bag System, which utilizes the driver/passenger air-
bags, two front impact sensors, and seat belt
tensioners located in the front seat belt buckles. This
system is designed to protect occupants in the event
of a front impact collision. These airbags are all ser-
viceable parts. The tensioners are integral to the
front seat belt buckles. If these pyrotechnics are
deployed or defective, they must be replaced.

Vehicles equipped with the Side Impact Airbag

System utilize a curtain airbag, three side impact
sensors, and the Occupant Restraint Controller
(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 occupant restraints 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.

ACTIVE RESTRAINTS

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-re-
lease 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 posi-
tion 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.

PASSIVE RESTRAINTS

The passive restraints available for this model

include the following:

• Dual Front Airbags - Multistage driver. front

passenger, and driver knee blocker airbags are avail-
able for this model. This airbag system is a passive,
inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and
vehicles with this equipment can be readily identified
by the “SRS - AIRBAG” logo molded into the driver
airbag trim cover in the center of the steering wheel
and also into the passenger airbag door on the
instrument panel above the glove box. Vehicles with
the airbag system can also be identified by the airbag
indicator, which will illuminate in the instrument
cluster for about seven seconds as a bulb test each
time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
A pyrotechnic-type seat belt tensioner is integral to
the driver and passenger front seat belt buckle of all
models equipped with dual front airbags.

•

Occupant Classification System - These

vehicles also include an Occupant Classification Sys-
tem (OCS) with components that are located on or in
the passenger front seat cushion. These components
include an Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
and a seat weight bladder and pressure sensor
assembly. In addition, this system includes a belt
tension sensor integral to the lower anchor of the
passenger side front seat belt. Vehicles equipped with
the OCS can be readily identified by a Passenger Air-
bag Disabled (PAD) indicator (Fig. 1) located in the
center stack on the instrument panel above HVAC
control head and radio.

• Curtain Airbags - Curtain airbags are avail-

able for this model when it is also equipped with
dual front airbags. This airbag system is a passive,
inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and

8O - 2

RESTRAINTS

vehicles with this equipment can be readily identified
by a molded identification trim button with the “SRS
- AIRBAG” logo (Fig. 2) located on the headliner
above each B-pillar.

This vehicle is equipped with a Frontal Impact Air-

bag System, which utilizes the driver/passenger air-
bags, driver knee blocker airbag, and seat belt
tensioners. This system is designed to protect occu-
pants 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 follow-
ing procedures outlined in the diagnostic information.

The Driver and Passenger Airbag System was

designed to reduce the likelihood of injury or death
in frontal collisions. Each separate system is supple-
mental (Fig. 2) or Passive to the primary restraint
device, which are the seat belts.

• Airbag Indicator - The airbag indicator is inte-

gral to the Instrument Cluster, which is located on
the instrument panel in front of the driver.

• Belt Tension Sensor - Vehicles equipped with

the Occupant Classification System (OCS) include a
belt tension sensor. This sensor is integral to the pas-
senger side front seat belt lower anchor which is
secured to the floor, out board and rear of the front
passenger seat. concealed beneath an access cover on
the seat belt assembly.

• Clockspring - The clockspring is located near

the top of the steering column, directly beneath the
steering wheel (Fig. 3).

• 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.

• Driver Airbag - The driver airbag is located in

the center of the steering wheel, beneath the driver
airbag trim cover (Fig. 3).

• Front Impact Sensor - Two front impact sen-

sors are used on vehicles equipped with dual front
airbags, one left side and one right side. The sensors
are located on the rail tips, rearward of the bumper
attachments.

• Knee Blocker Airbag - The driver knee blocker

airbag is secured to the instrument panel behind the
steering column opening cover (Fig. 3).

• Occupant Classification Module - Vehicles

equipped with the Occupant Classification System
(OCS) include an Occupant Classification Module
(OCM) which is secured to a stamped steel mounting
bracket on the underside of the passenger side front
seat cushion frame. The OCM can be replaced sepa-
rately from the seat weight bladder and sensor
assembly. IF the seat weight bladder and sensor
assembly are replaced, the module will be replaced
as well in the service kit. There are tamper resistant
connectors on the service kit to insure correct ser-
viceability.

• Occupant Restraint Controller - The Occu-

pant Restraint Controller (ORC) is also sometimes
referred to as the Airbag Control Module (ACM). The
ORC is located on a mount on the floor transmission
tunnel just underneath the instrument panel center
stack (Fig. 3).

Fig. 1 PAD INDICATOR

Fig. 2 SRS LOGO

Fig. 3 AIRBAG COMPONENT LOCATION -

INSTRUMENT PANEL

1 - DRIVER AIRBAG
2 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED (PAD) INDICATOR
3 - PASSENGER AIRBAG
4 - OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER (ORC)
5 - KNEE BLOCKER AIRBAG

RESTRAINTS

8O - 3

RESTRAINTS (Continued)

• Passenger Airbag - The passenger airbag is

located on the instrument panel, beneath the instru-
ment panel top pad and above the glove box on the
passenger side of the vehicle (Fig. 3).

• 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 center stack (Fig. 3).

• Passenger Knee Blocker - The passenger knee

blocker is a structural reinforcement that is integral
to and concealed within the glove box door (Fig. 3).

• Seat Belt Tensioner - A seat belt tensioner is

integral to both front seat belt buckles. The seat belt
buckles are secured to the inner seat frame sides,
beneath a cushion trim panel.

• Seat Weight Bladder and Pressure Sensor

Assembly - Vehicles equipped with the Occupant
Classification System (OCS) include a seat weight
bladder that is sandwiched between an insulator pad
on the top of the passenger side front seat pan and
the seat cushion foam padding. A short hose connects
the bladder to a pressure sensor which is secured to
the Occupant Classification Module (OCM) mounting
bracket on the underside of the passenger side front
seat cushion frame. The seat weight bladder and
pressure sensor can only be replaced as an assembly.
This service kit includes the module. There are
tamper resistant connectors on the service kit to
insure correct serviceability.

• Side Impact Sensors - Six side impact sensors

are used on vehicles equipped with the curtain air-
bags, 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 sliding side door
track opening, just in front of the C-pillar. 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.

The ORC, the OCM, and the cluster each contain a

microprocessor and programming that allow them to
communicate with each other using the Programma-
ble Communications Interface (PCI) data bus net-
work. This method of communication is used by the
ORC for control of the airbag indicators.

OPERATION

ACTIVE RESTRAINTS

The primary passenger restraints in this or any

other vehicle 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 prop-
erly adjust these restraints in order to benefit from

them. See the owner’s manual in the vehicle glove
box for more information on the features, use and
operation of all of the active restraints.

PASSIVE RESTRAINTS

The passive restraints are referred to as a supple-

mental restraint system because they were designed
and are intended to enhance the protection for the
occupants of the vehicle ONLY when used in con-
junction with the seat belts. They are referred to as
passive restraints because the vehicle occupants are
not required to do anything to make them operate;
however, the vehicle occupants must be wearing their
seat belts in order to obtain the maximum safety
benefit from the supplemental restraint system.

The supplemental restraint system electrical cir-

cuits are continuously monitored and controlled by a
microprocessor and software contained within the
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). An airbag indi-
cator in the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster
(EMIC) illuminates for about seven seconds as a bulb
test each time the ignition switch is turned to the
ON or START positions. Following the bulb test, the
airbag indicator is turned ON or OFF by the ORC to
indicate the status of the supplemental restraint sys-
tem. If the airbag indicator comes ON at any time
other than during the bulb test, it indicates that
there is a problem in the supplemental restraint sys-
tem electrical circuits. Such a problem may cause air-
bags not to deploy when required, or to deploy when
not required.

Deployment

the

supplemental

restraints

depends upon the angle and severity of an impact.
Deployment is not based upon vehicle speed; rather,
deployment is based upon the rate of deceleration as
measured by the forces of gravity (G force) upon the
impact sensors. When an impact is severe enough,
the microprocessor in the ORC signals the inflator of
the appropriate airbag units to deploy their airbag
cushions. The front seat belt tensioners are provided
with a deployment signal by the ORC in conjunction
with the front airbags. During a frontal vehicle
impact, the knee blockers work in concert with prop-
erly fastened and adjusted seat belts to restrain both
the driver and the front seat passenger in the proper
position for an airbag deployment. The knee blockers
also absorb and distribute the crash energy from the
driver and the front seat passenger to the structure
of the instrument panel (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
RESTRAINTS/KNEE

BLOCKER

AIRBAG

DESCRIPTION). The seat belt tensioners remove the
slack from the front seat belts to provide further
assurance that the driver and front seat passenger
are properly positioned and restrained for an airbag
deployment.

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RESTRAINTS

RESTRAINTS (Continued)

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