Restraints - 'Passenger Air Bag OFF' Lamp Operation
Model: Passenger Cars (PA)Group: Restraints(81)
Number: KT2008022001
Date: Wednesday February 20, 2008
Area: N. America
Subject:
"Passenger Air Bag Off" Indicator Light Operation (General - 020)
Description
This TSB provides an overview of the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light operation, part of the Occupant Classification System (OCS) in Kia vehicles. This TSB also reviews the procedure to follow in case of a customer complaint regarding the operation of the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light.
The Occupant Classification System was developed to suppress the deployment of the passenger air bag when it detects the presence of a small occupant in the front passenger seat (i.e., a very small adult, a child, or an infant including one who is occupying a child restraint seat). The purpose of this suppression is to protect such an occupant from the risk of serious airbag induced injuries. If the sensor in the front passenger seat identifies a smaller occupant, the system automatically turns the front passenger air bag OFF. This condition is indicated by the illumination of the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light.
Additionally, there are a variety of sitting positions that can also cause the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light to illuminate. These positions all relate to the passenger seat occupant moving off center in the seat, or tilting so that the OCS sensors no longer detect the occupant's full weight distribution. Examples of seating positions which can cause the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light to illuminate include:
^ Sitting on either side edge of the seat.
^ Sitting too far forward on the seat.
^ Reclining in the seat so far that the occupant's weight is transferred to the seat back.
^ Leaning heavily against the passenger door.
^ Propping an elbow on the arm rest.
^ Sitting cross-legged.
^ Rotating in the seat so that some leg weight is supported by the seat sides, not the cushion.
^ Pulling feet back and knees up so that the occupant's thighs come off the seat.
Not withstanding the use of the suppression system discussed in this TSB, you should encourage your customers to have children 12-years old and younger seated in the backseat, using age-appropriate and size-appropriate child seats, boosters, and seatbelts, as needed. Additional information on child passenger safety and seating positions is available to the public at www.safercar.gov.
IMPORTANT:
People have a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but the OCS sensors have a single set of design parameters. Thus, the sensors can be more or less accurate in identifying an occupant's size depending on any occupant's specific physical characteristics. It will take varying levels of effort on the part of the occupant to maintain a seating position that allows the OCS to properly detect the occupant.
The OCS also prevents the passenger air bag from deploying when the front passenger seat is unoccupied. This feature helps to lower repair costs if the vehicle is damaged with the front passenger seat unoccupied. In such a case, the passenger's front air bag will not require replacement. This feature also contributes to holding down the cost of insurance premiums. The system automatically turns the front passenger air bag OFF. This condition is indicated by illuminating the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light when the passenger seat is unoccupied.
Remember that whenever the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light is illuminated, the front passenger air bag will NOT deploy.
Here's how the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light operates:
With Adult Size Occupants
^ When the ignition key is turned to the ON position, or after the engine is started, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light will illuminate for about 4 to 6 seconds during the system initialization.
^ After the completion of system initialization, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light will turn OFF.
^ So long as the front passenger seat is occupied by a sufficiently large and properly seated person, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light will stay OFF.
With Smaller Occupants (i.e., a smaller adult, a child or infant, including one in a child restraint seat):
^ When the ignition key is turned to the ON position, or after the engine is started, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light will illuminate for about 4 to 6 seconds during the system initialization.
^ After system initialization, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light will turn OFF for 2 to 3 seconds while the system calculates the sensor readings. The indicator light will then illuminate after the OCS determines that the occupant is not sufficiently large.
^ Remember that the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light will also illuminate if the front passenger seat is unoccupied or if someone of sufficient size is not sitting properly in the seat.
Here's what to check for if the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light does not operate as explained above:
1) Check to see if the Airbag Warning Light on the instrument panel is illuminated. If it is, check & record the DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) identified by using the GDS diagnostic tool. If a DTC is identified, there is a malfunction of the OCS. The "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator will not illuminate and the passenger front airbag could inflate in a frontal crash even if a smaller occupant is in the front passenger's seat. Diagnose and repair the OCS according to the service manual.
If the airbag warning light on the instrument panel is not illuminated, and no DTC code is identified, proceed to Step 2.
2) Verify that the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light is illuminated with the passenger seat not occupied. This is the proper functioning mode. If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light is not illuminated when the seat is empty, check & record the OCS status using the GDS scan tool. If the GDS scan tool indicates the OCS is operating properly, then go to Step 3.
3) Have the person who is not getting a proper reading on the OCS system occupy the front passenger seat and request that they seat themselves properly. This means:
^ Ensure that the vehicle is on a level surface
^ Ensure that the seat back is in a proper upright position.
^ The occupant must be sitting in an upright position, and centered on the seat cushion.
^ The occupant's legs should be extended comfortably forward with the bottom of their legs (thighs) making contact with the lower seat cushion.
Turn the ignition key OFF, and then turn the key back ON after several seconds. Monitor to see if the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light operates properly for about 30 seconds after the ignition key is ON. If the presence of a presence of a sufficiently large occupant in the passenger seat fails to turn off the indicator light, carefully recheck their seating position and then try the ignition ON sequence again. Record the result on the RO. If the improper operation of the Occupant Classification System (OCS) indicator was due to the occupant taking an improper seating position, take the following steps:
1. Train any sufficiently large occupant on how to seat themselves properly in accordance with the Kia owner's manual.
2. Encourage the passenger to adjust their position on the seat to ensure maximum loading on the cushion bottom which is where the sensors are located if they see the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light illuminated. In particular, make sure they are not mistakenly shifting part of their body load to any of the seat edges or the door. However, ensure that they understand that the OCS cannot reset itself, and that the light will not stop its illumination, until the OCS is reset.
3. One of the following sequences will reset the Occupant Classification System (OCS).
^ Turn the ignition key OFF for several seconds, and then turn the key back ON, -or-
^ Empty the passenger seat for at least 3 seconds.
^ If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light does not operate properly, go to Step 4.
4) Have someone with a good history for getting a proper reading in another vehicle of the same model get in the repair vehicle to ensure that the OCS works properly. Then, estimate & record the weight & height of the occupant that is experiencing the concern, and contact Techline for further case handling and disposition.