Contents: Operating principle 🠛 Front airbag feature 🠛 Malfunctions 🠛 Additional safety devices for rear…🠛 Seat belt force limiter 🠛 Side airbags 🠛 Side curtains 🠛
The driver and front passenger seats are equipped with airbags.
Fig. 1.58. Location of the front passenger airbag
"Airbag" inscriptions on the steering wheel and on the instrument panel (airbag coverage area A), and the corresponding sticker on the lower part of the windshield indicate that this equipment is installed on the vehicle (Fig. 1.58).
Each airbag system includes:
- airbag and gas generator mounted in the central panel of the steering wheel (for the driver) or in the dashboard (for the front passenger);
- a common electronic unit consisting of a shock sensor and a tracking system for turning on the gas generator igniter;
- a single control lamp located on the instrument panel;
- additional forward-mounted frontal impact sensor.
Note: The airbag is powered by a gas generator system that emits smoke and some heat when the airbag inflates (don't be alarmed - this does not mean a fire has started) and a popping sound is also heard. When the airbag deploys, the driver may receive minor and quickly passing skin damage.
Operating principle
The system is activated only when the ignition is on.
In the event of a severe frontal impact, the airbags instantly inflate with gas, thus reducing the impact of the driver's head and chest on the steering wheel, and the head and chest of the front passenger on the dashboard; after the impact, the airbags immediately deflate, allowing you to freely leave the car.
Front airbag feature
Each cushion has two levels of deployment depending on the force of the impact and a ventilation system to prevent burns from the gases filling the cushion:
- "small volume" is the first level of filling of the pillow;
- "large volume" (second degree of filling of the pillow) - the safety seams of the airbag are torn and it becomes larger (under very strong blows).
Malfunctions
Fig. 1.59. Airbag malfunction indicator lamp
When the ignition is turned on, the control lamp located on the instrument panel lights up for a few seconds (Fig. 1.59).
If the indicator lamp does not light when the ignition is turned on, or lights up when the engine is running, this indicates a malfunction in the airbag system.
Contact a Renault service station as soon as possible. Untimely contact may lead to a decrease in safety.
Additional safety devices for rear seat passengers
Depending on the vehicle's configuration, additional safety devices include:
- seat belt pretensioners built into inertia reels;
- seat belt tension limiters.
In the event of a frontal impact, these devices can be activated either separately or simultaneously.
Depending on the force of the frontal impact, two options are possible:
- protection is provided only by seat belts;
- the pretensioner is activated, pressing the seat belt tightly against the body.
The rear seat belt pretensioners only operate when the ignition is on.
In the event of a strong frontal impact, the device instantly retracts the belt, pressing it against the body and thereby increasing the effectiveness of the belt.
Seat belt force limiter
This device is activated at a certain impact force and limits the force of the belt pressing on the torso.
Side airbags
Side airbags are installed in the front seats and, depending on the vehicle's equipment, in the rear side seats and deploy from the side of the seat (from the door side) in a severe side impact, protecting the driver and passengers.
Side curtains
These airbags are mounted on top of the vehicle and deploy along the front and rear side windows to protect the driver and passengers in severe side impacts.