Air Bag Systems: Description and Operation
GENERAL INFORMATIONINTRODUCTION
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) is designed to supplement the front seat belt to help reduce the risk or severity of injury to the front seat occupants by activating and deploying two air bag during certain frontal collisions.
The SRS consists of: Two air bag modules; one located in the center of the steering wheel and another one located above the glove box, which contains the folded air bag and an inflator unit; the SRS air bag control unit located under the rear console assembly, which monitors the system, and which contains a safing impact sensor and analog G sensor; an SRS warning light located on the instrument panel, which indicates the operational status of the SRS; a clock spring interconnection located within the steering column.
The SRS is designed so that the air bag will deploy when the safing sensor activates while the fire output is signal by monitoring the analog G sensor. Only authorized service personnel should do work on or around SRS components. Those personnel should read this manual carefully before starting such work. Extreme care must be used when servicing the SRS to avoid injury to service personnel (by inadvertent deployment of the air bag) or driver (by rendering the SRS inoperative).
DIAGNOSTIC TEST MODE/SRS WARNING LIGHT FUNCTION
The diagnosis unit monitors the SRS system and stores data concerning any detected faults in the system. When the ignition key is in "ON" or "START' position, the SRS warning light should illuminate for about 7 seconds and then turn off. That indicates that the SRS system is in operational order. If the SRS warning light does any of the following, immediate inspection by an authorized dealer is needed.
(1) The SRS warning light does not illuminate as described above.
(2) The SRS warning light stays on for more than 7 seconds.
(3) The SRS warning light illuminates while driving.
If a vehicle's SRS warning light is in any of these three conditions when brought in for inspection, the SRS system must be inspected, diagnosed and serviced in accordance with this manual.