2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV Owners Manual

2-40 Seat and restraint systems
2
When the impact sensors detect a sufficient front or side impact
to deploy the airbag(s), the appropriate airbag(s) will be
deployed.
When airbags deploy, some smoke is released accompanied by
a loud noise. The smoke is not harmful, but do not intentionally
inhale the smoke as it may cause temporary irritation to people
with respiratory problems.
After deployment, the airbags will quickly deflate, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbags inflated.
Airbag inflation does not prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, and does not prevent people
from leaving the vehicle.
Event Data Recording
N00418600201
Your vehicle is equipped with an “EDR” - Event Data
Recorder which is capable of collecting and storing data in the
event of an airbag deployment.
The EDR may record the following information:

Condition of specific vehicle systems;

Whether the driver seat belt was buckled;

Diagnostic code(s)
CAUTION
!
Airbags inflate very quickly and with great force. In
certain situations, contact with an inflating airbag
may cause small cuts, abrasions, and bruises.
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Seat and restraint systems
2-41
2
Driver’s seat position sensor
N00417900210
The driver’s seat position sensor is attached to the seat rail and
provides the airbag control unit with information on the seat’s
fore-aft position. The airbag control unit controls deployment
of the driver’s front airbag in accordance with the information
it receives from this sensor.
If there is a problem involving the driver’s seat position sensor,
the SRS warning light in the instrument panel will come on.
Refer to “SRS warning light” on page 2-44.
Passenger’s seat occupant classification sensor
system
N00418000348
The passenger’s seat occupant classification sensor system is
attached to the front passenger seat cushion and provides the
airbag control unit with information regarding the occupant on
the front passenger seat. The airbag control unit controls
deployment of the passenger’s front airbag in accordance with
the information it receives from this system.
The passenger’s front airbag will not deploy in an impact when
the system senses no occupant on the front passenger’s seat or
a child in a child restraint system. In this case, the passenger’s
airbag off indicator will come on.
Refer to “Passenger’s airbag off indicator” on page 2-43.
If there is a problem involving the passenger’s seat occupant
classification sensor system, the SRS warning light in the
instrument panel will come on. Refer to “SRS warning light”
page 2-44.
WA R N I N G
!
If the SRS warning light comes on, have the vehicle
inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer as soon as
possible.
Please observe the following instructions to ensure
that the driver’s seat position sensor can operate
correctly.
• Adjust the seat to the correct position, and sit well
back against the seatback.
Refer to “Front seats” on page 2-3.
• Do not recline the seatback more than necessary
when driving.
• Do not place metallic objects or luggage under the
front seat.

If the vehicle is involved in a severe impact, have the
SRS sensor inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer as
soon as possible.
WA R N I N G
!
If any of the following conditions occur, you should
immediately have your vehicle inspected by a certi-
fied i-MiEV dealer as soon as possible:
• The SRS warning light does not initially come on
when the electric motor switch is turned to the
“ON” or “START” position.
• The SRS warning light does not go out after sev-
eral seconds.
• The SRS warning light comes on while you are
driving.
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2-42 Seat and restraint systems
2

To ensure that the passenger’s seat occupant classifi-
cation sensor system can correctly sense the weight
being applied to the seat, observe the following
instructions. Failure to follow these instructions can
adversely affect the performance of the passenger’s
airbag system.
• Adjust the seat to the correct position, and sit well
back against the seatback.
Refer to “Front seats” on page 2-3.
• Do not recline the seatback more than necessary.
• Never have more than one person (adult or child)
sitting on the seat.
• Do not place anything between the seat and the
floor console.
• When attaching a child restraint system, secure it
firmly.
• Do not place luggage or other objects on the seat.
• Do not use a seat cover or a cushion.
• Do not modify or replace the seat and seat belt.
• Do not place luggage or other objects under the
seat.
• Do not place and use an electronic device such as a
computer on the seat.
• Do not place heavy objects on the seat or stick
pins, needles, or other objects into it.
• Do not remove the seat cushion skin.
• If any liquid is spilled on the seat, wipe it and dry
the seat immediately.WA R N I N G
!

If the vehicle is involved in a severe impact, have the
SRS sensors inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer
as soon as possible.
WA R N I N G
!
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Seat and restraint systems
2-43
2
Passenger’s airbag off indicator
N00418100310
The passenger’s airbag off indicator is located in the instru-
ment panel.
The indicator normally comes on when the electric motor
switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes out a few sec-
onds later.
In the following situations, the indicator will stay on to show
that the passenger’s front airbag is not operational.

The front passenger’s seat is not occupied.

The system senses that a child is in the child restraint sys-
tem on the front passenger’s seat.
When the passenger’s seat occupant classification sensor sys-
tem senses there is a person seated in the front passenger’s seat,
the indicator goes out to show that the passenger’s front airbag
is operational.
WA R N I N G
!
If any of the following conditions occur, you should
immediately have the airbag system in your vehicle
inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer as soon as
possible:
• The passenger’s airbag off indicator comes on
when an adult is sitting on the front passenger
seat.
• The passenger’s airbag off indicator does not come
on when the front passenger’s seat is not occupied.
• The passenger’s airbag off indicator does not come
on when the electric motor switch is turned to the
“ON” position.
• The passenger’s airbag off indicator comes on and
goes out repeatedly.

Do not attach any accessory to your vehicle that
makes the passenger’s airbag off indicator difficult
or impossible to see.
You must be able to see the passenger’s airbag off
indicator and verify the status of the passenger’s
airbag system.
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2-44 Seat and restraint systems
2
SRS warning light
N00408300566
There is a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) warning light
on the instrument panel. The system checks itself each time the
electric motor switch is turned on. When the electric motor
switch is in the “ON” or “START” position, the SRS warning
light should come on for several seconds and then go out. This
means the system is working properly. If there is a problem
involving one or more of the SRS components, the warning
light will come on and stay on. The SRS warning light is
shared by the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and the
seat belt pre-tensioner system.
WA R N I N G
!
If any of the following conditions occur, the SRS
and/or seat belt pre-tensioners are not working
properly and you should immediately have it
inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer:
• The SRS warning light does not come on when the
electric motor key is turned to the “ON” or
“START” position.
• The SRS warning light does not go out after sev-
eral seconds.
• The SRS warning light comes on while driving.
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Seat and restraint systems
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2
Driver’s and passenger’s front airbag system
N00407900321
The driver’s airbag is located under the padded cover in the
middle of the steering wheel. The front passenger’s airbag is
contained in the instrument panel above the glove compart-
ment. The driver’s airbag and the front passenger’s airbag are
designed to deploy at the same time. However, the front pas-
senger’s airbag does not deploy when the front passenger seat
is not occupied or when the system senses that a child is in the
child restraint system.
Driver
Front passenger
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2-46 Seat and restraint systems
2
Deployment of front airbags
N00408000589
The front airbags ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY when… The front airbags are designed to deploy when the vehicle suf-
fers a moderate to severe frontal impact. A typical condition is
shown in the illustration to the left.
The front airbags are designed to deploy only in certain moder-
ate to severe frontal collisions within the shaded area between
the arrows in the illustration to the right.
The front airbags will deploy if the impact to the vehicle’s
main structure is above a specific threshold level. The thresh-
old level is approximately 15 mph (25 km/h) for a frontal colli-
sion straight into a solid flat wall that does not bend or deform.
If the impact to the vehicle’s main structure is below this
threshold level, the front airbags may not deploy. This thresh-old level may also be higher if the vehicle hits something that
absorbs the impact, either by bending or moving (for example,
another stationary vehicle, a pole or a guard rail).
The beginning stage of airbag inflation is the most forceful,
and can cause serious injuries or death if you are too close to
the deploying airbag. Accordingly, it is important that you
always wear the available seat belt. Head-on collision with a solid wall at speeds of
approx. 15 mph (25 km/h) or higherModerate to severe frontal impact within the
shaded area between the arrowsBK0140800US.book 46 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

Seat and restraint systems
2-47
2
The front airbags MAY NOT DEPLOY when … In certain types of front collisions, the front airbags may not
deploy, even if the deformation of the body seems to be large,
because the vehicle’s body structure is designed to absorb the
impact and deform in order to help protect the occupants. Some
typical situations where the front airbags may not deploy are
shown in the illustrations.
Because the front airbags do not protect the occupant in all
types of frontal collisions, be sure to always wear your seat
belts properly.
Collision with a utility pole, tree or other narrow objects
Collision where the vehicle slides under the rear body of a
truck
Oblique frontal impact
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