sensor Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Manual

Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts
27
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Safe Driving
Your vehicle monitors front seat belt use. If
the ignition switch is turned to ON
II
before
the driver's seat belt is fastened, a beeper will
sound and the indicator will blink. If the
driver does not fasten the belt before the
beeper stops, the indicator will remain on.
The beeper will also periodically sound and
the indicator will blink while driving until the
driver's and front passenger’s seat belts are
fastened.
Seat Belt Reminder
Seat Belt Reminder
The indicator will also come on if a front passenger
does not fasten their seat belt within 6 seconds
after the ignition switch is turned to ON
II.
When no one is sitting in the front passenger's seat,
or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator
will not come on.
This is because the weight sensors in the seat
cannot detect their presence.
Proper use of seat belts
Follow these guidelines for proper use:
All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that t
position for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduces the
effectiveness of the belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or t
behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.
Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very t
seriously injured in a crash.
Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve t
comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective
capability and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
About Your Seat Belts
If a rear seat passenger moves around and extends
the seat belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If
this happens, release the retractor by unfastening
the seat belt and allow the belt to retract
completely. Then refasten the belt.

34Safe Driving
Airbags
Airbag System Components
The front, front side, and side curtain
airbags are deployed according to the
direction and severity of impact. The airbag
system includes:
Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) front airbags. The driver's airbag
is stored in the center of the steering
wheel; the front passenger's airbag
is stored in the dashboard. Both are
marked "SRS AIRBAG". Two side airbags, one for the driver and
one for a front passenger. The airbags
are stored in the outer edges of the
seat-backs. Both are marked "SIDE
AIRBAG." Two side curtain airbags, one for each
side of the vehicle. The airbags are
stored in the ceiling, above the side
windows. The front and rear pillars are
marked "SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG."
An electronic control unit that
continually monitors and records
information about the sensors, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in ON
II
.
Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The
driver's and front passenger's seat belts
incorporate sensors that detect whether
or not they are fastened. A driver's seat position sensor. If the seat
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force. Weight sensors in the front passenger's
seat. The front passenger's airbag will
be turned off if the weight on the seat
is 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child).
Impact sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front or side
collision. An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the front passenger's
front airbag has been turned off. Sensors that can detect if a child or small
statured adult is in the deployment path
of the front passenger's side airbag. An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you to a possible problem
with your airbag system or seat belt
tensioners. An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you that the front passenger's
side airbag has been turned off. Safing Sensor

Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
37
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Safe Driving
Operation
Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the
control unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when
a vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.
How the Front Airbags Work
While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.
The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won't interfere with the driver's visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
How the Front Airbags Work
After a front airbag inflates in a crash, you may
see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder
from the airbag's surface. Although the powder
is not harmful, people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary discomfort. If this
occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.
Although the driver's and front passenger's airbags
normally inflate within a 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
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.
The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

38Safe Driving
Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
When front airbags should not deploy
Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts
and help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might
occur during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or front passenger to move towards the front of the vehicle. Side
airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which
can cause the driver or passenger to move towards the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a
rear impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not
designed to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: Seat belts, and in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side airbags,
and side curtain airbags offer the best protection in a rollover. Because front
airbags could provide little if any protection, they are not designed to deploy
during a rollover. When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to
deploy. Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low
fixed object that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the
impact is underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent. When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the
airbags would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even
if they had deployed.

39Safe Driving
Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
Advanced Airbags
Your front airbags have advanced features to reduce the likelihood of
airbag related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver's advanced front airbag system
includes a seat position sensor.
If the seat is too far forward, the airbag
inflates with less force, regardless of the
severity of the impact.
The passenger's advanced front airbag
system includes weight sensors.
Although Acura recommends against carrying
an infant or small child in front, if the sensors
detect the weight of a child (up to about 65
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically
turn off the passenger's front airbag.
Advanced Airbags
If there is a problem with the driver's seat position
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and the
airbag will inflate with full (normal) force, regardless
of the driver's seating position.

For both advanced front airbags to work properly:
Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats. tDo not put any object under the passenger’s seat. tMake sure any objects are positioned properly on tthe rear floor. Improperly positioned objects can
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.
All occupants should sit upright and wear their tseat belts properly.
Passenger’s
Seat
Weight
Sensors
Driver’s
Seat
Position
Sensor

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
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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
Airbag System Indicators
45
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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 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.