Electrical System

The air bag system is powered directly from the battery. The system can function with the ignition switch in any position, including OFF and LOCK. The system can also function when the driver or passenger seats are unoccupied. The electrical system performs three main functions:
1. Detects an impact
2. Carries electric power to the igniter(s)
3. Monitors the system to determine readiness

The electrical system components include:
^ Electronic Diagnostic monitor with integrated backup power supply.
^ Air bag system readiness indicator.
^ Wiring harness and contact clockspring assembly.
^ Sensors.
^ The igniter within the driver and passenger air bags.

SENSORS
Three sensors are mounted in the vehicle. Their locations are as follows:
1. A primary crash sensor at the RH front radiator support.
2. A primary crash sensor at the LH front radiator support.
3. A safing sensor at the LH kick panel in the passenger compartment.

The safing and one of the primary crash sensors must be activated simultaneously to inflate the air bag.

The air bag system is designed to operate in frontal or front-angled collisions. The air bag(s) should activate in a crash with severe frontal deceleration, more severe than hitting a parked car of similar size and weight head-on at about 45 km/h (28 mph).

Because the system senses the severity of the crash rather than vehicle speed, some frontal collisions at speeds above 28 mph may not be severe enough to require air bag inflation.

The sensors in the vehicle determine if air bag inflation is required in this manner:
1. During severe frontal deceleration caused by an impact that decelerates the vehicle in the forward direction, both a primary crash sensor and a safing sensor will activate.
2. When a primary and safing sensor are closed at the same time, electrical current will flow igniting the air bag(s).

The primary sensors measure the crash severity while the safing sensor confirms the crash and is used to prevent inadvertent deployments possibly caused by a malfunction in the primary crash sensor circuits or crash sensors.