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M139_UM_usa1.book Page 40 Monday, September 1, 2008 2:39 PM
Front and rear side airbags
The lateral airbags are designed to
help enhance the protection offered to
passengers travelling in the front and
rear seats in case of moderate to severe
lateral collision.
They consist of two types of near
instantaneous inflation bags:
2
– Side Bags housed in the front seats
backrests; this solution allows the
airbag to be always in the
approximate position with respect to
the occupant, regardless of the seat
position.
– Window bags housed behind the
roof lateral panels and covered by
special trim panels that do not
interfere with the bags unfolding
downwards during inflation. This
solution, designed to help protect
the head region, offers passengers
sitting in the front and in the rear
appropiate protection in the case of
a side impact, thanks to the large
area covered by the bags.
In the event of a side impact, an
electronic control unit processes the
signals coming from a deceleration
sensor and deploys the side airbags if
necessary.
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Front and side airbags
The bags inflate near instantaneously,
acting as a protection between the
occupants body and the side of the
vehicle. The bags deflate immediately
afterwards.
WARNING: The electronic control unit
provides for the activation of the
pretensioners, front airbags or side
airbags (front and rear) based on
different criteria, according to the type
of impact.
The fact that one or more systems do
not activate is not indicative of a
system malfunction.
In the case of low impact lateral
collisions (for which the retaining
action of the seat belts affords
adequate protection), the airbags are
not designed to inflate.
It follows that the front airbags (on
driver and passenger side) do not
replace or substitute the seat belts but
supplement them, and hence the seat
belts must always be worn as provided
by established legislation in most
countries.
The side airbags are not disabled when
the front passenger airbag is
deactivated. Thus even children being
transported in the front passenger seat
are protected from lateral collisions by
the side airbags.
The front and/or lateral airbags may
also inflate if the vehicle suffers a
violent impact beneath the car body,
for example when the underbody
collides with steps or speed bumps,
potholes, etc.
WARNING: Airbag inflation releases a
small amount of powder. This powder
is not harmful and does not indicate
the presence of fire; furthermore the
surface of the deployed bag and the
interior of the vehicle may be covered
with a powdery residue: this powder
may irritate skin and eyes. If contact
occurs, wash with a pH neutral soap
and water.
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