Safing Sensor: Description and Operation

WARNING: VEHICLE SENSOR ORIENTATION IS CRITICAL FOR PROPER SYSTEM OPERATION. IF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE GRILLE AREA HAS BEEN DAMAGED, INSPECT THE SENSOR MOUNTING BRACKET FOR DEFORMATION. IF DAMAGED, THE SENSOR SHOULD BE REPLACED WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED. IN ADDITION, ENSURE THAT THE BODY STRUCTURE IN THE AREA OF THE SENSOR MOUNTING IS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION.

The center radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, the center console primary crash front air bag sensor, and the safing sensor make use of an internal metal ball, a magnet, and electrical contacts in order to function. Initially, the metal ball is held in place on one side of the sensor by a magnet. When a sensor is activated by sufficient vehicle impact, the ball will overcome the force of the magnet and travel to the opposite side of the sensor to complete an electrical contact. In order to deploy the driver side air bag module, the safing sensor must be activated along with either the center radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket or the center console primary crash front air bag sensor.





The center radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket is located on the radiator support.

The center console primary crash front air bag sensor and the safing sensor are combined into the center console primary crash/safing front air bag sensor and bracket.





The center console primary crash/safing front air bag sensor and bracket is located behind the storage bin.

The Supplemental Air Bag Restraint System (SRS) sensors must always be installed with their arrow marks facing the front of the vehicle for proper operation.