DODGE SPRINTER 2008 2.G Workshop Manual

49 Safety
Occupant safety
2
When the vehicle occupant makes con-
tact with the airbag, hot gas flows out of
the inflated airbag. This reduces the load
on the head and upper body of the vehi-
cle occupant. The airbag is therefore in a
deflated state after an accident.
Warning
G
After an airbag has been triggered:
\4airbag parts are hot – do not touch
them, otherwise you could be burnt
\4the airbags must be replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop which
has the necessary specialist knowl-
edge and tools to carry out the work
required. The manufacturer recom-
mends that you use an authorized
Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.
In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Warning
G
A small amount of fine powder is released as
an airbag inflates. This powder does not con-
stitute a health hazard, nor does it imply that
fire has broken out in the vehicle. This pow-
der could cause short-term breathing difficul-
ties for persons suffering from asthma or
other respiratory conditions. To avoid these
breathing difficulties, you should either:\4leave the vehicle immediately, if it is
possible to do so safely
or
\4open the window to allow fresh air to
enter
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50 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Front airbagsThe front airbags are designed to in-
crease protection to the driver’s and
passenger’s/passengers' head and
chest.
The driver’s airbag is located in the
steering wheel housing; the passenger’s
is above the glove box.
1Driver’s airbag
2Passenger’s airbagDriver’s front airbag
1
inflates in front
of the steering wheel; passenger’s front
airbag
2
inflates in front of and above
the glove box and the center console.The driver’s front airbag and passenger’s
front airbag are triggered:
\4
in the initial stages of an accident
with a high rate of vehicle accelera-
tion or deceleration in a longitudinal
direction
\4
if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional pro-
tection to that provided by the seat
belt
\4
independently of other airbags in the
vehicle N91.60-2140-31
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51 Safety
Occupant safety
2
Thorax sidebags*Warning
G
For safety reasons, the manufacturer rec-
ommends that you use seat covers that
have been tested for Sprinter vehicles
and that have a seam for thorax /
sidebags. A thorax / sidebag may other-
wise not inflate correctly and could fail to
provide the intended degree of protection
in the event of a collision. You can obtain
these covers from an authorized Sprinter
Dealer, for example.
Warning
G
To reduce the risk of injury to occupants
if a thorax / sidebag is triggered, make
sure that:
\4no persons, animals or objects are
present between the vehicle occu-
pants and the thorax / sidebag de-
ployment range
\4no accessories, for example cup hold-
ers, are secured to the doors
\4only light items of clothing are hung
from the coat hooks in the vehicle
\4there are no heavy or sharp objects in
the pockets of items of clothing
Warning
G
Observe the following to reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injury if the thorax /
sidebag is triggered:
\4Vehicle occupants – in particular, chil-
dren – must never lean their head
against the area of the window in
which the thorax / sidebag inflates.
\4Vehicle occupants must wear their
seat belt correctly at all times and
lean back against the backrest, which
should be positioned as upright as
possible.
\4Always secure children who are less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall or under
12 years of age in a suitable child re-
straint system.
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52 SafetyOccupant safety
2
The purpose of the thorax/sidebags
is
to increase the level of protection for the
thorax (but not the head, neck and arms)
of the occupants on the side of the vehi-
cle on which the impact occurs.
The thorax / sidebags are installed in the
outer sides of the backrests on the driv-
er’s seat and the passenger’s individual
seat
1Thorax sidebagThe thorax sidebags are triggered:\4
in the initial stages of an accident
with a high rate of vehicle accelera-
tion or deceleration in a lateral direc-
tion, for example in the event of a
side impact
\4
on the side on which an impact oc-
curs
\4
if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional pro-
tection to that provided by the seat
belt
\4
independently of the front airbags
In the event of an accident, the thorax
sidebag next to the outer seat side in-
flates between the door and the chest
area of the occupant.
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53 Safety
Occupant safety
2
Windowbags*
iYou will find additional information
about airbag deployment on
(\2
page 48).
You will find additional information
about the triggering of emergency
tensioning retractors and belt force
limiters on (
\2
page 44).
Warning
G
To ensure that windowbags can provide
the intended degree of protection when
deployed, make sure that no persons, an-
imals or objects are present between the
vehicle occupants and the deployment
range of the windowbags.
Warning
G
Observe the following to reduce the risk
of serious or fatal injury if the windowbag
is triggered:
\4Vehicle occupants – in particular,
children – must never lean their head
against the area of the window in
which the windowbag inflates.
\4Vehicle occupants must wear their
seat belt correctly at all times.
\4Always secure children who are less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall or under
12 years of age in a suitable child re-
straint system.
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54 SafetyOccupant safety
2
The windowbags are designed to in-
crease protection to the head (but not to
the chest or arms) of the vehicle occu-
pants on the side on which the impact
occurs.
The relevant windowbag is installed in
the side of the roof frame behind the
trim panel between the A and B-pillar.
1WindowbagThe windowbags
are triggered:
\4
in the initial stages of an accident
with a high rate of vehicle accelera-
tion or deceleration in a lateral direc-
tion
\4
on the side on which an impact oc-
curs
\4
independently of the front airbagsiYou will find additional information
about airbag deployment on
(\2
page 48).
You will find additional information
about the triggering of emergency
tensioning retractors and belt force
limiters on (
\2
page 44).
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55 Safety
Occupant safety
2
If a child is traveling in the vehicle:\4
secure the child in a child restraint
system appropriate to his/her age
and size, preferably on a suitable
seat in the rear
\4
ensure that the child is strapped in
throughout the trip
You can obtain child seats and informa-
tion about the correct child restraint sys-
tem from any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.Children in the vehicle
Warning
G
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. The children could:\4injure themselves on parts of the
vehicle\4be seriously or even fatally injured by
prolonged exposure to extreme heat
or cold
Do not expose child restraint systems to
direct sunlight. Metallic parts of the child
restraint system could heat up, for exam-
ple, and the child could burn him / herself
on the hot parts.
Warning
G
If the children open a door, they could:\4cause injury to others as a result\4get out of the vehicle and could either
injure themselves when doing so or
they could be injured by passing vehi-
cles\4sustain serious injuries if they were to
fall out of the vehicle, due in particular
to the height of the passenger com-
partment from the ground
Continued
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56 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Child restraint systemsWe recommend all infants and children
be properly restrained at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retrac-
tors for secure fastening of child re-
straints.To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely
and let it retract. During seat belt retrac-
tion, a ratcheting sound can be heard to
indicate that the special seat belt retrac-
tor is activated. The belt is now locked.
Push down on child restraint to take up
any slack.
Warning (Continued)
G
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside
the vehicle or load compartment unless
they are secured. You will find further in-
formation under “Transporting”
(\2page 276) and “Features”
(\2page 287) in the “Controls in detail”
section.An unsecured or incorrectly positioned load
increases the risk of injury to occupants, par-
ticularly children, in the event of:\4sharp braking
\4a sudden change of direction
\4an accident
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57 Safety
Occupant safety
2
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle
and let seat belt retract completely. The
seat belt can again be used in the usual
manner.Warning
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while
the vehicle is in motion, since the special
seat belt retractor will be deactivated.
Warning
G
T o r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f s e r i o u s o r f a t a l i n j u r y
to a child in the event of an accident,
sharp braking or a sudden change in di-
rection:\4Always secure children less than 5 ft
(1.50 m) tall or under 12 years of age
in a special child restraint system in-
stalled on a suitable vehicle seat,
since the seat belts are not designed
for this body size.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
It is not permitted to secure a child in the
passenger’s seat or the center position of
the front bench seat if the vehicle is
equipped with a passenger’s airbag.Only secure a rearward-facing child re-
straint system on a suitable rear seat.
Continued
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58 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Warning (Continued)
G
A child must never be carried sitting on
the lap of a vehicle occupant. It would not
be possible to restrain the child as a result
of the forces acting in the event of an ac-
cident, braking or abrupt changes in di-
rection. The child would be thrown
against parts of the vehicle interior and be
seriously or fatally injured.Vehicle occupants must wear their seat
belt correctly at all times.
Warning
G
If the child restraint system is not in-
stalled correctly on a suitable vehicle
seat, the child may not be restrained in
the event of an accident or sudden brak-
ing and may be seriously or fatally injured.
For this reason, always observe the instal-
lation instructions issued by the child re-
straint system manufacturer and the
intended use for the child restraint sys-
tem when fitting it.It is advisable to install the child restraint
system on one of the rear seats. The child
is generally better protected there.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Do not place objects (for example a cush-
ion) underneath the child restraint sys-
tem. The entire base of the child restraint
system must be in contact with the seat
cushion at all times.Child restraint systems must not be used
without the original cover. Replace dam-
aged covers only with original covers.On the rear seats, only use child restraint
systems recommended by the manufac-
turer.
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