Acura TSX 2011 Service Manual

Airbags
Side Airbags
40Safe Driving
Side AirbagsThe side airbags help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front passenger
during a moderate to severe side impact.
Housing Locations
The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver's and passenger's
seat-backs.
Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.
Housing
Location
Side Airbags
Do not attach accessories on or near the side
airbags. They can interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags, or hurt someone if an
airbag inflates.
If the impact is on the passenger side, the airbag
deploys even if there is no passenger in the
passenger’s seat.
Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers
without consulting a dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back
covers can prevent your side airbags from properly
deploying during a side impact.
Operation
Side
AirbagWhen
inflated
When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals
the side airbag on the impact side to
immediately inflate.

Airbags
Side Airbags
41
Continued
Safe Driving
When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side
of the vehicle's framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough
impact to deploy the airbag. When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage
appears severe
It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was towards
the far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle's crushable body parts
absorbed most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have
been needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

Airbags
Side Airbags
42Safe Driving
Side Airbag Cutoff System
To reduce the likelihood that a front passenger may be injured by an inflating side
airbag, the passenger side airbag is automatically turned off when:
The height sensors detect a child or short-statured adult is seated in the front t
passenger seat.
The position sensor detects that the front passenger is leaning into the t
deployment path of the side airbag.
When the side airbag cutoff system is activated, the side airbag off indicator
comes on.
Side Airbag Off Indicator

P. 4 6
Side Airbag Off Indicator
If the side airbag off indicator comes on, have the passenger sit upright. A few
seconds after the passenger is sitting properly, the side airbag will automatically be
turned on, and the indicator will go off.

If the front passenger is a child, stop when it is safe to do so, and have the child sit
properly restrained in a rear seat.
Side Airbag Cutoff System
The sensors that monitor the front passenger's
height and body position may not work if:
The seat-back is wet tThe passenger is touching a metal or other telectrical conductive object
A seat cushion is on the seat tThe passenger is wearing excessively thick tclothing
Sensors that
monitor the
passenger’s height.
Sensors that monitor
the passenger’s position.

Airbags
Side Curtain Airbags
43Safe Driving
Side Curtain AirbagsThe side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in
outer seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact.
Housing Locations
The side curtain airbags are located in the
ceiling above the side windows on both sides
of the vehicle.
Side Curtain Airbags
The side curtain airbags are most effective when
an occupant is wearing their seat belt properly and
sitting upright, well back in their seat.
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or
roof pillars as they can interfere with the proper
operation of the side curtain airbags.
Operation
The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy
in a moderate-to-severe side impact.
When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision
One or both side curtain airbags may inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled
frontal collision.
In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the front airbags. Side Curtain Airbag StorageDeployed Side Curtain Airbag

Airbags
Airbag System Indicators
44Safe Driving
Airbag System IndicatorsIf a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a
message appears on the multi-information display.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
When the ignition switch is turned to
ON
II
The indicator comes on briefly then goes off.
This tells you the system is working properly.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator
WARNING
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.
If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the
system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don't, your airbags and seat
belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.

Airbags
Airbag System Indicators
45
Continued
Safe Driving
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
When the passenger airbag off
indicator comes on
The indicator comes on to alert you that the
passenger's front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the weight sensors detect
65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the weight of an infant
or small child, on the seat.
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
If the indicator comes on with no front passenger
and no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an
adult riding there, something may be interfering
with the weight sensors. Such as:
An object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back tpocket.
A child seat or other object pressing against the trear of the seat-back.
A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back tof the front passenger's seat.
The front seat or seat-back is forced back against tan object on the seat or floor behind it.
An object placed under the front passenger's tseat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The passenger airbag off indicator may come on
and goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the
seat is near the airbag cutoff threshold.
Infants and small children should always ride properly restrained in a back seat.
Child Safety

P. 4 8
Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.

If the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger's front airbag will not deploy
and the indicator will not come on.
U.S. Canada

Airbags
Airbag System Indicators
46Safe Driving
Side Airbag Off Indicator
When the side airbag off indicator
comes on
This indicator comes on if the passenger's
side airbag has been turned off because the
passenger is too small to be sitting in the
front seat, is slouching or not sitting upright,
or has leaned into the airbag's deployment
path.

Unless the passenger is a smaller statured
adult or a child, the indicator should go off
when the passenger returns to a proper
upright sitting position.
Side Airbag Off Indicator
When you turn the ignition switch to ON
II , the
indicator should come on briefly and then go out. If
it doesn't come on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the front seat, have
the system checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
U.S.Canada

Airbags
Airbag Care
47Safe Driving
Airbag CareYou do not need to perform any maintenance to your airbag system. However,
you should have your vehicle inspected by a dealer in the following situations:
When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be
replaced. When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the
driver’s seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash. Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable the driver’s seat position sensor or the weight sensors
in the passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat to
accommodate a person with disabilities, contact an Acura dealer. For U.S. vehicles
you can also contact Acura Client Service at 800-382-2238. For Canadian vehicles
you can also contact Canadian Acura Client Service at 888-9-ACURA-9.

Child Safety
48Safe Driving
An inflating front or side airbag can injure t
or kill a child sitting in the front seat.
A child in the front seat is more likely to t
interfere with the driver's ability to safely
control the vehicle.
Statistics show that children of all sizes t
and ages are safer when they are properly
restrained in a rear seat.
Protecting Child Passengers
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend
that all children age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a rear seat. Some states or provinces/
territories have laws restricting where children may
ride.
WARNING
Children who are unrestrained or
improperly restrained can be seriously
injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should
be properly restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly restrained
with a seat belt, using a booster seat if
necessary.
Protecting Child PassengersEach year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are
either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the
number one cause of death of children age 12 and under.
To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province
and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they
ride in a vehicle.
Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:

Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers
49Safe Driving
Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger's front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels.
Safety Labels


P. 61
Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an t
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap
belt portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the t
event of a collision.
Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would t
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very t
seriously injured in a crash.
Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments. t
Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather t
when the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also
activate vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.
WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can
result in serious injury or death.

Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused
seat belt a child can reach is buckled, fully
retracted, and locked.