belt ACURA RL 2012 Owner's Manual

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbag system
components (see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ).
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
f ront airbag has been turned of f
(see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.During a f rontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Although both airbags normally
inf late within a split second of each
other, it is possible f or 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
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal.
Only the driver’s airbag will deploy if
there is no passenger in the f ront
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ). If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will inf late
the driver’s and f ront passenger’s
airbags, at the time and with the
f orce needed. If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. 34
35
35
30
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How Your Front Airbags Work
28
11/07/20 18:03:00 31SJA670_033
ProCarManuals.com

CONT INUED
Af ter inf lating, the f ront airbags will
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
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.Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, multiple-threshold f ront
airbags (SRS). During a f rontal crash
severe enough to cause one or both
f ront airbags to deploy, the airbags
can inf late at dif f erent rates,
depending on the severity of the
crash, whether or not the seat belts
are latched, and/or other factors.
Front airbags are designed to
supplement the seat belts to help
reduce the likelihood of head and
chest injuries in f rontal crashes.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Dual-Stage, Multiple-T hreshold
Front A irbags (SRS)
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
29
11/07/20 18:03:07 31SJA670_034
ProCarManuals.com

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 or small-statured adults who
ride in f ront.
For both advanced airbags to work
properly:
Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly.
Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any objects or metal items
under the f ront seats.The driver’s advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too far forward, 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. Failure to f ollow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them f rom working properly.
Objects placed or pushed under
the f ront passenger’s seat may
cause the sensor to malf unction,
increasing the risk of injury in a
crash.
Advanced Airbags
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
30
DRIVER’S SEAT POSITION SENSOR
11/07/20 18:03:15 31SJA670_035
ProCarManuals.com

Also,makesurethefloormatbehind
the f ront passenger’s seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor (see page
). If it is not, the mat may
interf ere with the proper operation
of the sensors and operation of the
seat.
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.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. 477
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How Your Side A irbags Work
32
11/07/20 18:03:29 31SJA670_037
ProCarManuals.com

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.
To get the best protection f rom the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.The SRS indicator alerts you to a
potential problem with your airbag
system components.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on brief ly then goes of f . This
tells you the system is working
properly.
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:
If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If the indicator comes on or
f lashes on and of f while you drive.You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
If you see any of these indications,
the airbag system components may
not work properly when you need
them.63
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the SRS Indicator
Works
34
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.
11/07/20 18:03:48 31SJA670_039
ProCarManuals.com

CONT INUED
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.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on brief ly and then go
out (see page ). If it does not
come on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
f ront seat, you will also see a
‘‘PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. Have the system checked
(see page ).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.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. Be aware that objects placed on the
frontseatcancausetheindicatorto
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.
6363
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Side
Airbag Of f
Indicator WorksHow the Passenger Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not
not mean
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
35
U.S. Canada
U.S.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATORCanada
11/07/20 18:03:58 31SJA670_040
ProCarManuals.com

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 object hanging on the seat or
in the seat-back pocket.
Any object(s) touching the rear of
the seat-back.
If no obstructions are f ound, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible.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:
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.Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
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 and their anchors worn
during a crash to make sure they
are operating properly. We recommend against the use of
salvaged airbag system
components, including the airbag,
tensioners, sensors, and control
unit.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Airbag Service
An airbag ever inf lates.T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o a
problem.
If your vehicle has a moderat e t o
severe impact .
36
11/07/20 18:04:07 31SJA670_041
ProCarManuals.com

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 the seat-
back, it can prevent the side airbag
cutof f system f rom working
properly.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 Relations. In the US, call
800-382-2238, and in Canada, call
888-9-ACURA-9.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbag
component s or wiring f or any
reason.
Do not expose t he f ront passenger’s
seat -back t o liquid.Do not remove or modif y a f ront
seat wit hout consult ing your
dealer.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
37
11/07/20 18:04:12 31SJA670_042
ProCarManuals.com

µ
µµ
If you have children, or ever need to
drive with a child in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section. It begins
with important general guidelines,
then presents special inf ormation f or
infants, small children, and larger
children.Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In f act, traf f ic
collisions 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 inf ants and children be
properlyrestrainedwhentheyridein
a vehicle.
(see pages ).(see pages ). Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many adults do not know
how to protect child
passengers.
55 52
51 43
properly
Protecting Children General Guidelines
All Children Must Be Restrained
Inf ant s and small children must be
rest rained in an approved child seat
t hat is properly secured t o t he
vehicleLarger children must be restrained
wit h a lap/shoulder belt and ride on
a boost er seat unt il t he seat belt f it s
t hem properly
38
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 and
use a booster seat if necessary.
11/07/20 18:04:21 31SJA670_043
ProCarManuals.com

µ
Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision. To do this,
the passenger’s f ront airbag is quite
large, and it can inflate with enough
f orce to cause very serious injuries.If the vehicle seat is
too far forward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough f orce to kill or
very seriously injure a small child. According to crash statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
saf er when they are restrained in a
back seat.
Children who ride in back are less
likely to be injured by striking
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating front airbag when they ride
in the back. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Some
states have laws restricting where
children may ride.Even though your vehicle has an
advanced front airbag system that
automatically turns the passenger’s
f ront airbag of f under certain
circumstances (see page ), please
f ollow these guidelines:
Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page f or important
inf ormation about protecting larger
children). If
the airbag inf lates, it can hit the back
of the child seat with enough force
to kill or very seriously injure an
inf ant.52 35
CONT INUED
Protecting Children General Guidelines
The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Can Pose Serious Risks All Children Should Sit in a Back
SeatSmall Children
Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
t he f ront seat of a vehicle equipped
wit h a passenger’s f ront airbag can
be hazardous.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seat s are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inf lat ing passenger’s
front airbag.
Never put a rear-f acing child seat in
t he f ront seat of a vehicle equipped
wit h a passenger’s f ront airbag. Inf ant s
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
39
11/07/20 18:04:31 31SJA670_044
ProCarManuals.com