provided occupants in side impact collisions.
The side air curtain system SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an
electrical circuit that initiates air curtain and seat-mounted side airbag
inflation.
The fact that the side air curtain and seat-mounted side airbag did not
inflate in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with the
system. Rather, it means the forces were not of the type sufficient to
cause activation. The side air curtain system is designed to inflate in side
impact collisions, not roll-over, rear impact, frontal or near-frontal
collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral deceleration.
WARNING:Several air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.
WARNING: If the side air curtain has deployed, the air curtain
will not function again. The side air curtain system (including
the A, B and C pillar trim and headliner) must be inspected and
serviced by an authorized dealer. If the air curtain is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision.
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Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer toWarning lights and
indicators in theInstrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of
the side airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
• The readiness light (same light as for front airbag system) will either
flash or stay lit.
• The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
• An information message will appear in the message center.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may
not function properly in the event of a collision.
SOS Post-Crash Alert System™
The system flashes the turn signal lamps and sounds the horn
(intermittently) in the event of a serious impact that deploys an airbag
(front, side, side curtain or Safety Canopy) or the safety belt
pretensioners.
The horn and lamps will turn off when:
• the hazard control button is pressed, or
• the vehicle runs out of power.
Disposal of airbags and airbag equipped vehicles (including
pretensioners)
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible. Airbags MUST BE
disposed of by qualified personnel.
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SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety
restraints for children. Also seeAirbag supplemental restraint system
(SRS) in this chapter for special instructions about using airbags.
Important child restraint precautions
WARNING: Always make sure your child is secured properly in a
device that is appropriate for their height, age and weight. Child
safety restraints must be purchased separately from the vehicle. Failure
to follow these instructions and guidelines may result in an increased
risk of serious injury or death to your child.
WARNING: All children are shaped differently. The
Recommendations for Safety Restraints are based on probable
child height, age and weight thresholds from NHTSA and other safety
organizations or are the minimum requirements of law. Ford
recommends checking with a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger Safety
Technician (CPST) and consult your pediatrician to make sure your
child seat is appropriate for your child, and is compatible with and
properly installed in the vehicle. To locate a child seat fitting station
and CPST contact the NHTSA toll free at 1-888-327-4236 or on the
internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. In Canada, check with your local
St. John Ambulance office for referral to a CPST or for further
information, contact your provincial ministry of transportation, your
local St. John Ambulance office at http://www.sfa.ca, or Transport
Canada at 1–800–333–0371 (http://www.tc.gc.ca). Failure to properly
restrain children in safety seats made especially for their height, age,
and weight may result in an increased risk of serious injury or death to
your child.
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Recommendations for attaching child safety restraints for children
Restraint
TypeChild
Weight Use any attachment method as indicated
below by “X”
LATCH
(lower
anchors
and
top
tether
anchor) LATCH
(lower
anchors
only)
Safety
belt
and
top
tether
anchorSafety
belt and
LATCH
(lower
anchors
and top
tether
anchor) Safety
belt
only
Rear
facing
child seat Up to
48 lb
(21 kg)
XX
Forward
facing
child seat Up to
48 lb
(21 kg)
XXX
Forward
facing
child seat Over
48 lb
(21 kg)
XX
WARNING:
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.
NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag.
If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the
vehicle seat all the way back. When possible, all children age 12 and
under should be properly restrained in a rear seating position. If all
children cannot be seated and restrained properly in a rear seating
position, properly restrain the largest child in the front seat.
WARNING: Always carefully follow the instructions and
warnings provided by the manufacturer of any child restraint to
determine if the restraint device is appropriate for your child’s size,
height, weight, or age. Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions and warnings provided for installation and use in
conjunction with the instructions and warnings provided by the vehicle
manufacturer. A safety seat that is improperly installed or utilized, is
inappropriate for your child’s height, age, or weight or does not
properly fit the child may increase the risk of serious injury or death.
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WARNING:Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision, which may result in serious injury or death.
WARNING: Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child.
They can slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or
death in a collision.
WARNING: Always restrain an unoccupied child seat or booster
seat. These objects may become projectiles in a collision or
sudden stop, which may increase the risk of serious injury.
WARNING: Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder
belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces
the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk
of injury or death in a collision.
WARNING: Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets
unattended in your vehicle.
Transporting children
Always make sure your child is secured properly in a device that is
appropriate for their age, height and weight. All children are shaped
differently. The child height, age and weight thresholds provided are
recommendations or the minimum requirements of law. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides education and
training to ensure that all children ages 0 to 16 are properly restrained in
the correct restraint system. Ford recommends checking with a NHTSA
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and your
pediatrician to make sure your seat is appropriate for your child and
properly installed in the vehicle. To locate a child seat fitting station and
CPST contact the NHTSA toll free at 1-888-327-4236or on the internet
at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. In Canada, check with your local St. John
Ambulance office for referral to a CPST or for further information,
contact your provincial ministry of transportation, your local St. John
Ambulance office at http://www.sfa.ca, or Transport Canada at
1–800–333–0371 (http://www.tc.gc.ca).
Follow all the safety restraint and airbag precautions that apply to adult
passengers in your vehicle.
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