Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Guide

Airbag System Components
(2)
(3)
(6)
(1)
(9)
(5)
(10) (11)
(12)
(14)
(13)
(15)
(16)
(17) (8)
(7)
(4)
(14)
(13)
(4)
(5)
(17) e-pretensioner Control Unit
ꭧ
(16) Safing Sensor (15) Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator
(14) Side Curtain Airbags
(13) Side Impact Sensors (second) (12) Front Passenger's Weight Sensor Control Unit/ (11) Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensors (10) Side Impact Sensors (First) (9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator (8) Front Impact Sensors (7) Front Passenger's Weight Sensors (6) Driver's Seat Position Sensor (5) Side Airbags (4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners/ (3) Control Unit/Rollover Sensor (2) Passenger's Front Airbag (1) Driver's Front Airbag
(8)
ꭧ
: On models with CMBS ODS Sensors Control Unit
Seat Belt e-pretensioners
ꭧ
Additional Information About Your Airbags2609/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Your Airbag System (SRS) 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 ’’
(see page 28).●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 ’’(see page 32).●Two side curtain airbags, one for
each side of the vehicle. The airbags
are stored in the roof above the side
windows. The front and rear pillars
are marked ‘‘SIDE CURTAIN
AIRBAG ’’(see page 33).
●On models with CMBS, front seat
belt e-pretensioners (see page 24).●Automatic front seat belt tensioners
(see page 23).●Sensors that can detect a moderate
to severe front impact, side impact,
or if your vehicle is about to rollover.●Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger's side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see page
33).●Sensors that can detect whether the
driver's seat belt and the front
passenger's seat belt are latched or
unlatched (see page 21).●A driver's seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force (see page 31).
●Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger's seat.
If the weight is about 65 lbs (29 kg)
or less (the weight of an infant or
small child), the passenger's front
airbag will be turned off (see page
31).●A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over and
signal the control unit to deploy both
side curtain airbags (see page 34).
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
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Driver and Passenger Safety
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●A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the airbag
activators, the seat belt tensioners,
and driver and front passenger seat
belt use when the ignition switch is
in the ON (II) position.
Models equipped with the keyless
access system have an engine start/
stop button instead of an ignition
switch. ON mode is the equivalent of
ON (II). For more information, see
pages 194 and 196.●An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you to a possible problem
with your airbag system components
(see page 34).●An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you that the passenger's
side airbag has been turned off (see
page 35).
●An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger's front
airbag has been turned off (see page
36).●Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
How Your Front Airbags WorkIf you ever have a moderate to severe
frontal collision, sensors will detect
the vehicle's rapid deceleration.
If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will inflate
the driver's and front passenger's
airbags, at the time and with the
force needed.
Additional Information About Your Airbags2809/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the front airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Although both 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.
Only the driver’s airbag can 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 36).
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. The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast 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 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.
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
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Dual-Stage AirbagsYour front airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inflation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.
In a
more severe
crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.
In a
less severe
crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage will
ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
with a little less force.
Dual-Threshold AirbagsYour front airbags are also dual-
threshold airbags. Airbags with this
feature 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
not latched,
the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.
If the occupant's belt is
latched,
the
airbag will inflate at a slightly higher
threshold, when the airbag would be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.
Advanced AirbagsYour front 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 front.
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 front seats.
Failure to follow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them from working properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3009/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

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 inflate
with less force, 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 inflate in the normal
manner regardless of the driver's
seating position.
The passenger's advanced front
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an infant or
small child in front, if the sensors
detect the weight of an infant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger's front airbag off.Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger's seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned off.
When the passenger airbag gets
turned off by the weight sensors, a
‘‘
passenger airbag off ’’indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page 36).
If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the front seat, the
airbag is automatically turned off.
However, the passenger airbag off
indicator in this situation will not
come on.
To ensure that the passenger's
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,
do not do anything
that would increase or decrease the weight on the front passenger's seat.
This includes:●A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the front
passenger's seat.
DRIVER'S
SEAT
POSITION
SENSOR
PASSENGER'S
SEAT
WEIGHT
SENSOR
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
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●Moving the front seat forcibly back
against cargo on the seat or floor
behind it.●Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.●Moving the front passenger's seat
or seat-back forcibly back against
the folded rear seat.●Back seat passengers should not
wedge objects or intentionally
force their feet under the front
passenger seat.
Also, make sure the floor mat behind
the front passenger's seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor (see page
563). If it is not, the mat may
interfere with the proper operation of
the sensors and operation of the seat. How Your Side Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe
side impact, sensors will detect rapid
acceleration and signal the control
unit to instantly inflate 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 from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3209/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Side Airbag Cutoff SystemYour vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger's
seat.
Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag's
deployment path, the airbag will shut
off.
The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag's
deployment path.
Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page 35), 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
path and when the indicator comes
on or goes off.
A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or another object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff
system from working properly.
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work
In a Side ImpactIn a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag.
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.
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
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In a RolloverIf the SRS control unit senses that
your vehicle is about to rollover, it
immediately deploys both side
curtain airbags and activates both
front seat belt tensioners.
The airbag on the passenger's side
will deploy, and the seat belt
tensioner will activate, even if there
are no passengers on that side of the
vehicle.
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.How the SRS Indicator Works
The SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem
with your airbag system components.
When you turn the ignition switch
ꭧ
to the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on briefly then goes off. This
tells you the system is working
properly.
ꭧ : Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead of
an ignition switch. ON mode is the
equivalent of ON (II). For more
information, see pages 194 and 196. 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 flashes
on and off while you drive.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK AIRBAG
SYSTEM ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page 90).
If you see any of these indications,
the airbag system components may
not work properly when you need
them.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3409/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

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.How the Side Airbag Off Indicator
Works
U.S. Canada
This indicator
alerts you that the
passenger's side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
not
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 briefly and then go
out (see page 67). If it does not come
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
front seat, you will also see a
‘‘ PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF ’’
message on the multi-information
display. Have the system checked
(see page 90). Models equipped with the keyless
access system have an engine start/
stop button instead of an ignition
switch. ON mode is the equivalent of
ON (II). For more information, see
pages 194 and 196.
Additional Information About Your Airbags
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