Maserati QUATTROPORTE Owner's Manual page 66

Before Starting
2
The air bag warning light monitors the
internal circuits and interconnecting
wiring associated with air bag system
electrical components.
WARNING!
• If the ignition switch is in RUN
position, the engine is off and the
vehicle is in complete stop, the air
bags can be deployed in case of
collision. For this reason, children
must never occupy the front seat in
a rearward facing seat even if the car
is not moving. Deployment of the air
bag following an impact could cause
fatal injuries to the child. Please note
that when the ignition switch is in
the OFF or ACC position or is turned
off, the air bag will not deploy in
case of collision. Therefore, in these
cases, lack of air bag deployment is
64
not an indication of a system
malfunction.
• Ignoring the air bag warning light
and message in your instrument
cluster could mean you won't have
the air bags 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 engine, or if it comes on as
you drive, have an Authorized
Maserati Dealer service the air bag
system immediately.
Front Air Bag Inflator Units
When the ORC detects a collision
requiring the advanced front air bags,
it signals the inflator units. A large
quantity of nontoxic gas is generated
to inflate the advanced front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and
the upper right side of the dashboard
separate and fold out of the way as
the air bags inflate to their full size.
The air bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front
passenger. The advanced front air bag
gas is vented through the vent holes in
the sides of the air bag. In this way,
the air bags do not interfere with your
control of the vehicle.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air
Bag (SAB) Inflator Units
The ORC unit determines if a side
collision requires the side air bags to
inflate, based on the severity and type
of collision. Based on the severity and
type of collision, the side air bag
inflator on the crash side of the vehicle
may be triggered, releasing a quantity
of nontoxic gas.
The inflating SAB exits through the
seat seam into the space between the
occupant and the door. The side air
bag moves at a very high speed and
with such a high force that it could
injure you if you are not seated
properly, or if items are positioned in
the area where the side air bag
inflates. This especially applies to
children.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable
Curtain (SABIC) Inflator Units
During collisions where the impact is
confined to a particular area of the
side of the vehicle, the ORC may
deploy the SABIC air bags, depending
on the severity and type of collision. In
these events, the ORC will deploy the
SABIC only on the impact side of the
vehicle. A quantity of non-toxic gas is
generated to inflate the side curtain
air bag.