For deployment to occur, numerous factors must be taken into account. For instance, the crush area of the other vehicle (if involved in the crash), its mass and speed would all contribute to raising or lowering the force required for deployment to occur as designed. As a general rule, for front air bags and pre-tensioners, the angle of impact force will be within the 60 degree window for SRS deployment to occur (refer Fig. 12M-2), although the physical damage to the vehicle may appear that it was.
The sensors that control the front air bags and seat belt pre-tensioner deployment are incorporated in the Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM), located beneath the centre console.
There are two sensors (peripheral acceleration sensors) that control the deployment of the side air bags; one in the left hand B pillar, and the other in the right hand B pillar. If a peripheral acceleration sensor detects a crash situation, it will send a signal to the SDM requesting a side air bag be deployed. If the SDM is in agreement, deployment will occur.
Regular maintenance of SRS is not required. If at anytime the SRS warning lamp comes on while driving, or does not come on when the vehicle is started, there is a system fault and this must be rectified as soon as possible.
