Seats & Safety System
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Noise and smoke from inflating air
bag
When the air bags inflate, they make a
loud noise and may produce smoke and
powder in the air inside of 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 substantial
discomfort in breathing because of the
contact of your chest with both the seat
belt and the air bag, as well as from
breathing the smoke and powder. The
powder may aggravate asthma for some
people. If you experience breathing
problems after an air bag deployment,
seek medical attention immediately.
Though the smoke and powder are
nontoxic, they may cause irritation to
the skin, eyes, nose, throat, etc. If this is
the case, wash and rinse with cold water
immediately and seek medical attention
if the symptoms persist.
Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
OCN7030070NOCN7030070N
Your vehicle is equipped with an
Occupant Classification System (OCS) in
the front passenger’s seat.
Main components of the Occupant
Classification System
• A detection device located within the
front passenger seat cushion.
• Electronic system to determine
whether the passenger air bag
systems should be activated or
deactivated.
• An indicator light located on the
instrument panel which illuminates
the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicating the front passenger air bag
system is deactivated.
• The instrument panel air bag indicator
light is interconnected with the OCS.
The OCS is designed to help 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.
The purpose 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.
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For example, 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 wearing the
seat belt properly, 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 the edge of the seat, or by otherwise
being out of position), this could cause
the sensor to turn the air bag OFF.
You will find the “PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF” indicator on the overhead console.
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 vehicle
occupants are seated properly and
wearing the seat belt properly for the
most effective protection by the air bag
and the seat belt.
Never install a Child Restraint System in
the front passenger’s seat. If you should
install a CRS (Child Restraint System)
inevitably, use a forward-facing CRS with
3-point ALR safety seat belt and adjust
the front passenger’s seat as far to the
rear as possible. If the PASSENGER AIR
BAG “OFF” indicator is OFF after a CRS
(Child Restraint System) is equipped,
the front passenger’s airbag is operating
so you should install the CRS in the rear
seats of the vehicle immediately.The OCS may not function properly if the
passenger takes actions which can affect
the classification system. These include:
• Failing to sit in an upright position.
• Leaning against the door or center
console.
• Sitting towards the sides of the front
of the seat.
• Putting their legs on the dashboard or
resting them on other locations which
reduce the passenger weight on the
front seat.
• Wearing the seat belt improperly.
• Reclining the seatback.
• Wearing a thick cloth like ski wear or
hip protection wear.
• Putting an additional thick cushion on
the seat.
• Putting electrical devices (e.g.
notebook, satellite radio) on the seat
with inverter charging.
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