Airbag System - Aston Martin V8 Vantage Workshop Manual

Airbag System

The airbag system is designed to provide increased collision
protection for front seat occupants in addition to that
provided by the safety belt system. Safety belt use is
necessary to obtain the best occupant protection and to
receive the full advantages of the airbag system.
This vehicle is equipped with driver, passenger, side impact
airbags and seat belt pretensioners, which are electrically
controlled an RCM (Restraints Control Module).
The driver and passenger airbags (A) only deploy in a serious
front collision. The side airbags (B (one airbag in each front
seat)) only deploy according to which side has been
impacted in a serious side collision.
The purpose of the driver, passenger and side airbags is to
provide additional protection for the front seat occupants in
the event of a serious impact (front or side impacts). The
airbags are supplementary to the seat belts.
Airbag Deployment
Airbags inflate rapidly and with considerable force,
there is therefore a risk of death or serious injury such
as fractures, facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,
particularly to occupants who are not properly
restrained by seat belts or are not sitting correctly when
the airbags deploy. The risk of injury from a deploying
airbag is greatest close to the trim covering the airbag.
The whole sequence of airbag deployment, from
sensing the impact to full inflation of the airbag takes
place in a fraction of a second.
The noise and gas associated with the deployment of the
airbags are not injurious to health.
Driver airbag Module
The driver airbag module is installed in the steering wheel,
the cover forming the outer surface of the steering wheel
boss. The cover has a split line moulded into its surface
allowing the airbag to exit through the cover when the
system deploys.
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Warning
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No routine maintenance is required and there are no
serviceable parts. The driver airbag module is replaced as an
assembly.
Passenger Airbag Module
The passenger airbag module is located above the glove
compartment behind a deployment panel.
The passenger airbag deployment panel hinges up out of the
way during airbag deployment.
The passenger airbag module is replaced as an assembly.
There is no routine maintenance required and there are no
serviceable parts.
Side Airbag Module
A side impact airbag module is mounted in the outboard
bolster of each front seat and uses compressed argon to
inflate. It provides protection for the thorax (the part of the
torso between the neck and the abdomen). In a side airbag
module deployment situation, the airbag module deploys
from behind a hard trim panel.
Clockspring
The airbag clockspring continuously transfers electrical
signals from the driver airbag module to the airbag sensor.
The airbag clockspring is mounted on the steering column,
behind the steering wheel and does not contain any
serviceable components. Ensure that the steering wheel is
locked in the central position before commencing any work
on the steering column, wheel or airbag.
Control Module
The primary purpose of the RCM is to discriminate between
an event that warrants an airbag system deployment and an
event that does not. The RCM governs the operation of the
whole system and performs continual system diagnostics.
Information on the severity of an impact is received from the
impact sensors.
Variations in the deployment of the front airbag modules are
dependent on the status of the front safety belt buckles.
Workshop Manual
Restraining Devices (01.20)
Body System (01.00)
1-13-3