INFINITI M 2010 Repair Manual

PRECAUTIONS ON SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
This Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) sec-
tion contains important information concerning
the following systems:
cDriver and passenger supplemental front-
impact air bag (INFINITI Advanced Air Bag
System)
c Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemen-
tal air bag
c Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supple-
mental air bag
c Seat belt with pretensioner
Supplemental front-impact air bag system: The
INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System can help
cushion the impact force to the head and chest
of the driver and front passenger in certain
frontal collisions. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental
air bag system:
This system can help cushion
the impact force to the chest and pelvis area of
the driver and front passenger in certain side
impact collisions. The side air bags are de-
signed to inflate on the side where the vehicle
is impacted.
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemen-
tal air bag system: This system can help cushion
the impact force to the head of occupants in
front and rear outboard seating positions in
certain side impact collisions. The curtain air
bags are designed to inflate on the side where
the vehicle is impacted.
These supplemental restraint systems are de-
signed to supplement the crash protection pro-
vided by the driver and passenger seat belts
and are not a substitute for them. Seat belts
should always be correctly worn and the occu-
pant seated a suitable distance away from the
steering wheel, instrument panel and door fin-
ishers. (See ªSEAT BELTSº earlier in this section
for instructions and precautions on seat belt
usage.) The supplemental air bags operate only when
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
After pushing the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion, the supplemental air bag warning light illu-
minates. The supplemental air bag warning light
will turn off after about 7 seconds if the systems
are operational.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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WARNING
cThe front air bags ordinarily will not inflate in
the event of a side impact, rear impact, roll-
over, or lower severity frontal collision. Al-
ways wear your seat belts to help reduce the
risk or severity of injury in various kinds of
accidents.
c The front passenger air bag will not inflate if
the passenger air bag status light is lit or if
the front passenger seat is unoccupied. See
ªFront passenger air bag and status lightº
later in this section.
c The seat belts and the front air bags are most
effective when you are sitting well back and
upright in the seat with both feet on the
floor. The front air bags inflate with great
force. Even with the INFINITI advanced air
bag system, if you are unrestrained, leaning
forward, sitting sideways or out of position
in any way, you are at greater risk of injury or
death in a crash. You may also receive seri-
ous or fatal injuries from the front air bag if
you are up against it when it inflates. Always
sit back against the seatback and as far-
away as practical from the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Always use the seat belts.
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SSS0132
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cThe driver and front passenger seat belt
buckles are equipped with sensors that de-
tect if the seat belts are fastened. The Ad-
vanced Air Bag System monitors the severity
of a collision and seat belt usage then in-
flates the air bags. Failure to properly wear
seat belts can increase the risk or severity of
injury in an accident.
c The front passenger seat is equipped with an
occupant classification sensor (pressure
sensor) that turns the front passenger air
bag OFF under some conditions. This sensor
is only used in this seat. Failure to be prop-
erly seated and wearing the seat belt can
increase the risk or severity of injury in an
accident. See ªFront passenger air bag and
status lightº later in this section.
c Keep hands on the outside of the steering
wheel. Placing them inside the steering
wheel rim could increase the risk that they
are injured when the supplemental front air
bag inflates.
SSS0007
SSS0006
SSS0008
SSS0009
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WARNING
cNever let children ride unrestrained or ex-
tend their hands or face out of the window.
Do not attempt to hold them in your lap or
arms. Some examples of dangerous riding
positions are shown in the illustrations.
c Children may be severely injured or killed
when the front air bags, side air bags or
curtain air bags inflate if they are not prop-
erly restrained. Pre-teens and children
should be properly restrained in the rear
seat, if possible.
c Even with the INFINITI Advanced Air Bag Sys-
tem, never install a rear-facing child re-
straint in the front seat. An inflating front air
bag could seriously injure or kill your child.
See ªCHILD RESTRAINTSº earlier in this sec-
tion for details.
SSS0099
SSS0100
Do not lean against doors or windows.
SSS0059A
SSS0188A
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WARNING
Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental
air bags and roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bags:
cThe side air bags and curtain air bags ordi-
narily will not inflate in the event of a frontal
impact, rear impact, rollover or lower sever-
ity side collision. Always wear your seat
belts to help reduce the risk or severity of
injury in various kinds of accidents. c
The seat belts, the side air bags and curtain
air bags are most effective when you are
sitting well back and upright in the seat with
both feet on the floor. The side air bag and
curtain air bag inflate with great force. Do
not allow anyone to place their hand, leg or
face near the side air bag on the side of the
seatback of the front seat or near the side
roof rails. Do not allow anyone sitting in the
front seats or rear outboard seats to extend
their hand out of the window or lean against
the door. Some examples of dangerous
riding positions are shown in the previous
illustrations.
c When sitting in the rear seat, do not hold
onto the seatback of the front seat. If the
side air bag inflates, you may be seriously
injured. Be especially careful with children,
who should always be properly restrained.
Some examples of dangerous riding posi-
tions are shown in the illustrations.
c Do not use seat covers on the front seat-
backs. They may interfere with side air bag
inflation.
SSS0140
SSS0162
SSS0159
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1. Crash zone sensor
2. Supplemental front-impact air bagmodules
3. Front seat-mounted side-impact supple- mental air bag modules 4. Occupant classification system control
unit
5. Occupant classification sensor (pressure sensor)
6. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags 7. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supple-
mental air bags inflators
8. Air bag Control Unit (ACU)
9. Satellite sensors
10. Seat belt with pretensioners
INFINITI ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM
(front seats)
This vehicle is equipped with the INFINITI Ad-
vanced Air Bag System for the driver and front
passenger seats. This system is designed to
meet certification requirements under U.S.
regulations. It is also permitted in Canada.
However, all of the information, cautions and
warnings in this manual still apply and must be
followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air bag is
located in the center of the steering wheel. The
passenger supplemental front-impact air bag is
mounted in the instrument panel above the
glove box. The front air bags are designed to
inflate in higher severity frontal collisions, al-
though they may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. They may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or
lack of it) is not always an indication of proper
front air bag operation.
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The INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System has dual
stage inflators. The system monitors informa-
tion from the crash zone sensor, the Air bag
Control Unit (ACU), seat belt buckle switches,
occupant classification sensor (pressure sen-
sor) and passenger seat belt tension sensor.
Inflator operation is based on the severity of a
collision and seat belt usage for the driver. For
the front passenger, it additionally monitors the
weight of an occupant or object on the seat and
seat belt tension. Based on information from
the sensors, only one front air bag may inflate
in a crash, depending on the crash severity and
whether the front occupants are belted or un-
belted. Additionally, the front passenger air bag
may be automatically turned OFF under some
conditions, depending on the weight detected
on the passenger seat and how the seat belt is
used. If the front passenger air bag is OFF, the
passenger air bag status light will be illumi-
nated (if the seat is unoccupied, the light will
not be illuminated, but the air bag will be off).
(See ªFront passenger air bag and status lightº
later in this section for further details.) One
front air bag inflating does not indicate im-
proper performance of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, contact INFINITI or an INFINITI retailer. If
you are considering modification of your vehicle
due to a disability, you may also contactINFINITI. Contact information is contained in the
front of this Owner's Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate
a fire. Care should be taken not to inhale it, as
it may cause irritation and choking. Those with
a history of a breathing condition should get
fresh air promptly.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the head
and chest of the front occupants. They can help
save lives and reduce serious injuries. However,
an inflating front air bag may cause facial
abrasions or other injuries. Front air bags do
not provide restraint to the lower body.
Even with INFINITI advanced air bags, seat belts
should be correctly worn and the driver and
passenger seated upright as far as practical
away from the steering wheel or instrument
panel. The front air bags inflate quickly in order
to help protect the front occupants. Because of
this, the force of the front air bag inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is too
close to, or is against, the front air bag module
during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a colli-
sion.The front air bags operate only when the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
After pushing the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion, the supplemental air bag warning light illu-
minates. The supplemental air bag warning light
will turn off after about 7 seconds if the system is
operational.
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Front passenger air bag and status
light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed to au-
tomatically turn OFF under some conditions.
Read this section carefully to learn how it oper-
ates. Proper use of the seat, seat belt and child
restraints is necessary for most effective pro-
tection. Failure to follow all instructions in this
manual concerning the use of seats, seat belts
and child restraints can increase the risk or
severity of injury in an accident.Status light :
The front passenger air bag status light
is located on the overhead console. The light
operates as follows:
c
Unoccupied passenger seat: The
light
is OFF and the front passenger air bag is OFF
and will not inflate in a crash.
c Passenger seat occupied by a small adult,
child or child restraint as outlined in this
section: The
light illuminates to indi-
cate that the front passenger air bag is OFF
and will not inflate in a crash.
c Occupied passenger seat and the passenger
meets the conditions outlined in this sec-
tion: The
light is OFF to indicate that
the front passenger air bag is operational.
Front passenger air bag :
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as described
below as permitted by U.S. regulations. If the
front passenger air bag is OFF, it will not inflate
in a crash. The driver air bag and other air bags
in your vehicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help reduce
the risk of injury or death from an inflating air
bag to certain front passenger seat occupants, such as children, by requiring the air bag to be
automatically turned OFF. Certain sensors are
used to meet the requirements.
One sensor used is the occupant classification
sensor (pressure sensor). It is in the bottom of
the front passenger seat cushion and is de-
signed to detect an occupant and objects on the
seat by weight. It works together with seat belt
sensors described later. For example, if a child
is in the front passenger seat, the Advanced Air
Bag System is designed to turn the passenger
air bag OFF in accordance with the regulations.
Also, if a child restraint of the type specified in
the regulations is on the seat, its weight and
the child's weight can be detected and cause
the air bag to turn OFF. The occupant classifi-
cation sensor operation can vary depending on
the front passenger seat belt sensors.
The front passenger seat belt sensors are de-
signed to detect if the seat belt is buckled and
the amount of tension on the seat belt, such as
when it is in the Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) mode (child restraint mode). Based on the
weight on the seat detected by the occupant
classification sensor and the belt tension de-
tected on the seat belt, the Advanced Air Bag
System determines whether the front passen-
ger air bag should be automatically turned OFF
as required by the regulations.
Front passenger air bag status light
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Front passenger seat adult occupants who are
properly seated and using the seat belt as
outlined in this manual should not cause the
passenger air bag to be automatically turned
OFF. For small adults it may be turned OFF,
however, if the occupant takes his/her weight
off the seat cushion (for example, by not sitting
upright, by sitting on an edge of the seat, or by
otherwise being out of position), this could
cause the sensor to turn the air bag OFF. In
addition, if the occupant improperly uses the
seat belt in the ALR mode, this could cause the
air bag to be turned OFF. Always be sure to be
seated and wearing the seat belt properly for
the most effective protection by the seat belt
and supplemental air bag.
INFINITI recommends that pre-teens and chil-
dren be properly restrained in a rear seat.
INFINITI also recommends that appropriate
child restraints and booster seats be properly
installed in a rear seat. If this is not possible,
the occupant classification sensor and seat belt
sensors are designed to operate as described
above to turn the front passenger air bag OFF
for specified child restraints as required by the
regulations. Failing to properly secure child
restraints and to use the ALR mode may allow
the restraint to tip or move in an accident or
sudden stop. This can also result in the passen-
ger air bag inflating in a crash instead of beingOFF. (See ªCHILD RESTRAINTSº earlier in this
section for proper use and installation.)
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the
passenger air bag is designed not to inflate in a
crash. However, heavy objects placed on the
seat could result in air bag inflation, because of
the object's weight detected by the occupant
classification sensor. Other conditions could
also result in air bag inflation, such as if a child
is standing on the seat, or if two children are on
the seat, contrary to the instructions in this
manual. Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated and restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light, you
can monitor when the front passenger air bag is
automatically turned OFF with the seat occu-
pied. The light will not illuminate when the front
passenger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
passenger air bag status light is illuminated
(indicating that the air bag is OFF), it could be
that the person is a small adult, or is not sitting
on the seat properly or not using the seat belt
properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the passenger air bag status light may or
may not be illuminated, depending on the size
of the child and the type of child restraint being
used. If the passenger air bag status light is notilluminated (indicating that the air bag might
inflate in a crash), it could be that the child
restraint or seat belt is not being used properly.
Make sure that the child restraint is installed
properly, the seat belt is used properly and the
occupant is positioned properly. If the passen-
ger air bag status light is not illuminated,
reposition the occupant or child restraint in a
rear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not
illuminate even though you believe that the
child restraint, the seat belts and the occupant
are properly positioned, the system may be
sensing an unoccupied seat (in which case the
air bag is OFF). Your INFINITI retailer can check
that the system is OFF by using a special tool.
However, until you have confirmed with your
retailer that your air bag is working properly,
reposition the occupant or child restraint in a
rear seat.
The INFINITI advanced air bag system and pas-
senger air bag status light will take a few
seconds to register a change in the passenger
seat status. For example, if a large adult who is
sitting in the front passenger seat exits the
vehicle, the passenger air bag status light will
change from OFF to ON for a few seconds and
then to OFF. This is normal system operation
and does not indicate a malfunction.
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If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger
air bag system, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light
, located in the meter and
gauges area, will blink. Have the system
checked by an INFINITI retailer.
Other supplemental front-impact air
bag precautions
WARNING
c Do not place any objects on the steering
wheel pad or on the instrument panel. Also,
do not place any objects between any occu-
pant and the steering wheel or instrument
panel. Such objects may become dangerous
projectiles and cause injury if the front air
bag inflates.
c Immediately after inflation, several front air
bag system components will be hot. Do not
touch them; you may severely burn yourself.
c No unauthorized changes should be made to
any components or wiring of the supplemen-
tal air bag system. This is to prevent acciden-
tal inflation of the supplemental air bag or
damage to the supplemental air bag system. c
Do not make unauthorized changes to your
vehicle's electrical system, suspension sys-
tem or front end structure. This could affect
proper operation of the front air bag system.
c Tampering with the air bag system may re-
sult in serious personal injury. Tampering
includes changes to the steering wheel and
the instrument panel assembly by placing
material over the steering wheel pad and
above the instrument panel or by installing
additional trim material around the air bag
system.
c Modifying or tampering with the front pas-
senger seat may result in serious personal
injury. For example, do not change the front
seats by placing material on the seat cush-
ion or by installing additional trim material,
such as seat covers, on the seat that is not
specifically designed to assure proper air
bag operation. Additionally, do not stow any
objects under the front passenger seat or the
seat cushion and seatback. Such objects
may interfere with the proper operation of
the occupant classification sensor (pressure
sensor). c
No unauthorized changes should be made to
any components or wiring of the seat belt
system. This may affect the front air bag
system. Tampering with the seat belt system
may result in serious personal injury.
c Maintenance on and around the front air bag
system should be done by an INFINITI re-
tailer. Installation of electrical equipment
should also be done by an INFINITI retailer.
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
wiring harnesses* should not be modified or
disconnected. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices should not
be used on the air bag system.
c A cracked windshield should be replaced im-
mediately by a qualified repair facility. A
cracked windshield could affect the function
of the supplemental air bag system.
* The SRS wiring harness connectors are yellow and orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the front air bag system
and guide the buyer to the appropriate sections
in this Owner's Manual.
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