Hyundai Sonata 2012 Repair Manual

Safety features of your vehicle42
3The front air bag modules are located
both in the center of the steering wheel
and in the front passenger's panel above
the glove box. When the SRSCM detects
a sufficiently severe impact to the front of
the vehicle, it will automatically deploy
the front air bags. Upon deployment, tear seams molded
directly into the pad covers will separate
under pressure from the expansion of the
air bags. Further opening of the covers
then allows full inflation of the air bags.
A fully inflated air bag, in combination
with a properly worn seat belt, slows the
driver's or the passenger's forward
motion, reducing the risk of head and
chest injury.
After complete inflation, the air bag
immediately starts deflating, enabling the
driver to maintain forward visibility and
the ability to steer or operate other con-
trols.
B240B01L
Driver’s front air bag (1)
B240B02L
B240B03L
Driver’s front air bag (2)
Driver’s front air bag (3)

343
Safety features of your vehicle
WARNING
 Do not install or place any acces-sories (drink holder, CD or discs
holder, sticker, etc.) on the front
passenger's panel above the
glove box in a vehicle with a pas-
senger's air bag. Such objects
may become dangerous projec-
tiles and cause injury if the pas-
senger's air bag inflates.
 When installing a container of liq- uid air freshener inside the vehi-
cle, do not place it near the
instrument cluster nor on the
instrument panel surface.
It may become a dangerous pro-
jectile and cause injury if the pas-
senger's air bag inflates.
B240B05L
Passenger’s front air bag
WARNING
 If an air bag deploys, there maybe a loud noise followed by a fine
dust released in the vehicle.
These conditions are normal and
are not hazardous - the air bags
are packed in this fine powder.
The dust generated during air
bag deployment may cause skin
or eye irritation as well as aggra-
vate asthma for some persons.
Always wash all exposed skin
areas thoroughly with lukewarm
water and a mild soap after an
accident in which the air bags
were deployed.
 The SRS can function only when the ignition switch is in the ON
position. If the SRS air bag warn-
ing light " " does not illumi-
nate, or continuously remains on
after illuminating for about 6 sec-
onds when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, or after
the engine is started, comes on
while driving, the SRS is not
working properly. If this occurs,
have your vehicle immediately
inspected by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer.
(Continued)
(Continued)
 Before you replace a fuse or dis-connect a battery terminal, turn
the ignition switch to the LOCK
position and remove the ignition
key. Never remove or replace the
air bag related fuse(s) when the
ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion. Failure to heed this warning
will cause the SRS air bag warn-
ing light to illuminate.

Safety features of your vehicle44
3Occupant classification systemYour vehicle is equipped with an occu-
pant classification system in the front
passenger's seat. The occupant classification system is
designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated front passenger and
determine if the passenger's front air bag
should be enabled (may inflate) or not.
The driver's front air bag is not affected
or controlled by the occupant classifica-
tion system.
Main components of occupant
classification system A detection device located within the
front passenger seat frame.
 Electronic system to determine whether the front passenger air bag system
should be activated or deactivated.
 A warning light located on the instru- ment panel which illuminates the words
PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicating the
front passenger air bag system is deac-
tivated.
 The instrument panel air bag warning light is interconnected with the occupant
classification system.
If the front passenger seat is occupied by
a person that the system determines to be
of adult size, and he/she sits properly (sit-
ting upright with the seatback in an upright
position, centered on the seat cushion
with their seat belt on, legs comfortably
extended and their feet on the floor), the
PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator will be
turned off and the front passenger's air
bag will be able to inflate, if necessary, in
frontal crashes.
You will find the PASS AIR BAG "OFF"
indicator on the center facia panel. This
system detects the conditions 1~4 in the
following table and activates or deacti-
vates the front passenger air bag based
on these conditions.
OYF039059NOYF039053N
Type AType B

345
Safety features of your vehicle
Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated and restrained
properly (sitting upright with the seat in
an upright position, centered on the seat
cushion, with the person's legs comfort-
ably extended, feet on the floor, and
wearing the safety belt properly) for the
most effective protection by the air bag
and the safety belt.
 The OCS may not function properly ifthe passenger takes actions which can
affect the classification system. These
include:
(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.
(2) Leaning against the door or center console.
(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.
(4) Putting legs on the dashboard or resting them on other locations
which reduce the passenger weight
on the front seat.
(5) Improperly wearing the safety belt.
(6) Reclining the seat back.
C040301ABHCondition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system*1) The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult
sits in the front passenger seat, the
system may recognize him/her as a
child depending on his/her physique
and posture.
*2) Do not allow children to ride in the front passenger seat. When a larger
child who has outgrown a child
restraint system sits in the front pas-
senger seat, the system may recog-
nize him/her as an adult depending
upon his/her physique or sitting posi-
tion. *3) Never install a child restraint system
on the front passenger seat.
WARNING
Riding in an improper position or
placing weight on the front passen-
ger's seat when it is unoccupied by
a passenger adversely affects the
occupant classification system
(OCS).
(Continued)
Condition detected by the
occupant classification system
Indicator/Warning light
Devices
PASSENGER
AIR BAG “OFF” indicator light
SRS
warning light
Front passenger air bag
1. Adult *
1or child age 13 and up*
2
Off
Off
Activated
2. Infant or child restraint system with
12 months old*
3
On
Off
Deactivated
3. Unoccupied
On
Off
Deactivated
4. Malfunction in the system
Off
On
Activated

Safety features of your vehicle46
3
1KMN3663
1KMN36641KMN3665
- Never sit with hips shifted
towards the front of the seat.
- Never lean on the door or centerconsole.
- Never sit on one side of the front passenger seat.
- Never place feet on the dash-
board.
OVQ036013N
1KMN3662
- Never put a heavy load in thefront passenger seat or seatback
pocket.
- Never excessively recline thefront passenger seatback.
OVQ036014N
- Never place feet on the front pas-senger seatback.
(Continued)

347
Safety features of your vehicle
When an adult is seated in the front pas-
senger seat, if the PASS AIR BAG “OFF”
indicator is on, turn the ignition switch to
the LOCK or OFF position and ask the
passenger to sit properly (sitting upright
with the seat back in an upright position,
centered on the seat cushion with their
seat belt on, legs comfortably extended
and their feet on the floor). Restart the
engine and have the person remain in
that position. This will allow the system to
detect the person and to enable the pas-
senger air bag.If the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator is
still on, ask the passenger to move to the
rear seat.
✽ ✽
NOTICEThe PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator
illuminates for about 4 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion or after the engine is started. If the
front passenger seat is occupied, the
occupant classification sensor will then
classify the front passenger after several
more seconds.
B990A01O
WARNING
Do not allow an adult passenger to
ride in the front seat when the PASS
AIR BAG “OFF” indicator is illumi-
nated because the air bag will not
deploy in the event of a crash. If the
PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator
remains illuminated after the adult
passenger repositions themselves
properly and the car is restarted, it
is recommended that passenger
move to the rear seat because the
passenger's front air bag will not
deploy.
Front seat passengers must stay
properly seated to avoid serious
injury from a deploying air bag.
Proper position
WARNING
Do not put a heavy load in the front
passenger seatback pocket or on the
front passenger seat. Do not hang
onto the front passenger seat. Do not
hang any items, such as a seatback
table, on the front passenger seat-
back. Do not place feet on the front
passenger seatback. Do not place
any items under the front passenger
seat. Any of these could interfere
with proper sensor operation.
WARNING
 Even though your vehicle is
equipped with the occupant clas-
sification system, never install a
child restraint system in the front
passenger's seat. A deploying air
bag can forcefully strike a child
resulting in serious injuries or
death. Any child age 12 and
under should ride in the rear seat.
Children too large for child
restraints should use the avail-
able lap/shoulder belts. No mat-
ter what type of crash, children of
all ages are safer when restrained
in the rear seat.
(Continued)

Safety features of your vehicle48
3
(Continued)
 Do not place an electronic device
such as a laptop computer on the
front passenger seat. Its elec-
tronic field may cause the OCS to
switch to the "on" condition and
thus allow the passenger air bag
to deploy needlessly in a colli-
sion, increasing your repair
costs.
 A smaller-stature adult in the front passenger’ seat who is not
seated correctly (for example:
seat excessively reclined, leaning
on the door or center console, or
hips shifted forward in the seat)
can cause a condition where the
occupant classification system
senses less weight than if the
occupant were seated properly
(sitting upright with the seatback
in an upright position, centered
on the seat cushion with their
seat belt on, legs comfortably
extended and their feet on the
floor).
This condition can result in an
adult potentially being misclassi-
fied as a child and illumination of
the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indica-
tor.
(Continued)
 Accident statistics show thatchildren are safer if they are
restrained in the rear, as opposed
to the front seat. It is recom-
mended that child restraints be
secured in a rear seat, including
an infant riding in a rear-facing
infant seat, a child riding in a for-
ward-facing child seat and an
older child riding in a booster
seat.
 Air bags can only be used once – have an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer replace the air bag imme-
diately after deployment.
 The occupant classification sys- tem may not work properly if
water, coffee or any other liquid
including rain gets on the seat.
Keep the front seat dry at all
times.
(Continued)
 If the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indi-cator is illuminated when the
front passenger's seat is occu-
pied by an adult and he/she sits
properly (sitting upright with the
seatback in an upright position,
centered on the seat cushion
with their seat belt on, legs com-
fortably extended and their feet
on the floor), have that person sit
in the rear seat.
 Do not modify or replace the front passenger seat. Don't place any-
thing on or attach anything such
as a blanket or seat heater to the
front passenger seat. This can
adversely affect the occupant
classification system.
 Do not sit on sharp objects such as tools when occupying the
front passenger seat. This can
adversely affect the occupant
classification system.
 Do not use accessory seat cov- ers on the front seats.
(Continued)

349
Safety features of your vehicle
Driver's and passenger's front air
bagYour vehicle is equipped with a
Supplemental Restraint (Air Bag) System
and lap/shoulder belts at both the driver
and passenger seating positions. The
indications of the system's presence are
the letters "SRS AIR BAG" or “AIR BAG"
embossed on the air bag pad cover in the
steering wheel and the passenger's side
front panel pad above the glove box.
The SRS consists of air bags installed
under the pad covers in the center of the
steering wheel and the passenger's side
front panel above the glove box.The purpose of the SRS is to provide the
vehicle's driver and/or the front passen-
ger with additional protection than that
offered by the seat belt system alone in
case of a frontal impact of sufficient
severity. The SRS uses sensors to gath-
er information about the driver's seat
position, the driver's and front passen-
ger's seat belt usage and impact severi-
ty.
OYF039030
Driver’s front air bag
WARNING
If the occupant classification sys-
tem is not working properly, the
SRS air bag warning light on the
instrument panel will illuminate
because the passenger's front air
bag is connected with the occupant
classification system. If there is a
malfunction of the occupant classi-
fication system, the PASS AIR BAG
"OFF" indicator will not illuminate
and the passenger's front air bag
will inflate in frontal impact crashes
even if there is no occupant in the
front passenger's seat. If the SRS
air bag warning light does not illu-
minate when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, remains
illuminated after approximately 6
seconds when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, or if it
illuminates while the vehicle is
being driven, have an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer inspect the occu-
pant classification system and the
SRS air bag system as soon as
possible.
OYF039031
Passenger’s front air bag

Safety features of your vehicle50
3
The driver's seat track position sensor,
which is installed on the seat track, deter-
mines if the seat is fore or aft of a refer-
ence position. The seat belt buckle sen-
sors determine if the driver and front pas-
senger's seat belts are fastened. These
sensors provide the ability to control the
SRS deployment based on how close the
driver's seat is to the steering wheel,
whether or not the seat belts are fas-
tened, and how severe the impact is.
The advanced SRS offers the ability to
control the air bag inflation within two lev-
els. A first stage level is provided for mod-
erate-severity impacts. A second stage
level is provided for more severe impacts.
According to the impact severity, seating
position and seat belt usage, the SRSCM
(SRS Control Module) controls the air
bag inflation. Failure to properly wear
seat belts can increase the risk or sever-
ity of injury in an accident. Additionally, your vehicle is equipped
with an occupant classification system in
the front passenger's seat. The occupant
classification system detects the pres-
ence of a passenger in the front passen-
ger's seat and will turn off the front pas-
senger's air bag under certain condi-
tions. For more detail, see "Occupant
classification system" in this section.
WARNING
If the occupant classification sys-
tem is not working properly, the
SRS air bag warning light on the
instrument panel will illuminate
because the SRS air bag warning
light is connected with the occu-
pant classification system. If the
SRS air bag warning light does not
illuminate when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position,
remains illuminated after approxi-
mately 6 seconds when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position,
or if it illuminates while the vehicle
is being driven, have an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer inspect the
advanced SRS air bag system as
soon as possible.
WARNING
 Modification to the seat structure
can adversely affect the seat
track position sensor and cause
the air bag to deploy at a different
level than should be provided.
 Do not place any objects under- neath the front seats as they
could damage the seat track
position sensor or interfere with
the occupant classification sys-
tem.
 Do not place any objects that may cause magnetic fields near the
front seat. These may cause a
malfunction of the seat track
position sensor.

351
Safety features of your vehicle
✽
✽NOTICE• Be sure to read information about the
SRS on the labels provided on the sun
visor.
• Advanced air bags are combined with pre-tensioner seat belts to help pro-
vide enhanced occupant protection in
frontal crashes. Front air bags are not
intended to deploy in collisions in
which protection can be provided by
the pre-tensioner seat belt.
(Continued)
 Move your seat as far back as
practical from the front air bags,
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle.
 You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily
close to the air bags. Improperly
positioned driver and passengers
can be severely injured by inflat-
ing air bags.
 Never lean against the door or center console – always sit in an
upright position.
 Do not allow a passenger to ride in the front seat when the PASS
AIR BAG "OFF" indicator is illu-
minated, because the air bag will
not deploy in the event of a mod-
erate or severe frontal crash.
(Continued)
WARNING
Always use seat belts and child
restraints – every trip, every time,
everyone! Air bags inflate with con-
siderable force and in the blink of
an eye. Seat belts help keep occu-
pants in proper position to obtain
maximum benefit from the air bag.
Even with advanced air bags,
improperly and unbelted occupants
can be severely injured when the
air bag inflates. Always follow the
precautions about seat belts, air
bags and occupant safety con-
tained in this manual.
To reduce the chance of serious or
fatal injuries and receive the maxi-
mum safety benefit from your
restraint system:
 Never place a child in any child orbooster seat in the front seat.
 ABC – Always Buckle Children in the back seat. It is the safest
place for children of any age to
ride.
 Front and side air bags can injure occupants improperly positioned
in the front seats.
(Continued)
WARNING
If you are considering modification
of your vehicle due to a disability,
please contact the Hyundai
Customer Assistance Center at 1-
800-633-5151.