SAFETY
108
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)
Some of the safety features described in this
section may be standard equipment on some
models, or may be optional equipment on
others. If you are not sure, ask an authorized
dealer.
The air bag system must be ready to protect
you in a collision. The Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) monitors the internal
circuits and interconnecting wiring associ-
ated with the electrical Air Bag System
Components. Your vehicle may be equipped
with the following Air Bag System Compo -
nents:
Air Bag System Components
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
Air Bag Warning Light
Steering Wheel and Column
Instrument Panel
Knee Impact Bolsters
Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
Seat Belt Buckle Switch
Supplemental Side Air Bags
Supplemental Knee Air Bags
Front and Side Impact Sensors
Seat Belt Pretensioners
Seat Track Position Sensors
Air Bag Warning Light
The Occupant Restraint Controller
(ORC) monitors the readiness of the
electronic parts of the air bag
system whenever the ignition
switch is in the START or ON/RUN position.
If the ignition switch is in the OFF position or
in the ACC position, 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 bag system
even if the battery loses power or it becomes
disconnected prior to deployment.
The ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning Light
in the instrument panel for approximately
four to eight seconds for a self-check when
the ignition switch is first in the ON/RUN
position. 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 to alert you if the
light comes on again after initial startup.
The ORC also includes diagnostics that will
illuminate the instrument panel Air Bag
Warning Light if a malfunction is detected
that could affect the air bag system. The
diagnostics also record the nature of the
malfunction. While the air bag system is
designed to be maintenance free, if any of
the following occurs, have an authorized
dealer service the air bag system
immediately.
Failure to replace the seat belt assembly
could increase the risk of injury in
collisions.
Do not use the Automatic Locking Mode
to restrain occupants who are wearing
the seat belt or children who are using
booster seats. The locked mode is only
used to install rear-facing or
forward-facing child restraints that have
a harness for restraining the child.
WARNING! (Continued)
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109
The Air Bag Warning Light does not come
on during the four to eight seconds when
the ignition switch is first in the ON/RUN
position.
The Air Bag Warning Light remains on
after the four to eight-second interval.
The Air Bag Warning Light comes on inter-
mittently or remains on while driving.
NOTE:
If the speedometer, tachometer, or any
engine related gauges are not working, the
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may
also be disabled. In this condition the air
bags may not be ready to inflate for your
protection. Have an authorized dealer service
the air bag system immediately.
Redundant Air Bag Warning Light
If a fault with the Air Bag Warning
Light is detected, which could
affect the Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS), the Redundant Air
Bag Warning Light will illuminate on the
instrument panel. The Redundant Air Bag
Warning Light will stay on until the fault is
cleared. In addition, a single chime will
sound to alert you that the Redundant Air
Bag Warning Light has come on and a fault
has been detected. If the Redundant Air Bag
Warning Light comes on intermittently or
remains on while driving have an authorized
dealer service the vehicle immediately.
For additional information regarding the
Redundant Air Bag Warning Light refer to
“Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel”
section of this manual.
Front Air Bags
This vehicle has front air bags and lap/
shoulder belts for both the driver and front
passenger. The front air bags are a supple -
ment to the seat belt restraint systems. The
driver front air bag is mounted in the center
of the steering wheel. The passenger front air
bag is mounted in the instrument panel,
above the glove compartment. The words
“SRS AIRBAG” or “AIRBAG” are embossed
on the air bag covers.
Front Air Bag/Knee Impact Bolster Locations
WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your
instrument panel could mean you won’t
have the air bag system 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.
1 — Passenger Front Air Bag
2 — Driver Front Air Bag
3 — Supplemental Driver Knee Air Bag/
Driver Knee Impact Bolster
4 — Passenger Knee Impact Bolster
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SAFETY
110
Driver And Passenger Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has
multistage driver and front passenger air
bags. This system provides output appro-
priate to the severity and type of collision as
determined by the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC), which may receive infor -
mation from the front impact sensors (if
equipped) or other system components.
The first stage inflator is triggered immedi -
ately during an impact that requires air bag
deployment. A low energy output is used in
less severe collisions. A higher energy output
is used for more severe collisions.
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 buckled. The seat
belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation
rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags.
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.
WARNING!
Being too close to the steering wheel or
instrument panel during front air bag
deployment could cause serious injury,
including death. Air bags need room to
inflate. Sit back, comfortably extending
your arms to reach the steering wheel or
instrument panel.
NEVER use a rearward facing child
restraint on a seat protected by an
ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH or
SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can
occur.
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
in the front seat of a vehicle. Only use a
rear-facing child restraint in the rear
seat. If the vehicle does not have a rear
seat, do not transport a rear-facing child
restraint in that vehicle.
A deploying passenger front air bag can
cause death or serious injury to a child
12 years or younger, including a child in
a rear-facing child restraint.
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 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.
Relying on the air bags alone could lead
to more severe injuries in a collision. The
air bags work with your seat belt to
restrain you properly. In some collisions,
air bags won’t deploy at all. Always wear
your seat belts even though you have air
bags.
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111
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide addi-
tional protection by supplementing the seat
belts. Front air bags are not expected to
reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or roll -
over collisions. The front air bags will not
deploy in all frontal collisions, including
some that may produce substantial 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, front air bags may
deploy in crashes with little vehicle front-end
damage but that produce a severe initial
deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle
deceleration over time, vehicle speed and
damage by themselves are not good indica -
tors of whether or not an air bag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection
in all collisions, and also are needed to help
keep you in position, away from an inflating
air bag. When the ORC detects a collision requiring
the front air bags, it signals the inflator units.
A large quantity of non-toxic gas is generated
to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the
upper passenger side of the instrument
panel separate and fold out of the way as the
air bags inflate to their full size. The front air
bags fully inflate in less time than it takes to
blink your eyes. The front air bags then
quickly deflate while helping to restrain the
driver and front passenger.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the
knees of the driver and front passenger, and
position the front occupants for improved
interaction with the front air bags.
Supplemental Driver Knee Air Bag
This vehicle is equipped with a Supple
-
mental Driver Knee Air Bag mounted in the
instrument panel below the steering column.
The Supplemental Driver Knee Air Bag
provides enhanced protection during a
frontal impact by working together with the
seat belts, pretensioners, and front air bags.
Supplemental Side Air Bags
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags
(SABs) – If Equipped
Your vehicle may be equipped with Supple -
mental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SABs).
If your vehicle is equipped with Supple -
mental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SABs),
please refer to the information below.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags
(SABs) are located in the outboard side of
the front seats. The SABs are marked with
“SRS AIRBAG” or “AIRBAG” on a label or on
the seat trim on the outboard side of the
seats.
WARNING!
Do not drill, cut, or tamper with the knee
impact bolsters in any way.
Do not mount any accessories to the
knee impact bolsters such as alarm
lights, stereos, citizen band radios, etc.
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SAFETY
114
NOTE:
Air bag covers may not be obvious in the inte-
rior trim, but they will open during air bag
deployment. Rollover Events (If Equipped With Rollover
Sensing)
Side Air Bags and seat belt pretensioners are
designed to activate in certain rollover events
(if equipped with rollover sensing). The
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) deter
-
mines whether deployment in a particular
rollover event is appropriate, based on the
severity and type of collision. Vehicle
damage by itself is not a good indicator of
whether or not Side Air Bags and seat belt
pretensioners should have deployed.
The Side Air Bags and seat belt preten -
sioners will not deploy in all rollover events.
The rollover sensing system determines if a
rollover event may be in progress and
whether deployment is appropriate. In the
event the vehicle experiences a rollover or
near rollover event, and deployment is appro -
priate, the rollover sensing system will
deploy the Side Air Bags and seat belt
pretensioners on both sides of the vehicle.
The SABICs may help reduce the risk of
partial or complete ejection of vehicle occu -
pants through side windows in certain roll -
over or side impact events.
Air Bag System Components
NOTE:
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
monitors the internal circuits and intercon -
necting wiring associated with electrical Air
Bag System Components listed below:
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
Air Bag Warning Light
Steering Wheel and Column
Instrument Panel
Knee Impact Bolsters
Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
Seat Belt Buckle Switch
Supplemental Side Air Bags
Supplemental Knee Air Bags
Front and Side Impact Sensors
Seat Belt Pretensioners
Seat Track Position Sensors
WARNING!
Side Air Bags need room to inflate. Do
not lean against the door or window. Sit
upright in the center of the seat.
Being too close to the Side Air Bags
during deployment could cause you to be
severely injured or killed.
Relying on the Side Air Bags alone could
lead to more severe injuries in a colli -
sion. The Side Air Bags work with your
seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, Side Air Bags won’t
deploy at all. Always wear your seat belt
even though you have Side Air Bags.
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SAFETY
116
(Continued)
Your vehicle may also be designed to perform
any of these other functions in response to
the Enhanced Accident Response System:
Turn off the Fuel Filter Heater, Turn off
the HVAC Blower Motor, Close the HVAC
Circulation Door
Cut off battery power to the:
Engine
Electric Motor (if equipped)
Electric power steering
Brake booster
Electric park brake
Automatic transmission gear selector
Horn
Front wiper
Headlamp washer pumpNOTE:
After an accident, remember to cycle the
ignition to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position
and remove the key from the ignition switch
to avoid draining the battery. Carefully check
the vehicle for fuel leaks in the engine
compartment and on the ground near the
engine compartment and fuel tank before
resetting the system and starting the engine.
If there are no fuel leaks or damage to the
vehicle electrical devices (e.g. headlights)
after an accident, reset the system by
following the procedure described below. If
you have any doubt, contact an authorized
dealer.
Enhanced Accident Response System Reset
Procedure
In order to reset the Enhanced Accident
Response System functions after an event,
the ignition switch must be changed from
ignition START or ON/RUN to ignition OFF.
Carefully check the vehicle for fuel leaks in
the engine compartment and on the ground
near the engine compartment and fuel tank
before resetting the system and starting the
engine.
Maintaining Your Air Bag System
WARNING!
Modifications to any part of the air bag
system could cause it to fail when you
need it. You could be injured if the air
bag system is not there to protect you.
Do not modify the components or wiring,
including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim
cover or the upper passenger side of the
instrument panel. Do not modify the
front bumper, vehicle body structure, or
add aftermarket side steps or running
boards.
It is dangerous to try to repair any part of
the air bag system yourself. Be sure to
tell anyone who works on your vehicle
that it has an air bag system.
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137
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and
uneven wear patterns. Check for stones,
nails, glass, or other objects lodged in the
tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts,
cracks, and bulges. Check the wheel nuts for
tightness. Check the tires (including spare)
for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of
brake lights and exterior lights while you
work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and
locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check the area under the vehicle after over-
night parking for fuel, coolant, oil, or other
fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes are
detected or if fuel, or brake fluid leaks are
suspected, the cause should be located and
corrected immediately.
If the vehicle carpet has been removed
and re-installed, always properly attach
carpet to the floor and check the floor
mat fasteners are secure to the vehicle
carpet. Fully depress each pedal to
check for interference with the acceler -
ator, brake, or clutch pedals then
re-install the floor mats.
It is recommended to only use mild soap
and water to clean your floor mats. After
cleaning, always check your floor mat
has been properly installed and is
secured to your vehicle using the floor
mat fasteners by lightly pulling mat.
WARNING! (Continued)
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(Continued)
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat,
adjust both inside and outside mirrors, and
fasten your seat belts.Start the engine with the gear selector in the
NEUTRAL or PARK position. Apply the brake
before shifting to any driving range.
Normal Starting — Gasoline Engine
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or
pushing the accelerator pedal.
Place your foot on the brake and place the
ignition to the START mode and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to
start within 10 seconds:
1. Place the ignition in the OFF mode.
2. Wait 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.NOTE:
Only press one pedal at a time while driving
the vehicle. Torque performance of the
vehicle could be reduced if both pedals are
pressed at the same time. If pressure is
detected on both pedals simultaneously, a
warning message will display in the instru
-
ment cluster. For further information, refer to
“Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To
Know Your Instrument Panel”.
Tip Start Feature
Place the ignition in the START mode and
release it as the starter engages. The starter
motor will automatically disengage itself
once the engine is running. If the engine fails
to start, the starter will disengage automati -
cally in 10 seconds. If this occurs:
1. Place the ignition in the OFF mode.
2. Wait 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
WARNING!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob from the ignition and lock
your vehicle. If equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go, always make sure the
keyless ignition node is in “OFF” mode,
remove the key fob from the vehicle and
lock the vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle unat -
tended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seri -
ously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to
children, and do not leave the ignition of
a vehicle equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN
mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
WARNING! (Continued)
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