2014 KIA Soul Owner's Manual

341
Safety features of your vehicle
How does the air bag system
operate
Air bags are activated (able toinflate if necessary) only when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
or START position.
The appropriate air bags inflate instantly in the event of a serious
frontal collision or side collision in
order to help protect the occupants
from serious physical injury.
There is no single speed at which the air bags will inflate.
Generally, air bags are designed to
inflate based upon the severity of a
collision and its direction. These
two factors determine whether the
sensors produce an electronic
deployment/ inflation signal.
Air bag deployment depends on a number of factors including vehicle
speed, angles of impact and the
density and stiffness of the vehi-
cles or objects which your vehicle
hits in the collision. The determin-
ing factors are not limited to those
mentioned above. The front air bags will completely
inflate and deflate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible for you to
see the air bags inflate during an
accident.
It is much more likely that you will
simply see the deflated air bags
hanging out of their storage com-
partments after the collision.
In addition to inflating in serious side collisions, side and/or curtain
air bags will inflate if the sensing
system detects a rollover.
When a rollover is detected, cur- tain air bags will remain inflated
longer to help provide protection
from ejection, especially when
used in conjunction with the seat
belts. In order to help provide protection,
the air bags must inflate rapidly.
The speed of the air bag inflation is
a consequence of extremely short
time in which to inflate the air bag
between the occupant and the
vehicle structures before the occu-
pant impacts those structures. This
speed of inflation reduces the risk
of serious or life-threatening
injuries and is thus a necessary
part of the air bag design.
However, air bag inflation can also
cause injuries which can include
facial abrasions, bruises and bro-
ken bones because the inflation
speed also causes the air bags to
expand with a great deal of force.
There are even circumstances under which contact with the
steering wheel or passenger air
bag can cause fatal injuries,
especially if the occupant is
positioned excessively close to
the steering wheel or passenger
air bag.

Safety features of your vehicle
42
3
Noise and smoke
When inflated, the air bags make a
loud noise and leave smoke and
powder in the air inside the vehicle.
This is normal and is a result of the
ignition of the air bag inflator. After
the air bag inflates, you may feel sub-
stantial discomfort in breathing due
to the contact of your chest with both
the seat belt and the air bag, as well
as from breathing the smoke and
powder. Open your doors and/or
windows as soon as possible after
impact in order to reduce discom-
fort and prevent prolonged expo-
sure to the smoke and powder.
Though smoke and powder are non-
toxic, it may cause irritation to the
skin (eyes, nose and throat, etc). If
this is the case, wash and rinse with
cold water immediately and consult a
doctor if the symptom persists.WARNING
To avoid severe personal injury or death caused by
deploying air bags in a colli-
sion, the driver should sit as
far back from the steering
wheel air bag as possible (at
least 250 mm (10 inches)
away). The front passengers
should always move their
seats as far back as possible
and sit back in their seat.
Air bags inflate instantly in the event of a collision, and pas-
sengers may be injured by the
air bag expansion force if they
are not in a proper position.
Air bag inflation may cause injuries including facial or
bodily abrasions, injuries
from broken glasses or burns.
WARNING
When the air bags deploy, the
air bag related parts in the
steering wheel and/or instru-
ment panel and/or in both sides
of the roof rails above the front
and rear doors are very hot. To
prevent injury, do not touch the
air bag storage area’s internal
components immediately after
an air bag has inflated.

343
Safety features of your vehicle
Do not install a child restraint onthe front passenger’s seat.
Never place a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger’s
seat. If the air bag deploys, it would
impact the rear-facing child restraint,
causing serious or fatal injury.
In addition, do not place front-facing
child restraints in the front passen-
ger’s seat either. If the front passen-
ger air bag inflates, it could cause
serious or fatal injuries to the child.
Air bag warning light
The purpose of air bag warning light
in your instrument panel is to alert
you of a potential problem with your
air bag system, which could include
your side and/or curtain air bags
used for rollover protection.1JBH3051
WARNING
Extreme Hazard! Do not use a rearward facing child restraint
on a seat protected by an air
bag in front of it!
Never put a child restraint in the front passenger’s seat. If
the front passenger air bag
inflates, it would cause seri-
ous or fatal injuries.
When children are seated in the rear outboard seats of
vehicle equipped with side
and/or curtain air bags, be
sure to install the child
restraint system as far away
from the door side as possible,
and securely lock the child
restraint system in position.
Inflation of side and/or curtain
air bags could cause serious
injury or death to an infant or
child.
W7-147

Safety features of your vehicle
44
3
SRS components and functions
The SRS consists of the following
components:
1. Driver's front air bag module
2. Passenger's front air bag module
3. Side air bag modules
4. Curtain air bag modules
5. Retractor pre-tensioner assemblies
6. Air bag warning light
7. SRS control module (SRSCM)/
Rollover sensor
8. Front impact sensors
9. Side impact sensors 10. PASSENGER “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator (Front passenger’s seat
only)
11. Occupant detection system (Front passenger’s seat only)
12. Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt buckle sensors
13. Emergency fastening device (EFD)
14. Side pressure impact sensor
The SRSCM continually monitors all
SRS components while the ignition
switch is ON to determine if a crash
impact is severe enough to require
air bag deployment or pre-tensioner
seat belt deployment. If the air bag warning light illuminat-
ed for more than, 6 seconds after the
ignition is turned on, or of it illumi-
nates during vehicle operation, an
SRS component may not be func-
tioning properly and you should have
your vehicle checked by an author-
ized Kia dealer.
W7-147
OPS033035N/Q
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345
Safety features of your vehicle
The front air bag modules are locat-
ed both in the center of the steering
wheel and in the front passenger's
panel above the glove box. When the
SRSCM detects a sufficiently severe
impact to the front of the vehicle, it
will automatically deploy the front air
bags.Upon deployment, tear seams mold-
ed directly into the pad covers will
separate under pressure from the
expansion of the air bags. Further
opening of the covers then allows full
inflation of the air bags.
B240B01L
Driver’s front air bag (1)
WARNING
If any of the following condi-
tions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction in the air bag sys-
tem. Have an authorized Kia
dealer inspect the air bag sys-
tem as soon as possible.
The light does not turn on
briefly when you turn the igni-
tion ON.
The light stays on after illumi- nating for approximately 6
seconds.
The light comes on while the vehicle is in motion.
The light blinks when the igni- tion switch is in ON position.
B240B02L
Driver’s front air bag (2)

Safety features of your vehicle
46
3
A fully inflated air bag, in combina-
tion with a properly worn seat belt,
slows the driver's or the passenger's
forward motion, reducing the risk of
head and chest injury.
After complete inflation, the air bag
immediately starts deflating, enabling
the driver to maintain forward visibility
and the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
B240B03L
Driver’s front air bag (3)
WARNING
Do not install or place any
accessories (drink holder,
cassette holder, sticker, etc.)
on the front passenger's
panel above the glove box in a
vehicle with a passenger's air
bag. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and
cause injury if the passenger's
air bag inflates.
(Continued)
(Continued)
When installing a container ofliquid air freshener inside the
vehicle, do not place it near
the instrument cluster nor on
the instrument panel surface.
It may become a dangerous
projectile and cause injury if the
passenger's air bag inflates.
B240B05L
Passenger’s front air bag

347
Safety features of your vehicle
Occupant Detection System
(ODS)
Your vehicle is equipped with an
occupant detection system in the
front passenger's seat.
The occupant detection system is
designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated front passenger and
determine if the passenger's front air
bag should be enabled (may inflate)
or not. Only the front passenger front
air bag is controlled by the Occupant
Detection System.
WARNING
If an air bag deploys, theremay be a loud noise followed
by a fine dust released in the
vehicle. These conditions are
normal and are not hazardous
- the air bags are packed in this
fine powder. The dust generat-
ed during air bag deployment
may cause skin or eye irrita-
tion as well as aggravate asth-
ma for some persons. Always
wash all exposed skin areas
thoroughly with lukewarm
water and a mild soap after an
accident in which the air bags
were deployed.
(Continued)
(Continued)
The SRS can function onlywhen the ignition switch is in
the ON position. If the SRS air
bag warning light does not
illuminate, or continuously
remains on after illuminating
for about 6 seconds when the
ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, or after the
engine is started, comes on
while driving, the SRS is not
working properly. If this
occurs, have your vehicle
immediately inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.
Before you replace a fuse or disconnect a battery terminal,
turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position and remove the
ignition switch. Never remove
or replace the air bag related
fuse(s) when the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
Failure to observe this warning
will cause the SRS air bag
warning light to illuminate.
OPS033020
WARNING
Do not put anything in front of the
passenger air bag indicator.

Safety features of your vehicle
48
3
Main components of the occu-
pant detection system
A detection device located within the front passenger seat cushion.
An electronic system which deter- mines whether the passenger air
bag systems should be activated
or deactivated.
A indicator light located on the instrument panel which illuminates
the words PASSENGER AIR BAG
“OFF” indicating the front passen-
ger air bag system is deactivated.
The instrument panel air bag warn- ing light is interconnected with the
occupant detection system. If the front passenger seat is occu-
pied by a person that the system
determines to be of appropriate size,
and he/she sits properly (sitting
upright with the seatback in an
upright position, centered on the
seat cushion with their seat belt on,
legs comfortably extended and their
feet on the floor), the PASSENGER
AIR BAG “OFF” indicator will turn off
and the front passenger's air bag will
be able to inflate, if necessary, in
frontal crashes.
You will find the PASSENGER AIR
BAG “OFF” indicator on the center
facia panel. This system detects the
conditions 1~4 in the following table
and activates or deactivates the front
passenger air bag based on these
conditions.
Always be sure that you and all vehi-
cle occupants are seated and
restrained properly (sitting upright
with the seat in an upright position,
centered on the seat cushion, with
the person’s legs comfortably extend-
ed, feet on the floor, and wearing the
safety belt properly) for the most
effective protection by the air bag and
the safety belt. The ODS (Occupant Detection
System) may not function properly if
the passenger takes actions which
can defeat the detection system.
These include:
(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.
(2) Leaning against the door or cen- ter console.
(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.
(4) Putting legs on the dashboard or resting them on other locations
which reduce the passenger
weight on the front seat.
(5) Improperly wear ing the safety
belt.
(6) Reclining the seat back.
(7) Wearing a thick cloth like ski wear or hip protection wear.
(8) Put on the seat an additional thick cushion.