belt Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Guide

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 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 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.

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
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Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in either of the two outer rear
seats. A child seat is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible
type of connectors.
1. Locate the lower anchors under the marks.
2. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat
then attach the child seat to the lower
anchors according to the instructions that
came with the child seat.

When installing the child seat, make
sure that the lower anchors are not
obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.
Marks
Lower Anchors
Rigid Type

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
54Safe Driving
3. Open the tether anchor cover behind the
head restraint.
4. Release the head restraint, then route the
tether strap between the head restraint
legs, and secure the tether strap hook
onto the anchor.
5. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by
the child seat maker.
6. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured
by rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
7. Make sure any unused seat belt that a
child can reach is buckled, the lockable
retractor is activated, and the belt is fully
retracted and locked.
Enhancing Child Safety

P. 5 3
Installing a LATCH-compatible Child Seat
For your child's safety, when using a child seat
installed using the L ATCH system, make sure that
the seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child
seat that is not properly secured will not adequately
protect a child in a crash and may cause injury to
the child or other vehicle occupants.
Flexible Type
Te t h e r
Strap
Hook
Anchor