Subaru FORESTER Manual page 69

The SRS airbag can function only when
the ignition switch is in the "ON" position.
If the front sub sensors located on both the
right and left sides at the front of the
vehicle and the impact sensors in the
airbag control module detect a certain
predetermined amount of force during a
frontal collision, the control module sends
signals to the frontal airbag modules
instructing them to inflate the SRS frontal
airbags. Then both airbag modules pro-
duce gas, which instantly inflates driver's
and passenger's SRS frontal airbags.
After deployment, the SRS airbags im-
mediately start to deflate so that the
driver's vision is not obstructed. The time
required from detecting impact to the
deflation of the SRS airbag after deploy-
ment is shorter than the blink of an eye.
The front passenger's SRS frontal airbag
deploys together with driver's SRS frontal
airbag even when no one occupies the
front passenger's seat.
Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS
airbag would activate in a non-accident
situation, should it occur, the SRS airbag
will deflate quickly, not obscuring vision
and will not interfere with the driver's
ability to maintain control of the vehicle.
When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden,
fairly loud inflation noise will be heard and
some smoke will be released. These
occurrences are normal result of the
deployment. This smoke does not indicate
a fire in the vehicle.
CAUTION
Do not touch the SRS airbag system
components around the steering
wheel and dashboard with bare
hands right after deployment. Doing
so can cause burns because the
components can be very hot as a
result of deployment.
The SRS frontal airbag is designed to
deploy in the event of an accident invol-
ving a moderate to severe frontal collision.
It is basically not designed to deploy in
lesser frontal impacts because the neces-
sary protection can be achieved by the
seatbelt alone. Also, it is basically not
designed to deploy in side or rear impacts
or in roll-over accidents because deploy-
ment of the SRS frontal airbag would not
help the occupant in those situations. The
SRS airbag is designed to function on a
one-time-only basis.
SRS airbag deployment depends on the
level of force experienced in the passen-
ger compartment during a collision. That
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
level differs from one type of collision to
another, and it may have no bearing on
the visible damage done to the vehicle
itself.
! When will the SRS frontal airbag
most likely deploy?
A head-on collision against a thick con-
crete wall at a vehicle speed of 20 to 30
km/h (12 to 19 mph) or higher activates
the SRS frontal airbag. The SRS frontal
airbag will also be activated when the
vehicle is exposed to a frontal impact
similar in fashion and magnitude to the
collision described above.
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