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Airbag
system
How knee airbags work
The risk of injury to the leg orea con be re-
duced by fully inflated knee airbags.
Fig. 117 Inflated airbags protecting in a frontal colli-
sion
The knee airbag system has been designed
50
that the airbags for the driver and front pas-
senger deploy in certain but not all frontal
collisions.
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbags
also deploy in frontal collisions when the de-
ployment threshold stored in the control unit
is met.
When the system deploys, the airbags fill
with a propellant gas, and inflate between the
lower part ofthe instrument panel and the
driver and the lower part of the instrument
panel and the front passenger
Qpage 120,
fig.
114.
Although they are not a soft pillow, they can
"cushion" the impact and in this way they can
help to reduce the risk of injury to the lower
extremities.
All of this takes place in the blink of an eye,
50
fast that many people don't even realize that
the airbags have deployed. The airbags also
inflate with a great deal of force and it is im-
portant for occupant safety that nothing
should be in their way when they deploy.
Fully inflated airbags in combination with
properly worn safety belts slow down and lim-
it the occupant's forward movement and help
to reduce the risk of injury.
Important safety instructions on the
knee airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. Al-
ways wear safety belts correctly and ride in a
praper seating position.
There is a lot that you and your passengers
must know and do to help the safety belts and
airbags to provide supplemental protection.
A
WARNING
An inflating knee airbag can cause serious
injury. Wearing safety belts incorrectly and
improper seating positions increase the
risk of serious personal injury and death
whenever a vehicle is being used.
- The knee airbag system cannot protect
you properly ifyou are seated too close
to any of the airbag Locations. When ad-
justing their seat positions, it is impor-
tant that both the driver and the front
passenger keep their upper bodies and
knees at the following minimum safe
distances:
- at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the
chest and the steering wheel/instru-
ment panel.
- at least 4 inches (l0 cm) between the
knees and the lower part of the instru-
ment panel.
- The risk of personal injury increases if
you lean forward 6r-to the side, or ifthe
seat is improperly posiNoned and you are
not wearing your safety belt. The risk in-
creases even more should the airbag de-
pLoy.
- Always make sure that the knee airbag
can inflate without interference. Objects
between you and the airbag can increase
the risk of injury in an accident by inter-
fering with the way the airbag deploys or
by being pushed into you as the airbag
deploys.
- Never let anybody, especially children
or animals ride in the footwell in front
~
.-
of the passenger seat. Ifthe airbag de-
ploys, this can result in serious or fatal
injuries.
_ Never carry objects of any kind in the
footwell area in front of the driver's or
passenger's seat. Sulky objects (shop-
ping bags, for exampLe) can interfere
with or prevent proper deployment of
the airbag. Small objects can be
thrown through the vehicLe if the air-
bag deploys and injure you or your pas-
sengers.
_ Make sure there are no cracks, deep
scratches or other damage in the area of
the instrument panel where the knee air-
bags are located.
- If children are incorrectly seated, their
risk of injury increases in a collision
Q
page 133, Child Safety.
5ide airbags
Description of side airbags
The airbag system con provide supplemental
protection to praperly restroined front seat
occupants.
Fig. 118 5ide airbag location in the driver's seat
The side airbags are located in the sides of the
front seat backrests
Q
fig.
118 facing the
doors. They are identified by the word "AIR-
BAG".
The side airbag system basically consists of:
- the electronic control moduLe and external
side impact sensors
- the two side airbags Located in the sides of
the front backrests
Airbag
system
1
- the airbag warning light in the instrument
cluster.
The airbag system is monitored electronically
to make certain that it is functioning properly
at all times. Each time you turn on the igni-
tion, the airbag system indicator light wilL
come on for a few seconds (seLf diagnostics).
The side airbag system suppLements the safe-
ty belts and can help to reduce the risk of in-
jury to the driver's and front passenger's up-
per torso and head on the si de of the vehicle
that is struck in a side collision. The airbag de-
ploys in side impacts and onLy when the vehi-
cle acceleration registered by the control unit
is high enough. If this rate is below the refer-
ence value programmed into the control unit,
th'e side airbags will not be triggered, even
though the car may be badLy damaged as a re-
sult of the collision. It is not possible to de-
fine an airbag triggering range that will coyer
every possible angle of impact, since the cir-
cumstances will vary considerably between
one collision and another. Important factors
include, for example, the nature (hard or soft)
of the impacting object, the angle of impact,
vehicLe speed, etc.
Q
page
131,
Important
safety instructions on the side airbag system.
Aside from their normal safety function, safe-
ty belts work to help keep the driver or front
passenger in position in the event of a side
collision
50
that the side airbags can provide
protection.
The airbag system is
not
a substitute for your
safety belt. Rather, it is part ofthe overall oc-
cupant restraint system in your vehicle. Al-
ways remember that the side airbag system
can only help to protectyou ifyou are wearing
your safety belt and wearing it properly. This
is another reason why you should always wear
your safety belts, notjust because the law re-
quires you to do
50
Q
page 103, General
notes.
It
is important to remember that while the
supplemental side airbag system is designed
to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries,
other injuries, for example, swelling, bruising,
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