sensor SATURN ION 2006 Owners Manual

When Should an Airbag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal 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 an electronic frontal sensor
which help the sensing system distinguish between
a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal
impact. For moderate frontal impacts, the 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 16 to 20 mph (26 to 32 km/h),
and the threshold level for a full deployment is
25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 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 (driver and right front passenger) are
not intended to inate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.
Your vehicle may or may not have roof-mounted side
impact airbags. SeeAirbag System on page 1-54.
Roof-mounted side impact airbags are intended to inate
in moderate to severe side crashes. A roof-mounted side
impact airbag will inate if the crash severity is above the
system’s designed “threshold level.” The threshold level
can vary with specic vehicle design. Roof-mounted
side impact airbags are not intended to inate in frontal
or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts.
A roof-mounted side impact airbag is intended to
deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
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The passenger sensing system works with sensors
that are part of the right front 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. General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding
in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a
forward-facing child seat, and an older child riding
in a booster seat.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.”
This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is
so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the
rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far back as it will
go. It is better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front or
sides 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 the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
in this manual. SeeCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 7-2.
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, instrument panel,
ceiling headliner, ceiling and pillar garnish trim,
roof-mounted airbag modules, 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. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
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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. The vehicle has a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Make sure it is not covered or the
headlamps will be on when not needed.
The DRL system will make your amber turn signal bulb
come on in daylight when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamp band is in the off or AUTO
position.
When the DRL are on, your amber turn signal bulb will
be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t
be on. Your instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When you turn the exterior lamp band to the headlamp
position, your headlamps will come on. The other lamps
that come on with your headlamps will also come on.
When you turn off the headlamps, the regular lamps will
go off, and your amber turn signal bulb will come on.
Automatic Headlamp System
If you have the automatic headlamps system, the
headlamps will come on automatically when it is dark
enough.
Your vehicle may have a
light sensor located on top
of the instrument panel.
Make sure it is not covered,
or the headlamps will be on
when you don’t need them.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage or tunnel.
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Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, 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, see
Airbag System on page 1-54.
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.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few seconds
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t
come on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
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Fuses Usage
7 Not Used
8Anti-lock Brake System, Traction
Control Module
9 Engine Control Module
10Canister Purge Solenoid, Canister
Vent Solenoid, Low Coolant Switch,
Oxygen Sensors
11Electric Ignition Control Module,
Charging System, Neutral Stop
Back-Up Switch
12 Not Used
13 Transaxle
14Transaxle Control Module, Neutral
Stop Back-Up
15 PRNDL, Back-up Switch
16 Fuel Injectors (Cylinder 1, 2, 3, 4)
17 Fog Lamps
18 Driver’s Side Headlamp
19 Windshield WiperFuses Usage
20 Horn
21Entertainment, Premium Radio
Amplier
22Anti-lock Brake System, Traction
Control Module
23 Rear Defogger
38 Starter/Ignition
39 Body Control Module 1
40Anti-lock Brake System, Traction
Control Module
41 Body Control Module 2
42 Not Used
43 Electric Power Steering
44 Air Pump Relay Fuse
45 Cooling Fan
46 Crank
47 Body Control Module 1A
48 Body Control Module (IGN 3)
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Fuses Usage
8 Anti-lock Brake System
9 Engine Control Module
10Canister Purge Solenoid, Canister
Vent Solenoid, Low Coolant Switch,
Oxygen Sensors
11Electric Ignition Control Module,
Charging System, Neutral Safety
Stop Back-Up Switch
12 Not Used
13 Engine Control Module
14 Boost
15 Back-up Switch
16 Fuel Injectors
17 Fog Lamps
18 Driver’s Side Headlamp
19 Windshield Wiper
20 HornFuses Usage
21Entertainment, Premium Radio
Amplier
22 Anti-lock Brake System
23 Rear Defogger
38 Starter/Ignition
39 Body Control Module 1
40 Anti-lock Brake System
41 Body Control Module 2
42 Not Used
43 Electric Power Steering
44 Cooling Fan 2
45 Cooling Fan 1
46 Crank
47 Body Control Module 1A
48 Body Control Module (IGN 3)
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Fuses Usage
9Engine Control Module, Electronic
Throttle Control
10Canister Purge Solenoid, Canister
Vent Solenoid, Low Coolant Switch,
Oxygen Sensors
11Electric Ignition Control Module,
Charging System, Neutral Stop
Back-Up Switch
12 Not Used
13 Transaxle 2
14Transaxle Control Module, Neutral
Stop Back-Up
15 PRNDL, Back-up Switch
16 Fuel Injectors (Cylinder 1, 2, 3, 4)
17 Fog Lamps
18 Driver’s Side Headlamp
19 Windshield Wiper
20 HornFuses Usage
21Entertainment, Premium Radio
Amplier
22Anti-lock Brake System, Traction
Control Module
23 Rear Defogger
38 Starter/Ignition
39 Body Control Module 1
40Anti-lock Brake System, Traction
Control Module
41 Body Control Module 2
42 Not Used
43 Electric Power Steering
44 Cooling Fan 2
45 Cooling Fan
46 Crank
47 Body Control Module 1A
48 Body Control Module (IGN 3)
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