(Continued)
– Seat Track Position Sensors
– Pyrotechnical charge to cut the
power from the battery: it is
located on the positive battery
terminal
• The electronic control unit provides
for the activation of the
pretensioners, front air bags or side
air bags (front and rear) based on
different criteria, according to the
type of impact. Failure of one or
more systems to activate is not
indicative of a system malfunction.
• The front and/or lateral air bags may
inflate if the vehicle suffers a violent
impact involving the underbody
area, for example in case of violent
impacts against steps, sidewalks,
speed bumps, or when the vehicle
falls into potholes, or similar.
WARNING!
• No objects should be placed over or
near the air bag on the instrument
panel or steering wheel because any
such objects could cause harm if the
vehicle is in a collision severe
enough to cause the air bag to
inflate. • Do not place 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 are
designed to open only when the air
bags are inflating.
• Always drive with your hands on the
steering wheel rim, so that the air
bag can inflate freely if required.
During the drive your back must be
as upright as comfort allows and be
against the seat back with the seat
belt properly fastened.
• Do not apply stickers or other
objects on the steering wheel, on
the dashboard in the passenger’s
side air bag area, on roof side trims
or on the seats.
• Do not travel with objects in your
lap, in front of your chest or
especially with a pipe, pencil or
other objects in your mouth. In the
event of a collision, the intervention
of the air bag could result in serious
injury.
• EXTREME HAZARD! Do not place a
rearward-facing infant seat onto the
front seat (see warning plate on the
dashboard and above and behind the sun visors). Deployment of the
air bag in an accident could cause
fatal injuries to the baby regardless
of the severity of the collision.
Before Starting
2
68
Supplemental Air bags Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air
Bags (SAB)
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air
Bags (SAB) protect the pelvis, chest
and shoulder area of the occupants in
the event of a side impact of
medium/high severity. The SAB is
marked with “AIRBAG” 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.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable
Curtain (SABIC)
SABIC air bags are designed to protect
the head of front and rear occupants
in the event of a side impact, thanks
to the wide cushion inflation surface.
Each air bag features inflated
chambers placed adjacent to the head
of each outboard occupant that
reduce the potential for side-impact
head injuries. The SABICS deploy
downward, covering both windows on
the impact side.
WARNING!
• Side air bags also need room to
inflate. Do not rest your head, arms
or elbows on the door, windows or
the area in which the window bag is
located to avoid possible injury
during air bag inflation. Sit upright
in the center of the seat.
• Do not cover the front seatbacks
with clothes or covers. Do not use accessory seat covers or place
objects between you and the side
air bags; the performance could be
adversely affected and/or objects
could cause serious injury.
• Do not add roof racks that require
permanent attachments (bolts or
screws) for installation on the
vehicle roof. Do not drill into the
roof of the vehicle for any reason.
Air Bag Deployment Sensors
and Controls Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The Occupant Restraint Controller
(ORC) determines if deployment of the
front air bags and/or side air bags in a
frontal or side collision or rollover
event is required. Based on the impact
sensor's signals, a central electronic
ORC deploys the advanced front air
bags, SABIC and SAB air bags, and
front seat belt pretensioners, as
required, depending on the severity
and type of impact.
On top of what previously described,
the characteristics of the collision
registered by the sensors and sent to
the control unit of the ORC can also
cause a sudden cut of the power from
the battery, “blowing” theBefore Starting
2
69