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Side airbags
Description
of side airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental
protecti on
to p roperly restrained occupants.
Fig. 236 Side airbag
locat ion in t he driver's
seat
The side airbags are located in the sides of the front seat backrests
=> fig. 236 and the rear backrest facing the doors . They are identified
by the word "AIRBAG" .
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
•
two rear side airbags
•
the airbag warning light in the i nstrument 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 wi ll come o n for a few
seconds (self diagnostics).
The side airbag system supplements the safety belts and can help
to reduce the risk of injury to the driver's, front and rear passenger's
upper torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side colli -
sion. The airbag deploys only in side impacts and on ly when the
vehicle acceleration registered by the control unit is high enough . If
Airb a g syst e m
this rate is below the reference value programmed into the control
un it, the side airbags w il l not be triggered, even though the car may
be badly damaged as a result of the col lision. It is not possible to
define an airbag triggering range that wi ll cover every possible
ang le of impact, since the circumstances will vary considerably
between one collision and another. Important factors include, for
examp le, the nature (hard or soft) of the impacting object, the angle
of impact, vehic le speed, etc. => page 238, " Important safety instruc -
tions on the side airbag system".
Aside from their norma l safety function, safety belts work to help
keep the driver or front passenger in position in t he event of a side
collision so that the side airbags can provide protection .
The airbag system is
not
a substitute for your safety belt . Rathe r, it
is part of the overa ll occupant restraint system in your vehicle.
Always remember that the side airbag system can only help to
pro t ect you if you are wearing your safety belt and wear i ng it prop-
erly. This is another reason why you should always wear your safety
belts, not just because t he law requires you to do so => page 209,
"General notes" .
It is important to remember tha t while the supplementa l side airbag
system is designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other
injuries, for example, swelling, bruising, and minor abrasions can
also be associated with deployed side airbags . Remember too, side
airbags will deploy only once and on ly in certain kinds of accidents
- your safety belts are always there to offer pro t ect ion .
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle damage are
not necessarily an indication of over-sensi t ive or failed airbag acti -
vation . In some collisions, both front and side airbags may inflate.
Remember too , that airbags will deploy on ly once and only in
certain kinds of collisions - your safety belts are always there to
offer protection in those acc idents in which airbags are not
supposed to deploy or when they have already dep loyed.
The sid e airbag
system
will
not deploy :
•
when the ignition is t urned off
Vehicle care
I
I
Technical data
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