Side airbags
Description of side airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental protecti on
to properly restrained front seat occupants.
Fig. 177 Side airbag
location in t he driver's
seat
The side airbags are located in the sides of the front seat backrests
=> fig. 177 facing the doors. They are identified by the word
"AIRBAG".
The side airbag system basically consist s of:
• the electronic contro l module and external side impact sensors
• the two side airbags located in t he sides of the front backrests
• the airbag warning light in t he instrument cluster .
The airbag system is monitored elec t ronically to make certain that
it is function ing 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
uppe r torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side coll i-
sion . The airbag deploys only in side impacts and on ly when t he
vehicle acceleration registered by the contro l unit is high enough. If
this rate is below the reference value programmed into the contro l
Safety first
Airb a g syst e m
unit, the side airbags will not be triggered, even though the car may
be badly damaged as a result of the collision . It is not possible to
def ine an airbag trigger ing range that will 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, vehicle speed, etc . => page 188, "Impo rtant safety
instructions on the side airbag system" .
Aside from t heir norma l safety function, safety bel ts work t o help
keep the driver or front passenger in position in the event of a side
coll ision so that t he side airbags can provide protec t ion .
The airbag system is not a subst itute 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 on ly 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 th e law requires you to do so ~
page 159,
"Genera l notes".
It is important to remember that while the supp lementa l side airbag
system is designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, othe r
injuries , for example, swelling , bruising, and minor abras ions 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 off er protection.
Vehic le damage , repair costs or even the lack of veh icle da mage are
not necessarily an indica t ion of over-sensitive or failed airbag acti-
vati on. In some collision s, both front and side airbags may infla te.
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
suppos ed to deploy or when they have already deployed .
T h e si de a irbag sy st e m will not d e ploy :
• when the ignition is t urned off
• in side collisions when the acceleration measured by the sensor
is t oo low ..
~ehicle care Technical data
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