Restraints and Safety Systems: Description and Operation

The occupant restraints for this model include both active and passive types. Active restraints are those which require the vehicle occupants to take some action to employ, such as fastening a seat belt; while passive restraints require no action by the vehicle occupants to be employed.

The active restraints include:
- Front Seat Belts - Both front seating positions are equipped with three-point seat belt systems employing a lower B-pillar mounted inertia latch-type retractor, height-adjustable upper B-pillar mounted turning loops, a fixed lower seat belt anchor secured to the lower B-pillar, and a traveling end-release buckle secured to the inboard side of the seat cushion frame. The driver side front seat belt buckle includes an integral Hall-effect seat belt switch that detects whether the driver side front seat belt has been fastened.
- Rear Seat Belts - Both outboard rear second and third seating positions are equipped with three-point seat belt systems. The outboard seating position belts employ a lower C or D-pillar mounted inertia latch-type retractor, a fixed position upper C or D-pillar mounted turning loop, and a fixed lower seat belt anchor secured to the inboard side of the seat cushion frame.
- Child Restraint Anchors - Also equipped in this vehicle are two, fixed-position, child seat upper tether anchors located on the lower seat cushion, in the rear of the lower seat cushion. There is one anchor integral to the back of the third row seat back panel, one on each seat back panel. Two lower second row anchors are also provided for each rear outboard seating position. The lower anchors are integral to the seat cushion frame and are accessed from the front of the second row seat where the seat back meets the seat cushion.

Front Airbag System Component Location:

This vehicle is equipped with a Frontal Impact Air-bag System, which utilizes the driver/passenger airbags, driver knee blocker airbag, and seat belt tensioners. This system is designed to protect occupants in the event of a front impact collision. These airbags and seat belt tensioners are all serviceable parts. If these pyrotechnics are deployed or defective, they must be replaced, as well as the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) must be diagnosed following procedures outlined in the service/diagnostic manuals.

SRS Logo:

The Driver and Passenger Airbag System was designed to reduce the likelihood of injury or death in frontal collisions. Each separate system is supplemental to the primary restraint device, which are the seat belts.
- Airbag Indicator - The airbag indicator is integral to the Instrument Cluster, which is located on the instrument panel in front of the driver.
- Clock Spring - The clock spring is located near the top of the steering column, directly beneath the steering wheel.
- Driver Airbag - The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel, beneath the driver airbag trim cover.
- Front Impact Sensor - Two front impact sensors are used on vehicles equipped with dual front airbags, one left side and one right side. One sensor is located on the lower outboard side of each vertical member of the radiator support.
- Front Seat Belt Tensioner - A seat belt tensioner is integral to each front seat belt retractor unit on vehicles equipped with airbags.
- Knee Blocker Airbag - The driver knee blocker airbag is secured to the instrument panel behind the steering column opening cover .
- Occupant Restraint Controller - The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) is also sometimes referred to as the Airbag Control Module (ACM). The ORC is located on a mount on the floor panel transmission tunnel just underneath the instrument panel center stack .
- Passenger Airbag - The passenger airbag is located on the instrument panel, beneath the instrument panel top pad and above the glove box on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- Passenger Knee Blocker - The passenger knee blocker is a structural reinforcement that is integral to and concealed within the glove box door.
- Front Seat Belt Tensioner - A seat belt ten-sioner is integral to each front seat belt retractor unit on vehicles equipped with airbags.
- Knee Blocker Airbag - The driver knee blocker airbag is secured to the instrument panel behind the steering column opening cover (Fig. 1).
- Occupant Restraint Controller - The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) is also sometimes referred to as the Airbag Control Module (ACM). The ORC is located on a mount on the floor panel transmission tunnel just underneath the instrument panel center stack .
- Passenger Airbag - The passenger airbag is located on the instrument panel, beneath the instrument panel top pad and above the glove box on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- Passenger Knee Blocker - The passenger knee blocker is a structural reinforcement that is integral to and concealed within the glove box door.
- Side Impact Sensors - Six side impact sensors are used on vehicles equipped with the optional side curtain airbags, three left side and three right side. The first row side impact sensor is located in the B-pillar, just above the front seat belt retractor. The second row side impact sensor is located in the C-pillar, just in front of the second row seat belt retractor. The third row side impact sensor is located behind the quarter trim panel, above the rear tire wheel well, between the C and D-pillars.

- Curtain Airbag - A side curtain airbag is located on each inside roof side rail above the head-liner, and extends from the A-pillar to just beyond the D-pillar.

The ORC and the cluster each contain a central processing unit and programming that allow them to communicate with each other using the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus network. This method of communication is used by the ORC for control of the airbag indicator on all models equipped with dual front airbags.

Vehicles equipped with the Side Impact Airbag System utilize a curtain airbag, side impact sensors, and the ORC to determine if the airbag should be deployed. Following a side impact event where the side airbag was deployed, the headliner as well as the curtain airbag must be replaced.

The primary passenger restraints in this are the seat belts and child restraint anchors. Seat belts and child restraint anchors are referred to as an Active Restraint because the vehicle occupants are required to physically fasten and properly adjust these restraints in order to benefit from them.

LAP/SHOULDER BELTS

All the seats are equipped with Lap/Shoulder Belts.

The belt webbing retractor is designed to lock during very sudden stops or collisions. This feature allows the shoulder part of the belt to move freely with you under normal conditions. But in a collision, the belt will lock and reduce the risk of your striking the inside of the vehicle or being thrown out.

1. Enter the vehicle and close the door. Sit back and adjust the seat.
2. The seat belt latch plate is near the seat back of the front seats and next to your arm in the rear seats. Grasp the latch plate and pull out the belt. Slide the latch plate up the webbing as far as necessary to allow the belt to go around your lap.
3. When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch plate into the buckle until you hear a "click".
4. Position the lap belt across your thighs, below your abdomen. To remove slack in the lap belt portion, pull up on the shoulder belt. To loosen the lap belt if it is too tight, tilt the latch plate and pull on the lap belt. A snug belt reduces the risk of sliding under the belt in a collision.
5. Position the shoulder belt on your chest so that it is comfortable and not resting on your neck. The retractor will withdraw any slack in the belt.
6. To release the belt, push the red button on the buckle. The belt will automatically retract to its stowed position. If necessary, slide the latch plate down the webbing to allow the belt to retract fully.