Air bag

AIR BAG

DESCRIPTION

The AIR BAG is a passive safety device consisting of:

• twin front Air Bags, driver and passenger (where fitted) for front protection;
• side bags (where fitted).

The system operates:

• the driver and passenger Air Bags in the case of a frontal impact of a certain severity.
• on the other hand, in the case of a side impact of a certain severity, the corresponding side bag is operated (only on the side where the impact occurred).

The system consists of the following components:

• electronic control unit (1);
• driver’s Air Bag (2);
• passenger Air Bag (3);
• passenger side automatic disabling sensor (only up to June '99) (4);
• side impact sensors in the left door pillar (5);
• side impact sensors in the right door pillar (6);
• right Side Bag (7);
• left Side Bag (8);
• diagnostic socket for checking the system using the Examiner or other diagnostic equipment (9).

An electronic control unit manages the entire system checking all the components and activating the appropriate systems (pretensioners and Air Bags) when necessary.

Operation in the case of a frontal impact

Inside the control unit there is an accelerometric sensor whose signal, appropriate processed by a microprocessor, allows the severity of an impact to be assessed and, as a result, the operation of the Air Bags to be decided upon.

A second sensor with safety functions gives the go ahead to activate the Air Bags. The control unit only detects frontal impacts. No intervention takes place in the case of side impacts, shunts or if the vehicle overturns.

Operation in the case of a side impact

There is an accelerometric sensor in the two front door pillars which detects side impacts and transmits a signal to the control unit.

This signal, suitably processed by a microprocessor inside the control unit, makes it possible to assess the severity of a side impact and, as a result, decide upon the operation of the Side Bag on the side where the impact has taken place, but only if the safety sensor gives the go ahead.

NOTE: The Side Bags are activated independently of one another and the front Air Bags.

WARNING: On vehicles with Side Bags:

• do not wash the seat backrest with water or pressurized steam in automatic car washes for seats;
• do not cover the front seat backrests with loose covers.

1. electronic control unit
2. driver’s Air Bag
3. passenger Air Bag
4. passenger side automatic disabling sensor (only up to June '99)
5. side impact sensors in the left door pillar
6. side impact sensors in the right door pillar
7. right Side Bag
8. left Side Bag
9. diagnostic socket for checking the system using the Examiner or other diagnostic equipment