2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV sensor

2-22 Seat and restraint systems
2
The seat belt pre-tensioner system includes the following com-
ponents:
The airbag control unit monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the electric motor switch is in the
“ON” or “START” position. These include all of the items
listed above and all related wiring.
The pre-tensioner seat belt system will operate only when the
electric motor switch is in the “ON” or “START” position.When the seat belt pre-tensioners activate, some smoke is
released and a loud noise will be heard. The smoke is not harm-
ful, but care should be taken not to intentionally inhale it, as it
may cause some temporary irritation to people with respiratory
problems.
The pre-tensioners activate in the event of a moderate-to-
severe front or side impact, even if the seat belt is not being
worn. The seat belt pre-tensioners may not activate in certain
frontal collisions, even though the vehicle may appear to be
severely damaged. Such non-activation does not mean some-
thing is wrong with the seat belt pre-tensioner system, but
rather that the collision forces were not severe enough or not of
the type to activate the system.
SRS warning light
N00408700124
This warning light tells you if there is a problem involving the
SRS airbags and/or the pre-tensioner seat belts. Refer to “SRS
warning light” on page 2-44.
1- SRS warning light
2- Front impact sensors
3- Seat belt pre-tensioners
4- Airbag control unit
WA R N I N G
!
The seat belt pre-tensioner system is designed to
work only once. After the seat belt pre-tensioners
have been activated, they will not work again. They
must promptly be replaced and the entire seat belt
pre-tensioner system inspected by a certified i-MiEV
dealer.
BK0140800US.book 22 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

Seat and restraint systems
2-35
2 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) -
airbag
N00407700693
This vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), which includes airbags for the driver and passengers.
The SRS front airbags are designed to supplement the primary
protection of the driver and front passenger seat belt systems
by providing those occupants with protection against head and
chest injuries in certain moderate to severe frontal collisions.
The SRS front airbags, together with sensors at the front of the
vehicle and sensors attached to the front seats, form an
advanced airbag system.
The SRS side airbags and the curtain airbags are also designed
to supplement the seat belts. The SRS side airbags provide the
driver and front passenger with protection against chest, abdo-
men and hip injuries by deploying the bag on the side impacted
in moderate to severe side impact collisions. The SRS curtain
airbags provide the driver and passengers on the front seat and
rear seat with protection against head injuries by deploying a
bag on the side impacted in moderate to severe side impact col-
lisions.The SRS airbags are NOT a substitute for use of the seat belts.
For maximum protection in all types of accidents, seat belts
must ALWAYS be worn by everyone who drives or rides in
this vehicle (with infants and small children in an appropriate
child restraint system in the rear seat, and older children buck-
led in the rear seat). Refer to “Child restraint systems” on page
2-23.
WA R N I N G
!
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS WEAR
YOUR SEAT BELT PROPERLY EVEN WITH AN
AIRBAG.
• Seat belts help keep the driver and passengers
properly positioned. This reduces the risk of injury
in all collisions, and reduces the risk of serious
injuries or death when the airbags inflate.
During sudden braking just before a collision, an
unrestrained or improperly restrained driver or
passengers can move forward into direct contact
with, or within close proximity to, the airbag when
it begins to inflate.
The beginning stage of airbag inflation is the most
forceful and can cause serious injuries or death if
the occupant comes in contact with the airbag at
this time.
• Seat belts reduce the risk of injury in rollovers,
rear impact collisions, and in lower-speed frontal
collisions, because the airbags are not designed to
inflate in those situations.
• Seat belts reduce the risk of being thrown from
your vehicle in a collision or rollover.
BK0140800US.book 35 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

Seat and restraint systems
2-39
2
How the Supplemental Restraint System works
N00407800489
The SRS includes the following components:
The airbag control unit monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the electric motor switch is in the
“ON” or “START” position. These include all of the items
listed above and all related wiring.
The airbags will operate only when the electric motor switch is
in the “ON” or “START” position. 1- Driver’s airbag
2- SRS warning light
3- Passenger’s airbag off indicator
4- Front impact sensors
5- Passenger’s front airbag
6- Driver’s seat position sensor
7- Passenger’s seat occupant classification sensor system
8- Airbag control unit
9- Side airbag modules
10- Curtain airbag modules
11- Side impact sensors
BK0140800US.book 39 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

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.
BK0140800US.book 40 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

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.
BK0140800US.book 41 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

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
!
BK0140800US.book 42 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

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.
BK0140800US.book 43 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

Features and controls
3-43
3
If the warning light illuminates while driving
N00531700590
If only the ABS warning light illuminateAvoid hard braking and high-speed driving. Stop the vehicle in
a safe place, put the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position
and turn off the electric motor unit.
Restart the electric motor unit and check to see whether the
light goes out after a few minutes driving; if it then remains off
during driving, there is no problem.
However, if the warning light does not disappear, or if it comes
on again when the vehicle is driven, we recommend you to
have the vehicle checked.If the ABS warning light and brake warning light illu-
minate at the same timeThe ABS and brake force distribution function may not work,
so hard braking could make the vehicle unstable.
Avoid hard braking and high-speed driving. Stop the vehicle in
a safe place and we recommend you to have the vehicle
checked.NOTE
The warning light may be illuminated when the electric
motor unit is started while the 12V starter battery voltage
is low, but this is not an ABS malfunction.
When the main drive lithium-ion battery is charged, the
12V starter battery is charged at the same time, and the
warning light will go out.
If the warning light does not go out or illuminates from
time to time even after the battery is charged, take your
vehicle to a certified i-MiEV dealer and have the system
checked as soon as possible.
After driving on snow or icy roads, remove any snow and
ice which may have been left around the wheels. On vehi-
cles that have an anti-lock braking system, be careful not
to damage the wheel speed sensors (A) or the cables
located at each wheel.
Front
BK0140800US.book 43 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分