always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page
17
).
Restrain All Children Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger children should use a booster seat and a lap/ shoulder belt until they can use the belt properly without a booster seat
(see pages
38
−
55
).
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual.
Don’t Drink and Drive Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.
Control Your Speed Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance (see page
387
).
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:40:27 31SJA630 0014
(8)
(9)
(3)
(4)
(6)
(9)
(10)
(1)
(7)
(2)
*
: On model with Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS)
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Your vehicle is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash.
Some features do not require any action on your part. These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; front and rear crush zones; a collapsible steering column; and tensioners that tighten the front seat belts in a crash.
However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and alwayswear . In fact, some safety yourseatbelts features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.
The following pages explain how you can take an active role in protecting yourself and your passengers.
(6)
(8) (11)
(2)
(7)
(5)
(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones (3) Seats and Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Front Airbags (8) Side Airbags (9) Side Curtain Airbags (10) Door Locks (11) Front Seat Belt Tensioners/ *
Seat Belt E-pretensioners
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:40:43 31SJA630 0015
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Seat Belts Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.
Your seat belt system also includes an indicator on the instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.
WhyWearSeatBelts Seat belts are the single most effective safety device for adults and larger children. (Infants and smaller children must be properly restrained in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.
In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.
10
Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.
Be sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts and wear them properly.
When properly worn, seat belts:
Keep you connected to the vehicle so you can take advantage of the vehicle’s built-in safety features.
Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including frontal, side, and rear impacts and rollovers.
Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the vehicle and against other occupants.
Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle.
Help keep you in a good position should the airbags ever deploy. A good position reduces the risk of injury from an inflating airbag and allows you to get the best advantage from the airbag.
Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your risk of serious injury.
WhatYouShouldDo: Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:40:52 31SJA630 0016
Airbags
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Your vehicle has a supplemental
restraint system (SRS) with front
airbags to help protect the heads and
chests of the driver and a front seat
passenger during a moderate to
severe frontal collision (see page
29
for more information on how
your front airbags work).
Your vehicle also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact (see page information on how your side airbags work).
for more
32
In addition, your vehicle has side
curtain airbags to help protect the
heads of the driver, front passenger,
and passengers in the outer rear
seating positions during a moderate
to severe side impact (see page
for more information on how
34
your side curtain airbags work).
CONTINUED
11
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:41:01 31SJA630 0017
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Always wear
Whatyoushoulddo: your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.
The rest of this section gives more detailed information about how you can maximize your safety.
Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.
The most important things you need to know about your airbags are:
Airbagsdonotreplaceseatbelts. They are designed to supplement the seat belts.
Airbagsoffernoprotectioninrear impacts,orminorfrontalorside collisions.
Airbagscanposeserioushazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force. So while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries or more serious or even fatal injuries if occupants are not properly restrained or sitting properly.
12
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:41:13 31SJA630 0018
Introduction The following pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver, adult passengers, and teenage children who are large enough and mature enough to drive or ride in the front.
Your vehicle has door monitor indicators on the multi-information display to indicate when a specific door or the trunk is not tightly closed. You will see the appropriate indicator and the message for each condition.
42
38
−
for important
See pages guidelines on how to properly protect infants, small children, and larger children who ride in your vehicle.
1. Close and Lock the Doors After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors are closed and locked.
When one or more doors are not tightly closed, the ‘‘DOOR OPEN’’ indicator will stay on.
Protecting Adults and Teens
When the trunk is not tightly closed, the ‘‘TRUNK OPEN’’ indicator will stay on.
CONTINUED
13
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:41:22 31SJA630 0019
Protecting Adults and Teens
Locking the doors reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash, and it helps prevent passengers from accidentally opening a door and falling out.
Locking the doors also helps prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.
See page doors.
152
for how to lock the
2.
Adjust the Front Seats
Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the rear as possible while allowing you to maintain full control of the vehicle. Have a front passenger adjust their seat as far to the rear as possible.
When both the trunk and one or more doors are not tightly closed, the ‘‘DOOR & TRUNK OPEN’’ indicator will stay on.
14
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:41:34 31SJA630 0020
If you sit too close to the steering wheel or dashboard, you can be seriously injured by an inflating front airbag, or by striking the steering wheel or dashboard.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the steering wheel and the chest. In addition to adjusting the seat, you can adjust the steering wheel up and down, and in and out (see page
147
).
If you cannot get far enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.
Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the front airbags as possible.
See page front seats.
155
for how to adjust the
Protecting Adults and Teens
3.
Adjust the Seat-Backs
Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable, upright position, leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel.
Passengers with adjustable seat- backs should also adjust their seat- back to a comfortable, upright position.
CONTINUED
15
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:41:43 31SJA630 0021
Protecting Adults and Teens
4.
Adjust the Head Restraints
Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position, and sit well back in the seat.
Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.
See page seat-backs.
155
for how to adjust the
16
Adjust the driver’s head restraint so the center of the back of your head rests against the center of the restraint.
Have passengers with adjustable head restraints adjust their restraints properly as well. Taller persons should adjust their restraint as high as possible.
Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and you can be seriously injured in a crash.
Make sure head restraints are in place and positioned properly before driving.
Properly adjusted head restraints will help protect occupants from whiplash and other crash injuries.
See page head restraints.
156
for how to adjust the
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:41:53 31SJA630 0022
5.
Fasten and Position the Seat Belts
Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.
Protecting Adults and Teens
This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.
Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.
If the seat belt touches or crosses your neck, or if it crosses your arm instead of your shoulder, you need to adjust the seat belt anchor height.
CONTINUED
17
Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries.
If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder.
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:42:04 31SJA630 0023
Protecting Adults and Teens
RELEASE BUTTON
Neverplacetheshoulderportionofa lap/shoulderbeltunderyourarmor behindyourback. very serious injuries in a crash.
This could cause
If a seat belt does not seem to work properly, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.
Nooneshouldsitinaseatwithan Using a seat inoperativeseatbelt. belt that is not working properly can result in serious injury or death. Have your dealer check the belt as soon as possible.
21
for additional
See page information about your seat belts and how to take care of them.
The front seats have adjustable seat belt anchors. To adjust the height of an anchor, press and hold the release buttons, and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).
18
6.
Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:42:12 31SJA630 0024
In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or fatally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an inflating front airbag.
Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.
Advice for Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt, and keep the lap part of the belt as low as possible across the hips.
Protecting Adults and Teens
When driving, remember to sit upright and adjust the seat as far back as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. When riding as a front passenger, adjust the seat as far back as possible.
This will reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating front airbag.
Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive.
19
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:42:20 31SJA630 0025
Protecting Adults and Teens
Keepyourhandsandarmsaway If your fromtheairbagcovers. hands or arms are close to an airbag cover, they could be injured if the airbag inflates.
Donotattachorplaceobjectson Objects on thefrontairbagcovers. the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
Donotattachhardobjectsonor If a side airbag or a nearadoor. side curtain airbag inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone.
Additional Safety Precautions
Twopeopleshouldneverusethe sameseatbelt. could be very seriously injured in a crash.
If they do, they
Donotputanyaccessoriesonseat Devices intended to improve belts. occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of the belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
Donotplacehardorsharpobjects betweenyourselfandafront Carrying hard or sharp airbag. objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
20
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:42:31 31SJA630 0026
Seat Belt System Components Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all five seating positions. The front seat belts are also equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners and, on models with collision mitigation brake system (CMBS), seat belt e-pretensioners.
This system uses the same sensors as the front airbags to monitor whether the front seat belts are latched or unlatched, and how much weight is on the front passenger’s seat (see pages
and
31
32
).
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
The seat belt system includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.
If either the driver or a front passenger does not fasten their seat belt while driving, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash again at regular intervals.
This system monitors the front seat belts. If you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position before your seat belt is fastened, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash. If your seat belt is not fastened before the beeper stops, the indicator will stop flashing but remain on.
If a front passenger does not fasten their seat belt, the indicator will come on about 6 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON (II) position.
You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER SEAT BELT’’ message on the multi- information display (see page
79
).
When no one is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator should not come on and the beeper should not sound.
CONTINUED
21
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:42:42 31SJA630 0027
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
If the indicator comes on or the beeper sounds when the driver’s seat belt is latched and there is no front seat passenger and no items on the front seat, something may be interfering with the monitoring system. Look for and remove:
Any items under the front passenger’s seat.
Any object(s) hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket.
Any object touching the rear of the seat-back.
If no obstructions are found, have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
Lap/Shoulder Belt The lap/shoulder belt goes over your shoulder, across your chest, and across your hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched (see page for how to properly position the belt).
17
To unlock the belt, press the red PRESS button on the buckle. Guide the belt across your body so that it retracts completely. After exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the way and will not get closed in the door.
All seat belts have an emergency locking retractor. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move freely in your seat while it keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically locks the belt to help restrain your body.
22
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:42:53 31SJA630 0028
The seat belts in all positions except the driver’s have a lockable retractor that must be activated to secure a child seat (see page
49
).
If the shoulder part of the belt is pulled all the way out, the lockable retractor will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely.
To deactivate the lockable retractor, unlatch the buckle and let the seat belt fully retract. To refasten the seat belt, pull it out only as far as needed.
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
For added protection, the front seat belts are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. When activated, the tensioners immediately tighten the belts to help hold the driver and a front passenger in position.
The tensioners are designed to activate in any collision severe enough to cause the front airbags to deploy.
If a side airbag or side curtain airbag deploys during a side impact, the tensioner on that side of the vehicle will also deploy.
The tensioners can also be activated during a collision in which the front . In this case, the airbags airbags would not be needed, but the additional restraint could be helpful.
donotdeploy
When the tensioners are activated, the seat belts will remain tight until they are unbuckled.
23
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:43:02 31SJA630 0029
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt e-pretensioners
If your vehicle gets too close to the vehicle ahead of it in your lane, the driver’s e-pretensioner slightly retracts the seat belt to alert the driver of the approaching vehicle. If a collision with the vehicle in front of you is likely, the e-pretensioners on both front seats retract the seat belts with enough force to properly restrain you and your front passenger. After they activate, the e-pretensioners release the retracted seat belts.
To get the full benefit of the e-pretensioners, you and your front passenger must sit normally in your seats and wear your seat belts properly (see page
17
).
OnmodelswithCollisionMitigation
BrakeSystem
For added safety, the front seat belts
are equipped with e-pretensioners
that work in combination with the
collision mitigation brake system
(CMBS) (see page
) and the
brake pedal assist function (see page
358
361
).
24
The e-pretensioners do not activate when the seat belts are not worn or when the vehicle stability assist (VSA) off indicator on the instrument panel is on.
If the automatic seat belt tensioners
are activated by a collision, both
front seat belts and all related
components must be
replaced (see page
25
e-pretensioners were activated, no
components need to be replaced.
). If only the
In addition, the front passenger’s e-pretensioner does not activate when the passenger’s airbag is automatically turned off because the weight sensor detects a child in the front passenger’s seat.
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:43:11 31SJA630 0030
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance For safety, you should check the condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out fully, and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. If a belt does
not retract easily, cleaning the belt
may correct the problem (see page
). Any belt that is not in good
415
condition or working properly will
not provide good protection and
should be replaced as soon as
possible.
If a seat belt is worn during a crash, it must be replaced by the dealer. A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace them if needed. If the automatic seat belt tensioners activate during a crash, they must be replaced.
Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work properly when needed.
Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as possible.
Acura provides a limited warranty on seat belts. See your Information
booklet for details.
AcuraWarranty
25
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:43:17 31SJA630 0031
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Airbag System Components
(8)
(1)
(2)
(10)
(5)
(9)
(4)
(7)
(9)
(6)
(4)
(1) Driver’s Airbag (2) Front Passenger’s Airbag (3) Control Unit (4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners/ *
Seat Belt E-pretensioners
(5) Side Airbags (6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor (7) Front Passenger’s Seat Weight Sensors (8) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator (9) Side Impact Sensors (First) (10) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors
(5)
(3)
: On models with CMBS
*
26
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:43:26 31SJA630 0032
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Your airbag system includes:
(14)
(13)
(15)
(12)
(11)
(13)
(11) E-pretensioner Control Unit * (12) Front Impact Sensors (13) Side Impact Sensors (Second) (14) Rear Safing Sensor (15) Side Curtain Airbags
Two SRS (supplemental restraint system) front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’s airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ (see page
29
).
Two side airbags, one for the driver and one for a front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seat- backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE AIRBAG’’ (see page
32
).
Two side curtain airbags, one for
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page
34
).
CONTINUED
27
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:43:39 31SJA630 0033
Additional Information About Your Airbags
On models with CMBS, front seat
belt e-pretensioners (see page
).
24
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page
).
23
Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe front impact or side impact.
Sensors that can detect whether a child is in the passenger’s side airbag path and signal the control unit to turn the airbag off (see page
33
).
Sensors that can detect whether the driver’s seat belt and the front passenger’s seat belt are latched or unlatched (see page
21
).
28
A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page
31
).
Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger’s seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child), the passenger’s front airbag will be turned off (see page
31
).
A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and records information about the sensors, the control unit, the airbag activators, the seat belt tensioners, and driver and front passenger seat belt use when the ignition switch is in the ON (II) position.
An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with your airbags, sensors, seat belt tensioners (see page CMBS, seat belt e-pretensioners (see page
), or, on models with
34
24
).
An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag has been turned off (see page
35
).
An indicator on the dashboard that alerts you that the passenger’s front airbag has been turned off (see page
35
).
Emergency backup power in case your vehicle’s electrical system is disconnected in a crash.
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:43:51 31SJA630 0034
Additional Information About Your Airbags
How Your Front Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration.
If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will instantly inflate the driver’s and front passenger’s airbags, at the time and with the force needed.
During a frontal crash, your seat belt restrains your lower body and torso, and the front airbag helps protect your head and chest.
Although both airbags normally inflate within a split second of each other, it is possible for only one airbag to deploy.
This can happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.
Only the driver’s airbag will deploy if there is no passenger in the front seat, or if the advanced airbag system has turned the passenger’s airbag off (see page
31
).
After inflating, the front airbags will immediately deflate, so they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps.
CONTINUED
29
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:44:00 31SJA630 0035
Additional Information About Your Airbags
After a crash, you may see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from the airbag’s surface. Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems may experience some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Dual-StageAirbags Your front airbags are dual-stage airbags. This means they have two inflation stages that can be ignited sequentially or simultaneously, depending on crash severity.
moresevere
In a crash, both stages will ignite simultaneously to provide the quickest and greatest protection.
lesssevere
crash, one stage will
In a ignite first, then the second stage will ignite a split second later. This provides longer airbag inflation time with a little less force.
Dual-ThresholdAirbags Your front airbags are also dual- threshold airbags. Airbags with this feature have two deployment thresholds that depend on whether sensors detect the occupant is wearing a seat belt or not.
notlatched
If the occupant’s belt is the airbag will deploy at a slightly lower threshold, because the occupant would need extra protection.
latched
If the occupant’s belt is , the airbag will inflate at a slightly higher threshold, when the airbag would be needed to supplement the protection provided by the seat belt.
30
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:44:13 31SJA630 0036
AdvancedAirbags Your front airbags are also advanced airbags. The main purpose of this feature is to help prevent airbag- caused injuries to short drivers and children who ride in front.
For both advanced airbags to work properly:
Occupants must sit upright and wear their seat belts properly.
Do not spill any liquids on or under the seats, cover the sensors, or put any objects or metal items under the front seats.
Back-seat passengers should not put their feet under the front seats.
Failure to follow these instructions could damage the sensors or prevent them from working properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags
DRIVER’S SEAT POSITION SENSOR
PASSENGER’S SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR
The driver’s advanced front airbag system includes a seat position sensor under the seat. If the seat is too far forward, the airbag will inflate with less force, regardless of the severity of the impact.
If there is a problem with the sensor, the SRS indicator will come on, and the airbag will inflate in the normal manner regardless of the driver’s seating position.
The passenger’s advanced front
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an infant or
small child in front, if the sensors
detect the weight of an infant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger’s front airbag off.
Be aware that objects placed on the passenger’s seat can also cause the airbag to be turned off.
CONTINUED
31
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:44:24 31SJA630 0037
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Moving the front seat forcibly back against cargo on the seat or floor behind it.
Hanging heavy items on the front passenger seat, or placing heavy items in the seat-back pocket.
Also, make sure the floor mat behind
the front passenger’s seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor (see page
416
interfere with the proper operation
of the sensors and operation of the
seat.
). If it is not, the mat may
How Your Side Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid acceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver’s or the passenger’s side airbag and activate the seat belt tensioner on the affected side.
When the airbag is turned off, a ‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in the center of the dashboard comes on (see page
35
).
If the weight sensors detect there is no passenger in the front seat, the airbag will be off. However, the passenger airbag off indicator will not come on.
To ensure that the passenger’s advanced front airbag system will work properly, donotdoanything thatwouldincreaseordecreasethe weightonthefrontpassenger’sseat. This includes:
A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger’s seat.
32
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:44:35 31SJA630 0038
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Only one airbag will deploy during a side impact. If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side airbag will deploy even if there is no passenger.
SideAirbagCutoffSystem Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff system designed primarily to protect a child riding in the front passenger’s seat.
To get the best protection from the side airbags, front seat occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.
Although Acura does not encourage children to ride in front, if the position sensors detect a child has leaned into the side airbag’s deployment path, the airbag will shut off.
The side airbag may also shut off if a short adult leans sideways, or a larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the airbag’s deployment path.
Objects placed on the front passenger seat can also cause the side airbag to be shut off.
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), have the
If the side airbag off indicator comes on (see page passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the airbag’s deployment path, the system will turn the airbag back on, and the indicator will go out.
There will be some delay between the moment the passenger moves into or out of the airbag deployment path and when the indicator comes on or goes off.
A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or other object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly.
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side curtain airbag will inflate even if there are no occupants on that side of the vehicle.
To get the best protection from the side curtain airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG
In a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid acceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate the side curtain airbag and activate the seat belt tensioner on the driver’s or the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
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How the SRS Indicator Works The SRS indicator alerts you to a potential problem
with your airbags, seat belt tensioners, and, on models with CMBS, seat belt e-pretensioners.
When you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, this indicator comes on briefly then goes off. This tells you the system is working properly.
If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For example:
If the SRS indicator does not come on after you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.
If the indicator stays on after the engine starts.
If the indicator comes on or flashes on and off while you drive.
2008 RL 07/05/17 08:44:58 31SJA630 0040
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-information display (see page
78
).
If you see any of these indications, the airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work properly when you need them.
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in serious injury or death if the airbag systems or tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts you to a possible problem.
Additional Information About Your Airbags
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
U.S.
Canada
How the Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Works
This indicator alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag has been automatically shut off. It does not mean there is a problem with your side airbags.
U.S.
Canada
63
). If it does not come on,
When you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, the indicator should come on briefly and go out (see page stays on, or comes on while driving without a passenger in the front seat, you will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the multi-information display. Have the system checked (see page
79
).
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR
This indicator alerts you that the passenger’s front airbag has been shut off because weight sensors detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child) on the front passenger’s seat. It does there is a problem with the airbag.
notmean
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
Be aware that objects placed on the front seat can cause the indicator to come on.
If no weight is detected in the front seat, the airbag will be automatically shut off. However, the indicator will not come on.
The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is near the airbag cutoff threshold.
If an adult or teenage passenger is riding in front, move the seat as far to the rear as possible, and have the passenger sit upright and wear the seat belt properly.
If the indicator comes on with no front seat passenger and no objects on the seat, or with an adult riding there, something may be interfering with the weight sensors. Look for and remove:
Airbag Service Your airbag systems are virtually maintenance free, and there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have your vehicle serviced if:
Any items under the front passenger’s seat.
Any object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket.
Any object touching the rear of the seat-back.
If no obstructions are found, have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
Any airbag
Anairbageverinflates. that has deployed must be replaced along with the control unit and other related parts. Any seat belt tensioner that activates must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace any airbag by yourself. This must be done by an authorized dealer or a knowledgeable body shop.
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Additional Information About Your Airbags
TheSRSindicatoralertsyoutoa Take your vehicle to an problem. authorized dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this indication, your airbags may not operate properly.
Even if your
Ifyourvehiclehasamoderateto severeimpact. airbags do not inflate, your dealer should inspect the driver’s seat position sensor, the front passenger’s weight sensors, the front seat belt tensioners, and all seat belts worn during a crash to make sure they are operating properly.
Additional Safety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour airbags. seat belts provide the best protection.
Together, airbags and
Donottamperwithairbag componentsorwiringforany Tampering could cause reason. the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.
Donotremoveormodifyafront seatwithoutconsultingyour This could make the dealer. driver’s seat position sensor or the front passenger’s weight sensors ineffective. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat to accommodate a person with disabilities, first contact Acura Client Services at 800-382-2238.
Donotcoverorreplacefrontseat- backcoverswithoutconsulting Improperly replacing yourdealer. or covering front seat-back covers can prevent your side airbags from inflating during a side impact.
If water or
Donotexposethefrontpassenger’s seat-backtoliquid. another liquid soaks into the seat- back, it can prevent the side airbag cutoff system from working properly.
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Protecting Children General Guidelines
−
All Children Must Be Restrained Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of the death of children ages 12 and under.
To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride in a vehicle.
Infantsandsmallchildrenmustbe restrainedinanapprovedchildseat thatisproperlysecuredtothe vehicle
(see pages
51
43
).
−
Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash.
Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt and use a booster seat if necessary.
Largerchildrenmustberestrained withalap/shoulderbeltandrideon aboosterseatuntiltheseatbeltfits ). themproperly
(see pages
55
52
−
Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions, many adults do not know how to passengers.
protect child
properly
If you have children, or ever need to drive with a child in your vehicle, be sure to read this section. It begins with important general guidelines, then presents special information for infants, small children, and larger children.
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Protecting Children General Guidelines
−
All Children Should Sit in a Back Seat According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in a back seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children aged 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat. Some states have laws restricting where children may ride.
Children who ride in back are less likely to be injured by striking interior vehicle parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating front airbag when they ride in the back.
The Passenger’s Front Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe frontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it can inflate with enough force to cause very serious injuries.
Even though your vehicle has an advanced front airbag system that automatically turns the passenger’s ), front airbag off (see page please follow these guidelines:
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Infants Neverputarear-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped If withapassenger’sfrontairbag. the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant.
SmallChildren Placingaforward-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped withapassenger’sfrontairbagcan If the vehicle seat is behazardous. too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child.
Whenever possible,
LargerChildren Childrenwhohaveoutgrownchild seatsarealsoatriskofbeinginjured orkilledbyaninflatingpassenger’s frontairbag. larger children should sit in the back seat, on a booster seat if needed, and be properly restrained with a seat belt (see page information about protecting larger children).
for important
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Protecting Children General Guidelines
−
U.S.Models
SUN VISORS
DASHBOARD
To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in a back seat, your vehicle has warning labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the front visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.
CanadianModels
SUN VISORS
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