Acura RDX 2007 Owner's Guide

During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the front airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Al though both airbags normally
inflate within split second of each
other, it is possible for only one
airbag to deploy. This
can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airb ags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal.
After inflating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won’t
interfere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
Only
the driver’s airbag will deploy if
there is no passenger in the front
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ). 29
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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Your f ront airbags are also dual-
threshold airbags. Airbags with this
f eature have two deployment
thresholds that depend on whether
sensors detect the occupant is
wearing a seat belt or not.
If the occupant’s belt is,
the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.
If the occupant’s belt , the
airbag will inf late at a slightly higher
threshold, when the airbag would be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.
Your f ront airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inf lation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.
In a
crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.
In a crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inf lation time
with a little less force.
The total time for inflation and
def lation is one-tenth of a second, so
f ast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Dual-T hreshold A irbags
not lat chedis latched
Dual-Stage A irbags
more severeless severe
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Your f ront airbags are also advanced
airbags. The main purpose of this
feature is to help prevent airbag-
caused injuries to short drivers and
children who ride in f ront.The driver’s advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too f ar f orward, the airbag will
inf late with less f orce, regardless of
the severity of the impact.
If there is a problem with the sensor,
the SRS Indicator will come on, and
the airbag will inf late in the normal
manner regardless of the driver’s
seating position.
For both advanced airbags to work
properly:
Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any cargo or metal objects
under the f ront seats. Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly.
Back-seat passengers should not
put their f eet under the f ront seats.
Failure to f ollow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them f rom working properly.
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Advanced Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
29
DRIVER’S
SEAT
POSITION
SENSOR
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Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger’s seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned off.
Wh en the airbag is turned off, a
‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page ).
If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the f ront seat, the
airbag will be off. However, the
passenger airbag of f indicator will
not come on. To ensure that the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,
This includes:
A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the f ront
passenger’s seat.
Moving the f ront seat f orcibly
back against cargo on the seat or
f loor behind it.
Hanging heavy items on the f ront
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.
Moving the front seat or seat-back
f orcibly back against the f olded
rear seat.
The passenger’s advanced f ront
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an inf ant or
small child in f ront, if the sensors
detect the weight of an inf ant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger’s front airbag off. 34
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
do not do anyt hing
t hat would increase or decrease t he weight on the f ront passenger’s seat.
30
PASSENGER’S
SEAT WEIGHT
SENSORS
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Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.Your vehicle has a side airbag cutof f
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the f ront passenger’s
seat.
Thesideairbagmayalsoshutoff if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag’s
deployment path.
Objects placed on the f ront
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off. Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in f ront, if the
sensors in the seat detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag’s
deployment path, the airbag will shut
of f .
If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, sensors will
detect rapid acceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner.
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How Your Side A irbags WorkSide A irbag Cut of f Syst em
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
31
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To get the best protection from the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
If
the impact is on the passenger’s
side, the passenger’s side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.
If the rollover sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over, it signals
the control unit, which immediately
deploys both side curtain airbags and
ac tivates both front seat belt
tensioners.
The airbag on the passenger’s side
will deploy, and the seat belt
te nsioner will activate, even if there
are no passengers on that side of the
vehicle.
In
a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the driver’s or the
passenger’s side of the vehicle.
If the side airbag of f indicator comes
on (see page ), have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the airbag’s
deployment path, the system will
turn the airbag back on, and the
indicator will go out.
There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
pathandwhentheindicatorcomes
on or goes of f .
A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
33
In a Rollover
In a Side Impact
How Your Side Curtain A irbags
Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
32
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG
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The SRS indicator alerts
you to a poten tial problem
with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners.
If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive. If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If
the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
If
the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example: This
indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.
Wh en you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on for several seconds
andthengooff(seepage ).Ifit
doesn’t come on, stays on, or comes
on while driving without a passenger
in the front seat, have the system
checked.
You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER
SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the
multi-info rmation display (see page
).
Wh
en you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on for several seconds then
goes off. This tells you the system is
working properly. You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-info rmation display (see page
).
If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.
67
85
85
On RDX with Technology Package
model
On RDX with Technology Package
model
How the Side Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
How the SRS Indicator Works
not
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
33
U.S. Canada
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
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This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s f ront airbag has been
shut of f because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an inf ant or small
child) on the f ront passenger’s seat.
It does there is a problem
with the airbag.Be aware that objects placed on the
f ront seat can cause the indicator to
come on.
If no weight is detected on the f ront
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut of f . However, the indicator will
not come on.
The passenger airbag of f indicator
maycomeonandoff repeatedlyif
the total weight on the seat is near
the airbag cutof f threshold.
If the indicator comes on with no
f ront seat passenger and no objects
on the seat, or with an adult riding
there, something may be interf ering
with the weight sensors. Look f or
and remove:
Any items under the f ront
passenger’s seat.
Any objects hanging on the seat or
in the seat-back pocket.
If no obstructions are f ound, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible.
If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in f ront, move the seat as f ar
to the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly. Any object, such as a f olded-down
back seat, that is touching the rear
of the seat-back.
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not mean
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
34
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR
CanadaU.S.
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Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.
Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:
Even if your
airbags do not inflate, your dealer
should inspect the driver’s seat
position sensor, the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors, the
f ront seat belt tensioners, and all
seat belts worn during the crash to
make sure they are operating
properly.
T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o a
problem.
An airbag ever inf lates. If your vehicle has a moderat e t o
severe impact .Airbag Service
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
If water or
another liquid soaks into a seat-
back, it can prevent the side airbag
cutof f system f rom working
properly. Improperly replacing
or covering f ront seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags f rom
inf lating during a side impact. This could make the
driver’s seat position sensor or the
f ront passenger’s weight sensors
inef f ective. If it is necessary to
remove or modif y a f ront seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, f irst contact Acura
Client Services at 800-382-2238.
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason.
Do not expose the f ront passenger’sseat-back to liquid. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ingyour dealer. Do not remove or modif y a f ront
seat without consulting yourdealer.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
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