2013 JEEP WRANGLER Owners Manual

The Advanced Front Air Bags have a multistage inflator
design. This allows the air bag to have different rates of
inflation that are based on several factors, including the
severity and type of collision.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust the
inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags based upon
seat position.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is fastened. The
seat belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of the
Advanced Front Air Bags.This vehicle may be equipped with Supplemental Seat-
Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB). The SABs are marked with
an air bag label sewn into the outboard side of the front
seats.
NOTE:
•
Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim,
but they will open during air bag deployment.
• After any collision, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63

Air Bag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following air bag
system components:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Air Bag Warning Light
• Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolster
• Driver Advanced Front Air Bag
• Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
• Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch
Advanced Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage driver
and front passenger air bags. This system provides output
appropriate to the severity and type of collision as deter-
mined by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC), which
may receive information from the front impact sensors.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. This low output
is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy output is
used for more severe collisions.
WARNING!
•No objects should be placed over or near the air bag
on the instrument panel, because any such objects
could cause harm if the vehicle is in a collision severe
enough to cause the air bag to inflate.
(Continued)
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You may
damage the air bags and you could be injured
because the air bags may no longer be functional.
The protective covers for the air bag cushions are
designed to open only when the air bags are
inflating.
• If your vehicle is equipped with Supplemental
Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB), do not use
accessory seat covers or place objects between you
and the SAB; the performance could be adversely
affected and/or objects could be pushed into you,
causing serious injury.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•If your vehicle is equipped with SAB, do not attach
cupholders or any other objects on or around the
door. The inflating SAB could drive the objects
into occupants, causing serious injury.
•
Do not cover or place items on the air bag covers.
These items may cause serious injury during infla-
tion.
• Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
•
Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band radios, etc.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65

Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags
(SAB) — If Equipped
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB) may
provide enhanced protection to help protect an occupant
during a side impact. The SAB is marked with an air bag
label sewn into the outboard side of the front seats.When the air bag deploys, it opens the seam between the
front and side of the seat’s trim cover. Each air bag
deploys independently; a left side impact deploys the left
air bag only and a right-side impact deploys the right air
bag only.
NOTE:
•
Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim,
but they will open during air bag deployment.
• Being too close to the SAB during deployment could
cause you to be severely injured or killed.
SAB air bags are a supplement to the seat belt restraint
system. Occupants, including children who are up
against or very close to SAB air bags can be seriously
injured or killed. Occupants, especially children, should
not lean on or sleep against the door, side windows, or
area where the SAB air bags inflate, even if they are in an
infant or child restraint. Always sit upright as possible
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag Location
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

with your back against the seat back, use the seat belts
properly, and use the appropriate sized child restraint,
infant restraint or booster seat recommended for the size
and weight of the child.
The system includes side impact sensors that are cali-
brated to deploy the SAB air bags during impacts that
require air bag occupant protection.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolster helps protect the knees of the
front passenger, and position the front occupant for the
best interaction with the Advanced Front Air Bag.
Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced Front
Air Bags work with the bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side air
bags also work with seat belts to improve occupant
protection.
Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The ORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front and/or
side air bags is required in a frontal or side collision.
Based on the impact sensor’s signals, a central electronic
ORC deploys the Advanced Front Air Bags, Supplemen-
tal Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB) — if equipped, and
front seat belt pretensioners, as required, depending on
the severity and type of impact.
Advanced Front Air Bags are designed to provide addi-
tional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on the severity and
type of collision. Advanced Front Air Bags are not
expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or
rollover collisions.2
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The Advanced Front Air Bags will not deploy in all
frontal collisions, including some that may produce sub-
stantial vehicle damage — for example, some pole colli-
sions, truck underrides, and angle offset collisions. On
the other hand, depending on the type and location of
impact, Advanced Front Air Bags may deploy in crashes
with little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a
severe initial deceleration.
The side air bags will not deploy in all side collisions.
Side air bag deployment will depend on the severity and
type of collision.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all crashes,
and also are needed to help keep you in position, away
from an inflating air bag.The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the air bag system whenever the ignition switch
is in the START or ON/RUN positions. If the key is in the
LOCK position, in the ACC position, or not in the
ignition, the air bag system is not on and the air bags will
not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the air bags even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
Also, the ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning
Light for four to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the
self-check, the Air Bag Warning Light will turn
off. If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the
system, it turns on the Air Bag Warning Light either
momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound
if the light comes on again after initial startup.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the instru-
ment cluster Air Bag Warning Light if a malfunction is
noted that could affect the air bag system. The diagnos-
tics also record the nature of the malfunction.
WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the air bags
to protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on as a bulb check when the ignition is first turned
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
air bag system immediately.
Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units
The Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units are located in the center of the steering
wheel and on the right side of the instrument panel.When the ORC detects a collision requiring the Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags, it signals the inflator units. A large
quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
Advanced Front Air Bags. Different air bag inflation rates
are possible, based on several factors, including the
collision type and severity. The steering wheel hub trim
cover and the upper right side of the instrument panel
separate and fold out of the way as the air bags inflate to
their full size. The air bags fully inflate in about 50 to
70 milliseconds. This is about half of the time it takes to
blink your eyes. The air bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger.
The Advanced Front Air Bag gas is vented through the
vent holes in the sides of the air bag. In this way, the air
bags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69

Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
Inflator Units — If Equipped
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags Inflator
Units (if equipped) are designed to activate only in
certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the side
air bags to inflate, based on several factors, including the
severity and type of collision.
Based on several factors, including the severity and type
of collision, the side air bag inflator on the crash side of
the vehicle is triggered releasing a quantity of non-toxic
gas. The inflating SAB exits through the seat seam into
the space between the occupant and the door. The SAB
fully inflate in about 10 milliseconds. The side air bag
moves at a very high speed and with such a high force
that it could injure you if you are not seated properly, or
if items are positioned in the area where the side air bag
inflates. This especially applies to children.
Front And Side Impact Sensors
In front and side impacts, impact sensors can aid the ORC in
determining appropriate response to impact events.
Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact causing air bag deployment, if the
communication network remains intact, and the power
remains intact, depending on the nature of the event the
ORC will determine whether to have the Enhanced Accident
Response System perform the following functions:
•Cut off fuel to the engine.
• Flash hazard lights as long as the battery has power or
until the ignition key is turned off.
•
Turn on the interior lights, which remain on as long as the
battery has power or until the ignition key is removed.
• Unlock the doors automatically.
70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE