How does the air bag system operate

Safety features of your vehicle / Air bag - supplemental restraint system / How does the air bag system operate

• Air bags are activated (able to inflate if necessary) only when the ignition switch is turned to the ON or START position.
• The appropriate air bags inflate instantly in the event of serious frontal or side collision in order to help protect the occupants from serious physical injury.
• There is no single speed at which the air bags will inflate. Generally, air bags are designed to inflate by the severity of a collision and its direction. These two factors determine whether the sensors send out an electronic deployment/ inflation signal.
• Air bag deployment depends on a number of factors including vehicle speed, angles of impact and the density and stiffness of the vehicles or objects which your vehicle hits in the collision.Though, factors are not limited to those mentioned above.
• The front air bags will completely inflate and deflate in an instant. It is virtually impossible for you to see the air bags inflate during an accident. It is much more likely that you will simply see the deflated air bags hanging out of their storage compartments after the collision.
• In addition to inflating in serious side collisions, side and/or curtain air bags will inflate if the sensing system detects a rollover.
• When a rollover is detected, side and/or curtain airbags will remain inflated longer to help provide protection from ejection, especially when used in conjunction with the seat belts.
• In order to help provide protection, the air bags must inflate rapidly.The speed of air bag inflation is a consequence of the extremely short time in which to inflate the air bag between the occupant and the vehicle structures before the occupant impacts those structures.
  This speed of inflation reduces the risk of serious or life-threatening injuries and is thus a necessary part of air bag design.
  However, air bag inflation can also cause injuries which normally can include facial abrasions, bruises and broken bones because the inflation speed also causes the air bags to expand with a great deal of force.
• There are even circumstances under which contact with the air bag can cause fatal injuries, especially if the occupant is positioned excessively close to the air bag.

WARNING

• To avoid severe personal injury or death caused by deploying air bags in a collision, the driver should sit as far back from the steering wheel air bag as possible (at least 10 inches (250 mm) away). The front passengers should always move their seats as far back as possible and sit back in their seat.
• Air bags inflate instantly in the event of collision, and passengers may be injured by the air bag expansion force if they are not in proper position.
• Air bag inflation may cause injuries which normally include facial or bodily abrasions, injuries from broken glasses or burns by the air bag inflation gasses.

Noise and smoke

When the air bags inflate, they make a loud noise and they leave smoke and powder in the air inside of the vehicle. This is normal and is a result of the ignition of the air bag inflator. After the air bag inflates, you may feel substantial discomfort in breathing due to the contact of your chest with both the seat belt and the air bag, as well as from breathing the smoke and powder. Open your doors and/or windows as soon as possible after impact in order to reduce discomfort and prevent prolonged exposure to the smoke and powder.

Though the smoke and powder are non-toxic, they may cause irritation to the skin (eyes, nose and throat, etc). If this is the case, wash and rinse with cold water immediately and consult a doctor if the symptom persists.

WARNING - Hot components

Do not touch the air bag storage area's internal components immediately after airbag inflation. The air bag related parts in the steering wheel, instrument panel and the roof rails above the front and rear doors are very hot. Hot components can result in burn injuries.

Do not install a child restraint on the front passenger’s seat.