2012 INFINITI M Owners Manual

1-46Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
SSS1085
Front passenger air bag status light
Front passenger air bag and status
light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF under some condi-
tions. Read this section carefully to learn
how it operates. Proper use of the seat, seat
belt and child restraints is necessary for
most effective protection. Failure to follow
all instructions in this manual concerning
the use of seats, seat belts and child restraints can increase the risk or severity
of injury in an accident.
Status light:
The front passenger air bag status light
is located above the ashtray. After the
ignition switch is placed in the "ON"
position, the front passenger air bag status
light on the instrument panel illuminates
for about 7 seconds and then turns off or
operates depending on the front passenger
occupied status. The light operates as
follows:
. Unoccupied passenger seat: The
is
OFF and the front passenger air bag is
OFF and will not inflate in a crash.
. Passenger seat occupied by a small
adult, child or child restraint as out-
lined in this section: The
illumi-
nates to indicate that the front
passenger air bag is OFF and will not
inflate in a crash.
. Occupied passenger seat and the pas-
senger meets the conditions outlined in
this section: The light
is OFF to
indicate that the front passenger air
bag is operational. Front passenger air bag:
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as de-
scribed below as permitted by U.S. regula-
tions. If the front passenger air bag is OFF,
it will not inflate in a crash. The driver air
bag and other air bags in your vehicle are
not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help
reduce the risk of injury or death from an
inflating air bag to certain front passenger
seat occupants, such as children, by
requiring the air bag to be automatically
turned OFF.
The occupant classification sensor (pattern
sensor) is in the front passenger seat
cushion and is designed to detect an
occupant and objects on the seat. For
example, if a child is in the front passenger
seat, the Advanced Air Bag System is
designed to turn the passenger air bag
OFF in accordance with the regulations.
Also, if a child restraint of the type
specified in the regulations is on the seat,
the occupant classification sensor can
detect it and cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt

as outlined in this manual should not
cause the passenger air bag to be auto-
matically turned OFF. For small adults it
may be turned OFF, however, if the
occupant does not sit in the seat properly
(for example, by not sitting upright, by
sitting on an edge of the seat, or by
otherwise being out of position), this could
cause the sensor to turn the air bag OFF.
Always be sure to be seated and wearing
the seat belt properly for the most effective
protection by the seat belt and supple-
mental air bag.
INFINITI recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear
seat. INFINITI also recommends that appro-
priate child restraints and booster seats be
properly installed in a rear seat. If this is
not possible, the occupant classification
sensor is designed to operate as described
above to turn the front passenger air bag
OFF for specified child restraints. Failing to
properly secure child restraints and to use
the ALR mode (child restraint mode) may
allow the restraint to tip or move in an
accident or sudden stop. This can also
result in the passenger air bag inflating in
a crash instead of being OFF. (See“Child
restraints” earlier in this section for proper use and installation.)
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the passenger air bag is designed not to
inflate in a crash. However, heavy objects
placed on the seat could result in air bag
inflation, because of the object being
detected by the occupant classification
sensor. Other conditions could also result
in air bag inflation, such as if a child is
standing on the seat, or if two children are
on the seat, contrary to the instructions in
this manual. Always be sure that you and
all vehicle occupants are seated and
restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light,
you can monitor when the front passenger
air bag is automatically turned OFF with the
seat occupied. The light will not illuminate
when the front passenger seat is unoccu-
pied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
passenger air bag status light is illumi-
nated (indicating that the air bag is OFF), it
could be that the person is a small adult,
or is not sitting on the seat properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the passenger air bag status light
may or may not be illuminated, depending
on the size of the child and the type of child restraint being used. If the passenger
air bag status light is not illuminated
(indicating that the air bag might inflate
in a crash), it could be that the child
restraint or seat belt is not being used
properly. Make sure that the child restraint
is installed properly, the seat belt is used
properly and the occupant is positioned
properly. If the passenger air bag status
light is still not illuminated, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not
illuminate even though you believe that the
child restraint, the seat belts and the
occupant are properly positioned, the
system may be sensing an unoccupied
seat (in which case the air bag is OFF). Your
INFINITI retailer can check that the system
is OFF by using a special tool. However,
until you have confirmed with your retailer
that your air bag is working properly,
reposition the occupant or child restraint
in a rear seat.
The INFINITI advanced air bag system and
passenger air bag status light will take a
few seconds to register a change in the
passenger seat status. However, if the seat
becomes unoccupied, the air bag status
light will remain off.
Safety
—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-47

1-48Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
If a malfunction occurs in the front
passenger air bag system, the supplemen-
tal air bag warning light
, located in the
meter and gauges area will blink. Have the
system checked by an INFINITI retailer.
Other supplemental front-impact
air bag precautions
WARNING
. Do not place any objects on the steering
wheel pad or on the instrument panel.
Also, do not place any objects between
any occupant and the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Such objects may
become dangerous projectiles and cause
injury if the front air bags inflate.
. Do not place objects with sharp edges
on the seat. Also, do not place heavy
objects on the seat that will leave
permanent impressions in the seat. Such
objects can damage the seat or occupant
classification sensor (pattern sensor).
This can affect the operation of the air
bag system and result in serious perso-
nal injury.
. Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can damage the seat or occupant classifica-
tion sensor. This can also affect the
operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
. Immediately after inflation, several front
air bag system components will be hot.
Do not touch them; you may severely
burn yourself.
. No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the air bag system. This is to prevent
accidental inflation of the supplemental
air bag or damage to the supplemental
air bag system.
. Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle ’s electrical system, suspen-
sion system or front end structure. This
could affect proper operation of the front
air bag system.
. Tampering with the air bag system may
result in serious personal injury. Tamper-
ing includes changes to the steering
wheel and the instrument panel assem-
bly by placing material over the steering
wheel pad and above the instrument
panel or by installing additional trim
material around the air bag system. .
Modifying or tampering with the front
passenger seat may result in serious
personal injury. For example, do not
change the front seats by placing
material on the seat cushion or by
installing additional trim material, such
as seat covers, on the seat that is not
specifically designed to assure proper
air bag operation. Additionally, do not
stow any objects under the front pas-
senger seat or the seat cushion and
seatback. Such objects may interfere
with the proper operation of the occu-
pant classification sensor.
. No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the seat belt system. This may affect the
front air bag system. Tampering with the
seat belt system may result in serious
personal injury.
. Work on and around the front air bag
system should be done by an INFINITI
retailer. Installation of electrical equip-
ment should also be done by an INFINITI
retailer. The Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) wiring harnesses* should
not be modified or disconnected. Un-
authorized electrical test equipment and
probing devices should not be used on

the air bag system.
. A cracked windshield should be replaced
immediately by a qualified repair facility.
A cracked windshield could affect the
function of the supplemental air bag
system.
* The SRS wiring harness connectors
are yellow and orange for easy
identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the front air
bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this Owner ’s Man-
ual.
SSS0521
FRONT SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE-IM-
PACT SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG AND
ROOF-MOUNTED CURTAIN SIDE-IM-
PACT SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG SYS-
TEMS
The side air bags are located in the outside
of the seatback of the front seats. The
curtain air bags are located in the side roof
rails. These systems are designed to meet
voluntary guidelines to help reduce the risk
of injury to out-of-position occupants.
However, all of the information, cautions
and warnings in this manual still apply
and must be followed. The side air bagsand curtain air bags are designed to inflate
in higher severity side collisions, although
they may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a
higher severity side impact. They are
designed to inflate on the side where the
vehicle is impacted. They may not inflate in
certain side collisions on the side where
the vehicle is impacted.
Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always
an indication of proper supplemental side
air bag and curtain side-impact air bag
operation.
When side air bags and curtain air bags
inflate, a fairly loud noise may be heard,
followed by release of smoke. This smoke
is not harmful and does not indicate a fire.
Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it
may cause irritation and choking. Those
with a history of a breathing condition
should get fresh air promptly.
Side air bags, along with the use of seat
belts, help to cushion the impact force on
the chest and pelvis of the front occupants.
Curtain air bags help to cushion the impact
force to the head of occupants in the front
and rear outboard seating positions. They
can help save lives and reduce serious
injuries. However, an inflating side air bags
Safety
—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-49

1-50Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
and curtain air bags may cause abrasions
or other injuries. Side air bags and curtain
air bags do not provide restraint to the
lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn
and the driver and passenger seated
upright as far as practical away from the
side air bag. Rear seat passengers should
be seated as far away as practical from the
door finishers and side roof rails. The side
air bags and curtain air bags inflate quickly
in order to help protect the occupants.
Because of this, the force of the side air
bags and curtain air bags inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is
too close to, or is against, these air bag
modules during inflation. The side air bags
and curtain air bags will deflate quickly
after the collision is over.
The side air bags and curtain air bags
operate only when the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
After pushing the ignition switch to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates. The air bag warning
light will turn off after about 7 seconds if
the systems are operational.
WARNING
. Do not place any objects near the
seatback of the front seats. Also, do
not place any objects (an umbrella, bag,
etc.) between the front door finisher and
the front seat. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and cause injury if
side air bag inflates.
. Right after inflation, several side air
bags and curtain air bag system compo-
nents will be hot. Do not touch them;
you may severely burn yourself.
. No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
side air bag and curtain air bags. This is
to prevent damage to or accidental
inflation of the side air bag and curtain
air bag systems.
. Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle ’s electrical system, suspen-
sion system or side panel. This could
affect proper operation of the side air
bag and curtain air bag systems.
. Tampering with the air bag system may
result in serious personal injury. For
example, do not change the front seats
by placing material near the seatback or by installing additional trim material,
such as seat covers, around the side air
bags.
. Work around and on the side air bag and
curtain air bag systems should be done
by an INFINITI retailer. Installation of
electrical equipment should also be
done by an INFINITI retailer. The Supple-
mental Restraint System (SRS) wiring
harnesses* should not be modified or
disconnected. Unauthorized electrical
test equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the side-impact
air bag system.
* The SRS wiring harness connectors
are yellow and orange for easy
identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the side air bag
and curtain air bag systems and guide the
buyer to the appropriate sections in this
Owner ’s Manual.

SEAT BELTS WITH PRETENSIONERS
(front seats)
WARNING
.The pretensioners cannot be reused after
activation. They must be replaced to-
gether with the retractor and buckle as a
unit.
. If the vehicle becomes involved in a
collision but a pretensioner is not
activated, be sure to have the preten-
sioner system checked and, if necessary,
replaced by an INFINITI retailer.
. No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the pretensioners. This is to prevent
damage to or accidental activation of the
pretensioner system. Tampering with the
pretensioner system may result in ser-
ious personal injury.
. Work around and on the pretensioners
should be done by an INFINITI retailer.
Installation of electrical equipment
should also be done by an INFINITI
retailer. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices should
not be used on the pretensioner system. .
If you need to dispose of the preten-
sioner or scrap the vehicle, contact an
INFINITI retailer. Correct pretensioner
disposal procedures are set forth in the
appropriate INFINITI Service Manual.
Incorrect disposal procedures could
cause personal injury.
The pretensioner system may activate with
the supplemental air bag system in certain
types of collisions. Working with the seat
belt retractor, it helps tighten the seat belt
when the vehicle becomes involved in
certain types of collisions, helping to
restrain front seat occupants.
The pretensioner is encased with the seat
belt retractor. These seat belts are used the
same way as conventional seat belts.
When a pretensioner seat belt activates,
smoke is released and a loud noise may be
heard. The smoke is not harmful, and it
does not indicate a fire. Care should be
taken not to inhale it as it may cause
irritation and choking. Those with a history
of a breathing condition should get fresh
air promptly.
After pretensioner activation, load limiters
allow the seat belt to release webbing (if
necessary) to reduce forces against the chest.
The supplemental air bag warning light
is used to indicate malfunctions in the
pretensioner system. See “Supplemental
air bag warning light” later in this section.
If the supplemental air bag warning light
illuminates, have the system checked by
an INFINITI retailer.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the seat belt
pretensioners and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this Owner ’s Man-
ual.
Safety —Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-51

1-52Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
SSS1016
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING
LABELS
Warning labels about the supplemental
front-impact air bag systems are placed in
the vehicle as shown in the illustration.
SRS air bag
The warning labels*1are located on the
surface of the sun visors.
SPA1097
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING
LIGHT
The supplemental air bag warning light,
displaying
in the instrument panel,
monitors the circuits of the supplemental
front-impact air bag, front seat-mounted
side-impact supplemental air bag, roof-
mounted curtain side-impact supplemental
air bag, and seat belt pretensioner sys-
tems. The monitored circuits include the Air
bag Control Unit (ACU), satellite sensors,
crash zone sensor, occupant classification
system, front air bag modules, side air bag
modules, curtain air bag modules, preten- sioner, front passenger air bag status light
and all related wiring.
When the ignition switch is in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates for about 7 seconds and
then turns off. This means the SRS air bag
systems are operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the
front air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag
and/or pretensioner systems need servi-
cing:
.
The supplemental air bag warning light
remains on approximately 7 seconds
after the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position.
. The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the front air bag,
side air bag, curtain air bag or pretensioner
systems may not operate properly. They
must be checked and repaired. Take your
vehicle to the nearest INFINITI retailer.

WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light is
on, it could mean that the front air bag, side
air bag, curtain air bag and/or pretensioner
systems will not operate in an accident. To
help avoid injury to yourself or others, have
your vehicle checked by a retailer as soon as
possible.
REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROCE-
DURE
The front air bags, side air bags, curtain air
bags and pretensioners are designed to
activate on a one-time-only basis. As a
reminder, unless it is damaged, the sup-
plemental air bag warning light will remain
illuminated after inflation has occurred.
Repair and replacement of these systems
should be done only by an INFINITI retailer.
When maintenance work is required on the
vehicle, the front air bags, side air bags,
curtain air bags, pretensioners and related
parts should be pointed out to the person
conducting the maintenance. The ignition
switch should always be in the LOCK
position when working under the hood orinside the vehicle.
WARNING
.
Once a front air bag, side air bag, or
curtain air bag has inflated, the air bag
module will not function again and must
be replaced. Additionally, the activated
pretensioner must also be replaced. The
air bag module and pretensioner should
be replaced by an INFINITI retailer. The
air bag module and pretensioner system
cannot be repaired.
. The front air bag, side air bag, curtain air
bag and the pretensioner system should
be inspected by an INFINITI retailer if
there is any damage to the front end or
side portion of the vehicle.
. If you need to dispose of the supple-
mental air bag or pretensioner or scrap
the vehicle, contact an INFINITI retailer.
Correct supplemental air bag and seat
belt pretensioner system disposal pro-
cedures are set forth in the appropriate
INFINITI Service Manual. Incorrect dis-
posal procedures could cause personal
injury.
Safety —Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-53