Pacifica V6-3.8L VIN L (2005)
Air Bag Deactivation Indicator: Description and Operation
Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator
Vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS) include a Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) indicator which is located in the
instrument panel switch pod, just to the right of the cluster, clock, navigation and EVIC buttons. The PAD indicator is present only in vehicles equipped
with the OCS. The PAD indicator is an amber Light Emitting Diode (LED) that is only serviced with the instrument panel switch pod.
In vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), the Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) indicator gives an indication when the
passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are disabled by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). The PAD indicator is controlled
by a transistor within the ORC through a hard wired output based upon ORC programming and electronic occupant classification messages received by
the ORC over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus from the Occupant Classification Module (OCM). The PAD indicator Light
Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the ORC. The LED receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output
(RUN/START) circuit. Therefore, the LED will always be OFF when the ignition switch is in any position except ON or START. The LED only
illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the ORC transistor. The ORC will turn on the PAD indicator for the following reasons:
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Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position the PAD indicator is illuminated for about six seconds.
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Child Seat Detected Occupant Classification Message - Each time the ORC receives a message from the OCM indicating a child seat has been
detected in the passenger front seat, the passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are deactivated and the PAD indicator will be
illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the ORC receives an occupant classification message indicating that:
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The passenger front seat is empty.
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The seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a fifth percentile female.
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OR, Until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever of these three occurs first.
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Load Less Than Fifth Percentile Female Occupant Classification Message
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Each time the ORC receives a message from the OCM indicating that a load less than a fifth percentile female has been detected in the
passenger front seat, the passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are deactivated and the PAD indicator will be
illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until:
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The ORC receives an occupant classification message indicating that the passenger front seat is empty.
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The seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a fifth percentile female.
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OR, until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever of these three occurs first.
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Load Undetermined Occupant Classification Message
Each time the ORC receives a message from the OCM indicating that a load cannot be determined in the passenger front seat, the passenger airbag
and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are deactivated and the PAD indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until:
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The ORC receives an occupant classification message indicating that the passenger front seat is empty.
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The seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a fifth percentile female.
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OR, until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever of these three occurs first.
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Communication Error - If the ORC receives invalid occupant classification messages or no messages from the OCM, the PAD indicator is
illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until:
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The ORC receives an occupant classification message indicating that the passenger front seat is empty.
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The seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a fifth percentile female.
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OR, until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever of these three occurs first. The ORC continually monitors the occupant
classification messages from the OCM to decide whether the passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits should be activated
or deactivated. Note that there may be several seconds of delay between changes in the detected occupant status and PAD indications. This is a
programmed feature of the OCM used to prevent a flashing indicator condition resulting from the normal shifting of occupant weight on the
passenger seat cushion. The ORC then provides the proper control output to turn the PAD indicator ON or OFF.