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HOW DO THE FRONT AIRBAGS
WORK
The driver and front passenger airbags
deploy during significant frontal and near
frontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbag system
consists of:
•
Driver and passenger airbag modules.
• Front passenger sensing system.
• Crash sensors and monitoring system
with readiness indicator. See Crash
Sensors and Airbag Indicator (page 68). The airbags are a supplemental restraint
system and are designed to work with the
seatbelts to help protect the driver and right
front passenger from certain upper body
injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly; there
is a risk of injury from a deploying airbag.
Note:
You will hear a loud bang and see a
cloud of harmless powdery residue if an
airbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly upon
activation. After airbag deployment, it is
normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery
residue or smell the burnt propellant. This
may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder (to
lubricate the bag) or sodium compounds (for
example, baking soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates the airbag.
Small amounts of sodium hydroxide may be
present which may irritate the skin and eyes,
but none of the residue is toxic.
Contact with a deploying airbag may cause
abrasions or swelling. Temporary hearing
loss is also a possibility as a result of the
noise associated with a deploying airbag. Because airbags must inflate rapidly and with
considerable force, there is the risk of death
or serious injuries such as fractures, facial
and eye injuries or internal injuries,
particularly to occupants who are not
properly restrained or are otherwise out of
position at the time of airbag deployment.
Thus, it is extremely important that occupants
be properly restrained as far away from the
airbag module as possible while maintaining
vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is not
required.
HOW DO THE SIDE AIRBAGS
WORK
WARNING:
Do not place objects or
mount equipment on or near the airbag
cover, on the side of the front or rear
seatbacks, or in areas that may come into
contact with a deploying airbag. Failure to
follow these instructions may increase the
risk of personal injury in the event of a
crash.
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WARNING: Accessory seat covers
not released by Ford Motor Company
could prevent the deployment of the
airbags and increase the risk of injuries in
a crash. WARNING:
Do not lean your head
on the door. The side airbag could injure
you as it deploys from the side of the
seatback.
The side airbags are on the outermost side
of the seat backrests of the front seats. In
certain sideways crashes or rollovers, the
airbags will be inflated. The airbag was
designed to inflate between the door panel
and occupant to further enhance the
protection provided to occupants in side
impact crashes. The system consists of the following:
•
A label or embossed side panel
indicating that side airbags are fitted to
your vehicle.
• Side airbags inside the driver and front
passenger seat backrests.
• Crash sensors and monitoring system
with readiness indicator.
See Crash
Sensors and Airbag Indicator (page 68). HOW DOES THE SAFETY CANOPY™
WORK WARNING:
Do not place objects or
mount equipment on or near the headliner
at the siderail that may come into contact
with a deploying curtain airbag. Failure to
follow these instructions may increase the
risk of personal injury in the event of a
crash. WARNING:
Do not lean your head
on the door. The curtain airbag could injure
you as it deploys from the headliner. WARNING:
To reduce risk of injury,
do not obstruct or place objects in the
deployment path of the airbag.
The Safety Canopy deploys during significant
side crashes or when a certain likelihood of
a rollover event is detected by the rollover
sensor. The Safety Canopy is mounted to
the roof side-rail sheet metal, behind the
headliner, above each row of seats. In certain
sideways crashes or rollover events, the
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Safety Canopy will be activated, regardless
of which seats are occupied. The Safety
Canopy inflates between the side window
area and occupants to further enhance
protection provided in side impact crashes
and rollover events.
The system consists of the following:
•
Safety Canopy curtain airbags above the
trim panels over the front and rear side
windows identified by a label or wording
on the headliner or roof-pillar trim.
• A flexible headliner which opens above
the side doors to allow air curtain
deployment · Crash sensors and monitoring
system with a readiness indicator.
See Crash Sensors and Airbag
Indicator (page 68).
Properly restrain children 12 years old and
under in the rear seats. The Safety Canopy
will not interfere with children restrained
using a properly installed child or booster
seat because it is designed to inflate
downward from the headliner above the
doors along the side window opening.
AIRBAG PRECAUTIONS WARNING:
Airbags do not inflate
slowly or gently, and the risk of injury from
a deploying airbag is the greatest close to
the trim covering the airbag module. WARNING:
All occupants of your
vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their seatbelts, even when
an airbag supplemental restraint system is
provided. Failure to properly wear your
seatbelt could seriously increase the risk
of injury or death. WARNING:
Properly secure children
12 years old and under in a rear seating
position whenever possible. If you are
unable to properly secure all children in a
rear seating position, properly secure the
largest child on the front seat. If you must
use a forward facing child restraint on the
front seat, move the seat as far back as
possible. Failure to follow these
instructions could result in personal injury
or death. WARNING:
Do not place your arms
on the airbag cover or through the steering
wheel. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury.
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WARNING: Keep the areas in front
of the airbags free from obstruction. Do
not affix anything to or over the airbag
covers. Objects could become projectiles
during airbag deployment. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury or death. WARNING:
To reduce risk of injury,
do not obstruct or place objects in the
deployment path of the airbag. WARNING:
Do not place a rearward
facing child restraint in front of an active
airbag. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death. WARNING: Do not attempt to service,
repair, or modify the supplementary
restraint system or associated components.
Failure to follow this instruction could result
in personal injury or death. WARNING:
Several airbag system
components get hot after inflation. To
reduce the risk of injury, do not touch them
after inflation. WARNING:
If a supplementary
restraint system component has deployed,
it will not function again. Have the system
and associated components inspected as
soon as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.
PROPERLY ADJUSTING THE
DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER
SEATS WARNING:
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at
least
10 in (25 cm) between an occupant's
chest and the driver airbag module. To properly position yourself away from the
airbag:
•
Move your seat to the rear as far as you
can while still reaching the pedals
comfortably.
• Recline the seat slightly one or two
degrees from the upright position.
After all occupants have adjusted their seats
and put on seatbelts, it is very important that
they continue to sit properly. Properly seated
occupants sit upright, lean against the seat
backrest, and center themselves on the seat
cushion, with their feet comfortably extended
on the floor. Sitting improperly can increase
the chance of injury in a crash event. For
example, if an occupant slouches, lies down,
turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward
or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash greatly
increases.
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CHILDREN AND AIRBAGS
WARNING: Do not place a rearward
facing child restraint in front of an active
airbag. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death. Children must always be properly restrained.
Accident statistics suggest that children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
position. Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of injury in a crash. If two adults and a child occupy a vehicle
without rear seats, properly restrain the child
in the center front seat unless doing so
would interfere with driving your vehicle. This
provides lap and shoulder belt protection for
all occupants, and airbag protection for the
adults. A child or infant properly restrained
in the center front seat should have a
reduced risk to serious injury from the
airbags.
FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM
WHAT IS THE FRONT PASSENGER
SENSING SYSTEM
This system detects a properly seated
occupant and determines if the front
passenger airbag should be enabled.
HOW DOES THE FRONT PASSENGER
SENSING SYSTEM WORK
The system uses a passenger airbag status
indicator which illuminates indicating that the
front passenger frontal airbag is either
enabled or disabled.
Note:
When you first switch the ignition on,
the passenger airbag status indicator off and
on lamps illuminate for a short period to
confirm they are functional. The indicator lamps are in the center stack
of the instrument panel.
The front passenger sensing system is
designed to disable the front passenger
frontal airbag under these conditions:
•
The front passenger seat is unoccupied.
• The system determines an infant is
present in a child restraint.
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•
A passenger takes their weight off of the
seat for a period of time.
• If there is a problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
Note: Even with this technology, parents are
strongly encouraged to always properly
restrain children in the rear seat.
• When the front passenger sensing
system disables the front passenger
frontal airbag, the passenger airbag
status indicator illuminates the off lamp.
• If you have installed the child restraint
and the passenger airbag status indicator
illuminates the on lamp, switch your
vehicle off, remove the child restraint
from your vehicle and reinstall the
restraint following the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions.
The front passenger sensing system works
with sensors that are part of the front
passenger seat and seatbelt. The sensors
are designed to detect the presence of a
properly seated occupant and determine if
the front passenger frontal airbag should be
enabled. •
When the front passenger sensing
system enables the front passenger
frontal airbag, the passenger airbag
status indicator illuminates the on lamp.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the front
passenger seat, but the passenger airbag
status indicator off lamp is illuminated, it is
possible that the person is not sitting
properly in the seat. If this happens:
• Switch your vehicle off and ask the
person to place the seat backrest in an
upright position.
• Have the person sit upright in the seat,
centered on the seat cushion, with the
person's legs comfortably extended.
• Restart your vehicle and have the person
remain in this position for about two
minutes. This allows the system to detect
that person and enable the passenger
frontal airbag.
• If the indicator off lamp remains
illuminated even after this, you should
advise the person to ride in the rear seat. After all occupants have adjusted their seats
and put on seatbelts, it is very important that
they continue to sit upright, leaning against
the seat backrest, and centered on the seat
cushion, with their feet comfortably extended
on the floor.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance
of injury in a crash event. For example, if an
occupant slouches, lies down, turns
sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash greatly
increases.
If you think that the state of the passenger
airbag status indicator lamp is incorrect,
check for the following:
•
Objects lodged underneath the seat.
• Objects between the seat cushion and
the center console.
• Objects hanging off the seat backrest.
• Objects stowed in the seat backrest map
pocket.
• Objects placed on the occupant's lap.
• Cargo interference with the seat
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•
Other passengers pushing or pulling on
the seat.
• Rear passenger feet and knees resting
or pushing on the seat.
The listed conditions could cause the weight
of a properly seated occupant to be
incorrectly interpreted by the front passenger
sensing system. The person in the front
passenger seat could appear heavier or
lighter due to the conditions listed. Make sure the front passenger
sensing system is operating
properly. See Crash Sensors and
Airbag Indicator (page 68).
If the airbag readiness light is on, do the
following:
• Pull your vehicle over.
• Switch your vehicle off. •
Check for any objects lodged underneath
the front passenger seat or cargo
interfering with the seat.
• Remove the obstruction if found.
• Restart your vehicle.
• Wait at least two minutes and verify that
the airbag readiness light in the
instrument cluster is no longer
illuminated.
• If the airbag readiness light in the
instrument cluster remains illuminated,
there may be a problem due to the front
passenger sensing system.
Do not attempt to repair or service the
system. Take your vehicle in for service
immediately.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced front
airbag system to accommodate a person
with disabilities, contact your Customer
Relationship Center.
See Contacting Us
(page 17). FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM PRECAUTIONS WARNING: Sitting improperly, out of
position or with the seatback reclined too
far can take weight off the seat cushion
and affect the decision of the passenger
sensing system, resulting in serious injury
or death in the event of a crash. Always sit
upright against your seat back, with your
feet on the floor. WARNING:
Any alteration or
modification to the front passenger seat
may affect the performance of the front
passenger sensing system. This could
seriously increase the risk of injury or
death.
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FRONT PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM INDICATORS
Passenger Airbag
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Occupant
Disabled
OFF: Illuminated
Empty
ON: Not Illuminated Disabled
OFF: Illuminated
Child
ON: Not Illuminated Enabled
OFF: Not Illuminated
Adult
ON: Illuminated
CRASH SENSORS AND AIRBAG
INDICATOR WARNING: Modifying or adding
equipment to the front of your vehicle
could affect the performance of the airbag
system, increasing the risk of injury. This
includes the hood, bumper system, frame,
front body structure, tow hooks, hood pins,
push bar and snowplows. Your vehicle has a collection of crash and
occupant sensors. These sensors provide
information to the restraints control module
which activates the following:
•
Front seatbelt pretensioners.
• Adaptive steering column.
• Driver airbag.
• Passenger airbag.
• Seat mounted side airbags.
• Safety Canopy. Based on the type of crash, the restraints
control module deploys the appropriate
safety devices.
The restraints control module also monitors
the readiness of the above safety devices
plus the crash and occupant sensors. The
readiness of the safety system is indicated
by a warning indicator light in the instrument
cluster or by a backup tone if the warning
light is not working. Routine maintenance of
the airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by
one or more of the following:
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