Driver's airbag
The airbag system is designed to provide additional protection to the driver in the event of a severe frontal impact. It provides effective protection to the driver only when the seat belts are used at the same time. The airbag is only activated in the event of a severe impact where the seat belts alone are not sufficient to hold the person's body. The role of the airbag is to fill the space between the driver and the steering wheel to reduce the forward movement of the body and thus minimize the risk of head and chest injury.
In the event of a frontal collision, the electronic impact sensor of the airbag and pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners registers a more or less strong deceleration of the vehicle. If the collision reaches the threshold of the pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners, the sensor sends a signal to the retractor of the front belts. In the case of a stronger impact, a second signal is sent to the airbag model located in the hub of the steering wheel. The airbag is immediately ejected and inflated. After a few fractions of a second, the airbag, inflating, fills the space between the driver and the steering wheel, thereby preventing the dangerous forward movement of the driver's head and chest. Immediately after the impact, the gas contained in the airbag is released to the outside through openings in the rear part of the shell. This is intended to not interfere with visibility from the driver's seat and to ensure the ability to quickly leave the car.
Passenger airbag
The passenger airbag inflates simultaneously with the driver's airbag and operates in a similar manner.
Warning: Gas escaping from the cushion may cause minor irritation.
The airbag system is triggered during a frontal impact depending on the deceleration of the vehicle. The latter is entirely determined by the nature of the impact (collision speed, type of obstacle).
The airbag system will not deploy in side or rear impacts, or in mild to moderate frontal impacts where the seat belts are sufficient to provide optimum protection.
To ensure the most effective protection from an airbag, it is essential to use seat belts. In the event of a collision, if the seat belt is not worn, the driver or passenger will begin to move forward from the very beginning of the impact, which does not leave room for the airbag to deploy and completely fill the space intended for it.
It is prohibited to install a steering wheel from other models. Any other steering wheel is incompatible with the rest of the safety system, which may cause the system to operate untimely or not operate at all.
Do not puncture or subject the steering wheel hub containing the airbag to strong impacts. Do not remove the steering wheel.
The airbag system can only be used once. After an accident, check the airbag and seat belt systems. After the airbags have deployed, the following must be replaced:
- steering wheel with a built-in hub cushion;
- passenger airbag;
- electronic airbag control unit;
- seat belt tensioners.
Finally, check the serviceability of the entire system at a service station.
For safety reasons, check the airbag system if your vehicle has been stolen or there has been an attempted theft.
Checking the serviceability of airbags
The airbag is monitored by a signaling device located on the instrument panel. It lights up when the ignition is turned on and should go out after 6 seconds.
There may be a malfunction of the airbag if the indicator does not light when the ignition is turned on, does not go out within 6 seconds after the ignition is turned on, and flashes for 5 minutes and then remains on. In these cases, check the airbag system.
All airbag components are designed to operate for 10 years from the date of vehicle production. At the end of this period, they must be replaced.
If the vehicle is equipped with a passenger airbag, do not place a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat or place your feet or any objects on the front console.