DODGE VIPER 2017 VX / 3.G Service Manual

The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. A low energy
output is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy
output is used for more severe collisions.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether the
driver or front passenger seat belt is buckled. The seat belt
buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of the Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust the
inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags based upon
seat position.
This vehicle has an Occupant Classification System
(“OCS”) in the front passenger seat. The OCS is designed to
activate or deactivate the Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag depending on the occupant’s seated weight. It is
designed to deactivate the Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag for an unoccupied seat and for occupants whose seated
weight classifies them in a category other than a properly
seated adult. This could be a child, teenager, or even an
adult.The Passenger Air Bag Disable (“PAD”) Indicator Light (an
amber light located in the center of the instrument panel)
tells the driver and front passenger when the Passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag is deactivated. The PAD Indicator
Light illuminates the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
to show that the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag will
not deploy during a collision.
NOTE:
When the front passenger seat is empty or when
very light objects are placed on the seat, the Passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag will not deploy even though the
Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) System Indicator Light is
NOT illuminated.
WARNING!
• No objects should be placed over or near the air bag
on the instrument panel or steering wheel because
any such objects could cause harm if the vehicle is in
a collision severe enough to cause the air bag to
inflate.
• Do not put anything on or around the air bag covers
or attempt to open them manually. You may damage
the air bags and you could be injured because the air
bags may no longer be functional. The protective
(Continued)
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39

WARNING!(Continued)
covers for the air bag cushions are designed to open
only when the air bags are inflating.
• Relying on the air bags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The air bags work with
your seat belt to restrain you properly. In some
collisions, air bags won’t deploy at all. Always wear
your seat belts even though you have air bags.
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional protec-
tion by supplementing the seat belts. Front air bags are not
expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or
rollover collisions. The front air bags will not deploy in all
frontal collisions, including some that may produce sub-
stantial vehicle damage — for example, some pole colli-
sions, truck underrides, and angle offset collisions.
On the other hand, depending on the type and location of
impact, front air bags may deploy in crashes with little
vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe initial
deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not good
indicators of whether or not an air bag should have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all collisions,
and also are needed to help keep you in position, away
from an inflating air bag.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the front air
bags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side
of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way as
the air bags inflate to their full size. The front air bags fully
inflate in less time than it takes to blink your eyes. The
front air bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger.
Occupant Classification System (OCS) — Front
Passenger Seat
The OCS is part of a Federally regulated safety system for
this vehicle. It is designed to activate or deactivate the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag depending on the
occupant’s seated weight. It is designed to deactivate the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag for an unoccupied seat
and for occupants whose seated weight classifies them in a
category other than a properly seated adult. This could be
a child, teenager, or even an adult.
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The Occupant Classification System (Ocs) Consists Of
The Following:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Occupant Classification Module (OCM) and Sensor lo-
cated in the front passenger seat
•
Passenger Air Bag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light – an
amber light located in the center of the instrument panel
• Air Bag Warning Light
Occupant Classification Module (OCM) And Sensor
The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is located
underneath the front passenger seat. The Sensor is located
beneath the passenger seat cushion foam. Any weight on
the seat will be sensed by the Sensor. The OCM uses input
from the Sensor to determine the front passenger ’s most
probable classification. The OCM communicates this infor-
mation to the ORC. The ORC uses the classification to
determine whether it should activate or deactivate the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag. In order for the OCS to
operate as designed, it is important for the front passenger
to be seated properly and properly wearing the seat belt.
Properly seated passengers are:
•Sitting upright. •
Facing forward.
• Sitting in the center of the seat with their feet comfort-
ably on or near the floor.
• Sitting with their back against the seat back and the seat
back in an upright position.
The OCS may deactivate the deployment of the Passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag if the OCS estimates that:
• The front passenger seat is unoccupied or has very light
objects in it.
Seated Properly
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41

•The front passenger seat is occupied by a rear-facing
child restraint.
• The front passenger seat is occupied by a child, includ-
ing a child seated in a forward-facing child restraint or
booster seat.
• The front passenger seat is occupied by a small passen-
ger, including a child or small adult.
• The front passenger is not properly seated or his or her
weight is taken off of the seat for a period of time.
Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) System
Front Passenger Seat Occupant Status Front Passenger
Air Bag Output Front Passenger
Air Bag Status
Unoccupied seat* NOT ILLUMI-
NATED DEACTIVATED
Grocery bags,
heavy briefcases, and other rela-tively light ob- jects “PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF” DEACTIVATED
Rear-facing child restraint** “PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF” DEACTIVATED
Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) System
Front Passenger Seat Occupant Status Front Passenger
Air Bag Output Front Passenger
Air Bag Status
Child, including a child in a
forward-facing
child restraint or booster seat* “PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF” DEACTIVATED
Small adult “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” DEACTIVATED
Properly seated adult NOT ILLUMI-
NATED ACTIVATED
* When the front passenger seat is empty or when very
light objects are placed on the seat, the Passenger Ad-
vanced Front Air Bag will not deploy even though the PAD
System Indicator Light is NOT illuminated.
** It is possible for a child to be classified as an adult,
allowing the deployment of the Passenger Advanced Front
Air Bag. Never allow children to ride in the front passenger
seat and never install a child restraint system, including a
rear-facing child restraint, in this vehicle.
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an
air bag. A deploying passenger front air bag can
cause death or serious injury to a child 12 years or
younger, including a child in a rear-facing child
restraint.
• Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
• Children 12 years or younger should always ride
buckled up in a vehicle with a rear seat.
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag Disabled (PAD) Indi-
cator Light
The Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag Disabled (PAD)
Indicator Light (an amber light located in the center of the
instrument panel) tells the driver and front passenger
when the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is deacti-
vated. The PAD Indicator light illuminates the words
“PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” to show that the Passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag will not deploy during a collision.
When the front passenger seat is empty or when very light
objects are placed on the seat, the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag will not deploy even though the PAD
indicator light is NOT illuminated. The PAD indicator light should not be illuminated when an
adult passenger is properly seated in the front passenger
seat. The driver and adult passenger should verify that the
PAD Indicator Light is not illuminated when an adult is
riding in the front passenger seat. If an adult is not seated
properly, the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag may
deactivate and the PAD Indicator Light will be illuminated.
The PAD Indicator Light should be illuminated and the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag should be deactivated
for most properly seated and restrained children in the
passenger seat and for most properly installed child re-
straint systems. However, under certain conditions, even
with a properly installed child restraint system, the PAD
Indicator Light may not be illuminated, even though the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is deactivated. This can
occur if the child restraint is lighter than the lightest weight
necessary to illuminate the PAD Indicator Light. NEVER
assume the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is deacti-
vated unless the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated with
the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF.”
If The Pad Indicator Light Is Illuminated For An Adult
Passenger:
If an adult passenger is seated in the front passenger seat
and the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated, the passenger
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43

may be sitting improperly. Follow the steps below to allow
the OCS to detect the adult passenger ’s seated weight to
activate the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag:
1. Turn off the vehicle and have the adult passenger stepout of the vehicle.
2. Remove any extra materials from the passenger seat, such as cushions, pads, seat covers, seat massagers,
blankets, extra clothing, etc.
3. Place the seatback in the full upright position.
4. Have the adult passenger sit in the center of the seat, with the passenger ’s feet comfortably on or near the
floor, and with their back against the seatback.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the passenger remain in this seated position for two to three minutes after
restarting the vehicle.
WARNING!
•If the PAD Indicator Light remains illuminated for
an adult passenger, have an authorized dealer service
the air bag system immediately. Failure to do so may
cause serious injury or death. If the PAD Indicator
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
Light is illuminated with the words “PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF,” the Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag will not deploy in the event of a collision.
• Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an
air bag. A deploying passenger front air bag can
cause death or serious injury to a child 12 years or
younger, including a child in a rear-facing child
restraint.
• Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
• Children 12 years or younger should always ride
buckled up in a vehicle with a rear seat.
Lighter Weight Passengers (Including Small Adults)
When a lighter weight passenger, including a small adult,
occupies the passenger seat, the Passenger Advanced Front
Air Bag may be deactivated. Therefore, the Passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag may or may not be activated for a
lighter weight passenger, including a small adult (depend-
ing on size) who is seated in the passenger seat. This does
not mean that the OCS is working improperly.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The driver and passenger must always use the PAD
Indicator Light as a determination of whether the Passen-
ger Advanced Front Air Bag is activated or deactivated. If
the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated with the words
“PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” when an adult is in the front
passenger seat, have the passenger reposition his or her
body in the seat until the PAD Indicator Light goes out.
If the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated with the words
“PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag will not inflate in the event of a collision.
Do Not Decrease OR Increase The Front Passenger ’s
Seated Weight On The Front Passenger Seat
The front passenger ’s seated weight must be properly
positioned on the front passenger seat. Failure to do so may
result in serious injury or death. The OCS determines the
most probable classification of the occupant that it detects.
The OCS will detect the front passenger ’s decreased or
increased seated weight, which may result in deactivation
or activation of the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag in a
collision. This does not mean that the OCS is working
improperly. Decreasing the front passenger ’s seated weight
on the front passenger seat may result in deactivation of
the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag causing serious
injury or death. Increasing the front passenger ’s seatedweight on the front passenger seat may result in activation
of the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag. Examples of
improper front passenger seating include:
•
The front passenger ’s weight is transferred to another
part of the vehicle (like the door, arm rest or instrument
panel).
• The front passenger leans forward, sideways, or turns to
face the rear of the vehicle.
• The front passenger ’s seatback is not in the full upright
position.
• The front passenger carries or holds an object while
seated (e.g., backpack, box, etc.).
• Objects are lodged under the front passenger seat.
• Objects are lodged between the front passenger seat and
center console.
• Accessories that may change the seated weight on the
front passenger seat are attached to the front passenger
seat.
• Anything that may decrease or increase the front pas-
senger ’s seated weight.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45

The OCS determines the front passenger ’s most probable
classification. If an occupant in the front passenger seat is
seated improperly, the occupant may provide an output
signal to the OCS that is different from the occupant’s
properly seated weight input, for example:
Not Seated Properly
Not Seated Properly
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•If a child restraint system, child, small teenager or
adult in the front passenger seat is seated improp-
erly, the occupant may provide an output signal to
the OCS that is different from the occupant’s prop-
erly seated weight input. This may result in serious
injury or death in a collision.
(Continued)
Not Seated ProperlyNot Seated Properly
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47

WARNING!(Continued)
•Always wear your seat belt and sit properly, with the
seatback in an upright position, your back against
the seatback, sitting upright, facing forward, in the
center of the seat, with your feet comfortably on or
near the floor.
• Do not carry or hold any objects (e.g., backpacks,
boxes, etc.) while seated in the front passenger seat.
Holding an object may provide an output signal to
the OCS that is different than the occupant’s prop-
erly seated weight input, which may result in serious
injury or death in a collision.
The Air Bag Warning Light
will illuminate whenever
the OCS is unable to classify the front passenger seat
status.
A malfunction in the OCS may affect the operation of the
air bag system. If the Air Bag Warning Light
does not
come on, or stays on after you start the vehicle, or it
comes on as you drive, take the vehicle to an authorized
dealer for service immediately.
WARNING!
• Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the air bags
to protect you in a collision. If the light does not
come on as a bulb check when the ignition is first
turned on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it
comes on as you drive, have an authorized dealer
service the air bag system immediately.
• Placing an object on the floor under the front pas-
senger seat may prevent the OCS from working
properly, which may result in serious injury or death
in a collision. Do not place any objects on the floor
under the front passenger seat.
• If there is a fault present in the OCS, both the PAD
Indicator Light and the Air Bag Warning Light will
illuminate to show that the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag is deactivated. Should this occur, the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag will remain de-
activated until the fault is cleared. This indicates that
you should take the vehicle to an authorized dealer
for service immediately.
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE