Description

DESCRIPTION

The car has an electronically controlled safety system that, in a serious frontal crash, activates the air bags on the driver's and passenger's sides.

NOTE: if the car is only fitted with air bag on the driver's side, the system is mechanical; if there is also the air bag on the passenger's side, the electronic system described here is installed.

An electronic control unit manages the whole system, controlling all the components and activating the air bags when necessary.

The control unit is located under the car centre structurer and is rigidly fixed to the bodywork: in this way the deceleration sensors inside it are close to the barycentre and detect very accurately the decelerationsof the whole car.

The air bag module, driver's side is located in the centre of the steering wheel; it is installed on a tilting plate that enables the control of the horns. The plate is housed in a metal container that contains the folded cushion and the device that generates the gas to fill the cushion.

A "clock spring" device permits the air bag module cables to follow the turning of the steering wheel without danger of breaks.

The passenger's airbag is on the dashboard, above the glove compartment, and is fastened on the car cross member by a bracket.

The passenger side airbag can be deactivated by means of a specific switch with the vehicle key. The switch is located under the centre of the dashboard. When the switch is turned OFF, the ECU will light the specific "passenger airbag disable" warning light.

The control unit is provided with a diagnostics system:

• it finds and memorises any faults
• recognises the various components and type of fault
• indicates that these faults have occurred through the relevant warning light

Also the system activations after a serious crash are memorised by the control unit.

For further details see DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION: 5580C.

The system control unit power supply line is protected by a fuse of the junction unit.

Caution: when operating on the air bag system scrupulously follow the current safety standards. For further details see. PROCEDURES 5580C"