Air Bag System Construction

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara, and 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The major components of the air bag system are:

2-stage air bags on the driver seat side and front passenger seat side
Seat belt with pretensioner
Side-air bag on the driver and front passenger seat back
Curtain-air bag in the driver and front passenger roof side
SDM located on the vehicle body panel under center console
Forward-sensor located on the front apron side member
Side-sensor located on the vehicle body panel near the seat belt with pretensioner
Seat belt buckle sensor installed in driver and passenger seat belt buckle
Occupant classification system in the front passenger seat
Wiring harness

When SDM deploys the air bags at the occurrence of a frontal collision, it determines the extent of the air bag deployment for both the driver air bag and front passenger air bag according to the extent of the collision impact force. At the same time, it activates the seat belt pretensioners on the driver seat side and front passenger seat side. Side-air bag (inflator) module is deployed from the side of the seat back in occurrence of a sideward collision with an impact larger than a certain set value. At the same time, Side curtain-air bag (inflator) module is deployed from the roof side.

The side-air bag and curtain-air bag on the same side deploy at the same time only when an impact is applied to that side. For the details, refer to the table below.

Fig 1: Air Bag Reference Chart

Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.

The occupant classification system installed to the front passenger seat consists of the occupant classification module (OCM) with sensor mat located into passenger seat cushion. The occupant classification system judges what occupies the seat, an adult, child, object, child seat or etc. by detecting the pressure distribution applied to the sensor mat. In the case of the air bag for the front passenger seat, the OCM with sensor mat transmits the conditions of the front passenger based on signals from OCM with sensor mat to SDM. Thereby, SDM determines non-deployment or deployment of the air bag of the front passenger seat. While there is an occupant in the front passenger seat, if the PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator located in the center of the instrument panel is lit, its air bag and seat belt pretensioner will not operate. While there is no occupant there, even though the above indicator is not lit, the air bag or seat belt pretensioner of the front passenger seat will not operate. But, the operation of side-air bag and curtain-air bag is not influenced from the occupant classification system.

WARNING: Do not modify the front seats (driver and passenger) and do not install accessory part like a seat cover, an additional something such as a cushion, etc. on the passenger seat if equipped with the occupant classification system. Otherwise, the air bag system may not operate properly and personal injury may result.