2012 HONDA CR-Z Owners Manual

48
uuAirbagsuSide Airbags
Safe Driving
Side Airbags
The side airbags help protect the upper torso of the driver or a passenger during a
moderate-to-severe side impact.The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver's and passenger's seat-
backs.
Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.
When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals the
side airbag on the impact side to immediately
inflate.
■Housing Locations
1Side 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 seat.
Do not cover or replace the seat-back covers without consulting a dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering seat-back covers can
prevent your side airbags from properly deploying
during a side impact.
Housing
Location
■Operation
When
inflated
Side Airbag

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uuAirbagsuSide Airbags
Continued
Safe Driving
■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 wh en the vehicle's crushable body parts
absorbed most of the crash energy. In ei ther case, the side airbag would not have
been needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

uuAirbagsuSide Airbags
50
Safe Driving
To reduce the likelihood that a 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 passenger
seat.
• The position sensor detects that the passe nger is leaning into the deployment
path of the side airbag.
When the side airbag cutoff system is activated, the side airbag off indicator comes
on. 2 Side Airbag Off Indicator P. 54
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 passenger is a child, the indicator will remain on so long as the child is seated.
Since this vehicle does not have a back seat, we recommend that you do not carry
any child who is not large enough and mature enough to ride in front.
■Side Airbag Cutoff System
■Side Airbag Off Indicator
1Side Airbag Cutoff System
The sensors that monitor the passenger's height and
body position may not work if: • The seat-back is wet
• The passenger is touching a metal or other
electrical conductive object
• A seat cushion is on the seat
• The passenger is wearing excessively thick clothing
Sensors that
monitor the
passenger’s height.
Sensors that monitor the
passenger’s position.

51
uuAirbagsuSide Curtain Airbags
Safe Driving
Side Curtain Airbags
The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and a passenger during
a moderate-to-severe side impact.
The side curtain airbags are located in the
ceiling above the side windows on both sides of the vehicle.
The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy
in a moderate-to-severe side impact.
■ When side curtain airbags de ploy 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.
■Housing Locations
1Side 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 interf ere with the proper operation
of the side curtain airbags.
Side Curtain Airbag Storage
■Operation

52
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving
Airbag System Indicators
If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a
message appears on the multi-information display.■When the ignition switch is turned to ON
(w
The indicator comes on for a few seconds,
then goes off. This tells you the system is
working properly.
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.
■SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator1SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
3WARNING
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.

Continued53
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving
■When the passenger airbag off
indicator comes on
The indicator comes on to alert you that the
passenger's front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the passenger’s weight
sensors detect 65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the
weight of an infant or small child, on the seat.
Your vehicle is not recommended for child
passengers. Never put a rear-facing child seat
in this vehicle.
If you decided to disregard our
recommendations and transport a small child,
they should be properly restrained. 2 Child Safety P. 56
Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.
If the passenger seat is empty, the passenger's front airbag will not deploy and the
indicator will not come on.
■Passenger Airbag Off Indicator1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
If the indicator comes on with no passenger and no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an adult
riding there, something may be interfering with the weight sensors. Such as: • An object hanging on the seat.
• An object pressing the rear of the seat-back.
• The seat or seat-back is forced back against cargo
on the rear trays or floor behind it.
• An object placed under the passenger's seat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The passenger airba g off indicator may come on and
goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is
near the airbag cutoff threshold.
OFFOFF
PASSENGER
AIRBAG
OFFOFF
PASSENGER
AIRBAG
Canada
U.S.
Canada
Vehicle without
navigation system
Vehicle with
navigation systemU.S.

uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
54
Safe Driving
■ When the side airbag off indicator comes on
This indicator comes on if the passenger's side
airbag has been turned off because the
passenger is too small to be sitting in the
passenger’s seat, is slouching or not sitting
upright, or has leaned into the airbag's
deployment path.
Unless the passenger is a smaller statured
adult or a child, the indicator should go off
when the passenger returns to a proper
upright sitting position.
■Side Airbag Off Indicator1Side Airbag Off Indicator
When you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w, the
indicator should come on for a few seconds and then
go out. If it doesn't come on, stays on, or comes on
while driving without a passenger in the seat, have
the system checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
U.S.
Canada

55
uuAirbagsuAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag Care
You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations: ■When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be
replaced. ■ When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, seat belt tensioners,
and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.
■ Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable the driver's seat position sensor or the passenger’s weight
sensors. If it is necessary to remove or modify a seat to accommodate a person with
disabilities, contact a Honda dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, American Honda
Automobile Customer Service at 800-999-1009 and for Canadian vehicles, Honda
Canada Customer Relations at 888-9-HONDA-9.
1Airbag Care
We recommends against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners,
sensors, and control unit.