2012 NISSAN 370Z COUPE sensor

0-2Illustrated table of contents
SSI0648
COUPE MODELS1. Seat belts (Page 1-9)— Seat belts with pretensioners (P.1-39)
2. Head restraints (P.1-5)
3. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags (P.1-28)
4. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags (P.1-28)
5. Supplemental front-impact air bags (P.1-28)
6. Child restraint anchor point (for top tether strap child restraint) (P.1-19)
7. Occupant classification sensor (pattern sensor) (P.1-33) 8. Front seats (P.1-2)
SEATS, SEAT BELTS AND
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SRS)

SSI0649
ROADSTER MODELS1. Seat belts (P.1-9)— Seat belts with pretensioners (P.1-39)
2. Head restraints (P.1-5)
3. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags (P.1-28) 4. Door-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental
air bags (P.1-28)
5. Supplemental front-impact air bags (P.1-28)
6. Occupant classification sensor (pattern sensor) (P.1-33)
7. Front seats (P.1-2)
Illustrated table of contents0-3

1-30Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
inflates. Always sit back against the
seatback and as far-away as prac-
tical from the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Always use the
seat belts.
. The driver and front passenger seat
belt buckles are equipped with
sensors that detect if the seat belts
are fastened. The Advanced Air Bag
System monitors the severity of a
collision and seat belt usage then
inflates the air bags. Failure to
properly wear seat belts can in-
crease the risk or severity of injury
in an accident.
. The front passenger seat is
equipped with an occupant classifi-
cation sensor (pattern sensor) that
turns the front passenger air bag
OFF under some conditions. This
sensor is only used in this seat.
Failure to be properly seated and
wearing the seat belt can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an
accident. See “Front passenger air
bag and status light” (P.1-35) .
. Keep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could in- crease the risk of injury if the
supplemental front air bag inflates.
SSS0007
SSS0006

SSS1012
1. Crash zone sensor
2. Supplemental front air bag modules (NISSANAdvanced Air Bags)
3. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags (for Coupe models)
4. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bag inflators (for Coupe models) 5. Door-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental
air bag inflators (for Roadster models)
6. Door-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags (for Roadster models)
7. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
8. Occupant classification sensor (pattern sensor) 9. Occupant classification system control unit
10. Air bag Control Unit (ACU)
11. Satellite sensors
12. Seat belt with pretensioner
NISSAN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYS-
TEM (front seats)
This vehicle is equipped with the NISSAN
Advanced Air Bag System for the driver and
front passenger seats. This system is designed
to meet certification requirements under U.S.
regulations. It is also permitted in Canada.
However, all of the information, cautions
and warnings in this manual still apply and
must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air bag is
located in the center of the steering wheel. The
front passenger supplemental front-impact air
bag is mounted in the instrument panel above
the glove box. The front air bags are designed to
inflate in higher severity frontal collisions,
although they may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. They may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack
of it) is not always an indication of proper front
air bag operation.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System has
dual stage air bag inflators. The system monitors
information from the crash zone sensor, the Air
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-33

1-34Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
bag Control Unit (ACU), seat belt buckle
switches and the occupant classification sensor
(pattern sensor). Inflator operation is based on
the severity of a collision and seat belt usage for
the driver. For the front passenger, the occupant
classification sensor is also monitored. Based
on information from the sensors, only one front
air bag may inflate in a crash, depending on the
crash severity and whether the front occupants
are belted or unbelted. Additionally, the front
passenger air bag may be automatically turned
OFF under some conditions, depending on the
information provided by the occupant classifica-
tion sensor. If the front passenger air bag is OFF,
the passenger air bag status light will be
illuminated (if the seat is unoccupied, the light
will not be illuminated, but the air bag will be off) .
(See “Front passenger air bag and status light”
(P.1-35) for further details.) One front air bag
inflating does not indicate improper performance
of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, contact a NISSAN dealer. If you are
considering modification of your vehicle due to a
disability, you may also contact a NISSAN
dealer. Contact information is contained in the
front of this Owner’s Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicatea 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.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the head
and chest of the front occupants. They can help
save lives and reduce serious injuries. However,
an inflating front air bag may cause facial
abrasions or other injuries. Front air bags do
not provide restraint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN advanced air bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the driver
and passenger seated upright as far as practical
away from the steering wheel or instrument
panel. The front air bags inflate quickly in order
to help protect the front occupants. Because of
this, the force of the front air bag inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is too
close to, or is against, the air bag module during
inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.
The supplemental front 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 warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.

SSS0988
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
conditions. 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 inan accident.
Status light:
The front passenger air bag status light
is
located on the instrument panel. After the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position,
the front passenger air bag status light illumi-
nates for about 7 seconds and then turns off or
illuminates depending on the front passenger
seat 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 outlined in this
section: The
illuminates to indicate that
the front passenger air bag is OFF and will
not inflate in a crash.
. Occupied passenger seat and the passen-
ger meets the conditions outlined in this
section: The light
is OFF to indicate
that the front passenger air bag is opera-
tional.
Front passenger air bag:
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as described below as permitted by U.S. regulations. 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 automatically 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
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-35

1-36Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
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 supplemental air bag.
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
restrains 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” (P.1-18) for proper use and installa-
tion.)
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 occu-pied. The light will not illuminate when the front
passenger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
passenger air bag status light is illuminated
(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 passen-
ger air bag status light is still not illuminated, try
a different child restraint.
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 NISSAN dealer can check that the
system is OFF by using a special tool. However,
until you have confirmed with your dealer that
your air bag is working properly, do not transporta child in this vehicle.
The NISSAN 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.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger air
bag system, the supplemental air bag warning
light
, located in the meter and gauges area
will blink. Have the system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
Other supplemental front-impact air bag
precautions
WARNING
. Do not place any objects on the
steering wheel pad or on the instru-
ment 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 bag inflates.
. 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 occu-
pant classification 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,
suspension system or front end
structure. This could affect proper
operation of the front air bag sys- tem.
. Tampering with the front air bag
system may result in serious perso-
nal injury. Tampering includes
changes to the steering wheel and
the instrument panel assembly by
placing material over the steering
wheel pad and above the instrument
panel or by installing additional trim
material around the air bag system.
. Removing or modifying the front
passenger seat may affect the func-
tion of the air bag system and result
in serious personal injury.
. Modifying or tampering with the
front passenger seat may result in
serious personal injury. For exam-
ple, do not change the front seats by
placing material on the seat cushion
or by installing additional trim ma-
terial, such as seat covers, on the
seat that is not specifically designed
to assure proper air bag operation.
Additionally, do not stow any ob-
jects under the front passenger seat
or the seat cushion and seatback.
Such objects may interfere with the
proper operation of the occupant
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 in-
jury.
. Work on and around the front air
bag system should be done by a
NISSAN dealer. Installation of elec-
trical equipment should also be
done by a NISSAN dealer. 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
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-37