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A _ir_ b_a _g = - s - =- y_ s_ t_ e_ m _________________________________________________
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Side airbags
Description
of side
airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental
protection
to pr operly restrained front seat occupants.
Fig. 104 Side airbag
locat ion in th e driver's
seat
The side airbags are located in the sides of the front seat backrests
=> fig. 104 facing the doors. They are identified by the word
"AIRBAG".
The side airbag system basically consists of:
•
the electronic control module and external side impac t sensors
•
the two side airbags located in the sides of the front backrests
•
the airbag warning light in the instrument cl uster .
The airbag system is monitored electronica lly 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 safety belts and can help
to reduce the risk of injury to the driver's and front passenger's
upper torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side colli-
sion . The airbag deploys on ly in side impacts and only when the
vehic le acceleration registered by the control unit is high enough. If
this rate is below the reference value programmed into the control
unit, the side airbags will not be triggered, even though the car may
be bad ly damaged as a result of the collision. It is not possible to
define an airbag triggering range that wi ll cover every possible
angle of impact, since the circumstances will vary considerab ly
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 . =::> page 147, "Important safety
instructions on the side airbag system" .
Aside from t heir normal safety function, safety belts work to help
keep the driver or front passenger in position in the event of a side
collision so that the side airbags can provide protection .
The airbag system is
not
a substitute for your safety belt. Rather, it
is part of the overall occupant restraint system in your vehicle.
Always remember that the side airbag system can only help to
protect you if you are wearing your safety belt and wearing it prop -
erly. This is another reason why you should always wear your safety
belts, not just because the law requires you to do so ~ page 119,
"Why safety belts?".
It is important to remember that while the supplemental side airbag
system is designed to reduce the likelihood of serious inj uries, other
injuries, for example, swel ling, bruis ing, and minor abrasions can
also be associated with deployed side airbags . Remember too, side
airbags will deploy only once and only in certain kinds of accidents
- your safety belts are always there to offer protection.
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle damage are
not necessarily an indication of over -sensitive or fai led airbag acti-
vat ion . In some collisions, both front and side airbags may inflate .
Remember too, that airbags wil l deploy only once and only in
certain kinds of col lisions - your safety belts are always there to
offer protection in those accidents in which airbags are not
supposed to deploy or when they have already deployed .
Th e s id e a irbag
sy s te m wi ll n ot de plo y :
•
whe n the ignition is turned off
•
in side collisions when the acceleration measured by the sensor
is t oo low
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