sensor SATURN SKY 2007 Owners Manual

When Should an Airbag Inate?
Airbags are designed to inate in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are
designed to inate only if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment
thresholds take into account a variety of desired
deployment and non-deployment events and
are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to
be in time for the airbags to inate and help
restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal
airbags will or should deploy is not based on how
fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends largely
on what you hit, the direction of the impact,
and how quickly your vehicle slows down.
In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal
airbags, which adjust the restraint according
to crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic
frontal sensors, which help the sensing system
distinguish between a moderate frontal impact
and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, these airbags inate at a level less
than full deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of
your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does
not move or deform, the threshold level for
the reduced deployment is about 12 to 16 mph(19 to 26 km/h), and the threshold level for a
full deployment is about 18 to 22 mph (28.9 to
35.4 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however,
with specic vehicle design, so that it can be
somewhat above or below this range.
Frontal airbags may inate at different crash
speeds. For example:
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the
airbags could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits an object that
does not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole),
the airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object
(like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle,
the airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle goes straight into
the object.
Frontal airbags are not intended to inate during
vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many
side impacts.
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Passenger Sensing System
Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system.
The passenger airbag status indicator will be
visible when you turn your ignition key to
RUN or START.
The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on
and off, will be visible on the instrument panel
during the system check. When the system check
is complete, either the word ON or the word
OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off will
be visible. SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 131.The passenger sensing system will turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions.
The driver’s airbag is not part of the passenger
sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with
sensors that are part of the passenger’s seat.
The sensors are designed to detect the presence
of a properly-seated occupant and determine if
the passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled
(may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer
if they are restrained in the rear rather than
the front seat. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints not be transported in your vehicle,
even if the airbag is off.
Never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint
in the right front passenger seat unless the
passenger airbag status indicator shows off
and the airbag is off. Here is why:
United StatesCanada
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
of the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your
vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height,
front end or side sheet metal, they may keep
the airbag system from working properly.
Also, the airbag system may not work properly
if you relocate any of the airbag sensors.
If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance
before you modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of theCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 354.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my airbag system?
A:Changing or moving any parts of the
front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel,
the instrument panel, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system.
If you have questions, call Customer
Assistance. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 354.
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Headlamps on Reminder
If you open the driver’s door with the ignition off
and the lamps on, you will hear a warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional daytime running lamps
are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
Your vehicle has a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel that helps control the DRL.
Make sure it is not covered or the headlamps
will come on when they are not needed.
The DRL system makes both low beam headlamps
turn on at reduced intensity when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamp control is turned to AUTO.
The light sensor detects daytime light.
The shift lever is not in PARK (P).While the DRL system is on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, and instrument panel lights
will not be on.
The DRL system turns off on U.S. vehicles by
using the on/off switch for one ignition cycle,
if the vehicle is in the PARK (P) position, or if the
vehicle speed is less than 5 mph (8 km h)
after the vehicle is started.
For vehicles rst sold in Canada the DRL system
will turn off when a automatic transmission
vehicle is in the PARK (P) position or the park
brake is set on a manual transmission vehicle and
the vehicle speed is less than 8 mph (13 km h).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when it is needed.
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Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to RUN or
START, a chime will sound for several seconds to
remind the front passenger to buckle their safety
belt. This would only occur if the passenger airbag
is enabled. SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 50for more information. The passenger
safety belt light will also come on and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the
passenger remains
unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag
symbol. The system checks the airbag’s
electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the airbag sensor, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more information
on the airbag system, seeAirbag System
on page 43.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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