active and passive types. Active restraints are those
which require the vehicle occupants to take some
action to employ, such as fastening a seat belt; while

passive restraints require no action by the vehicle
occupants to be employed.

ACTIVE RESTRAINTS

The active restraints include:
• Front Seat Belts - Both front seating positions

are equipped with three-point seat belt systems
employing a lower B-pillar mounted inertia latch-

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type

retractor,

height-adjustable

upper

B-pillar

mounted turning loops, a fixed lower seat belt anchor
secured to the lower B-pillar, and a traveling end-re-
lease buckle secured to the inboard side of the seat
cushion frame. The driver side front seat belt buckle
includes an integral Hall-effect seat belt switch that
detects whether the driver side front seat belt has
been fastened.

• Rear Seat Belts - Both outboard rear second

and third seating positions are equipped with three-
point seat belt systems. The outboard seating posi-
tion belts employ a lower C or D-pillar mounted
inertia latch-type retractor, a fixed position upper C
or D-pillar mounted turning loop, and a fixed lower
seat belt anchor secured to the inboard side of the
seat cushion frame.

• Child Restraint Anchors - Also equipped in

this vehicle are two, fixed-position, child seat upper
tether anchors located on the lower seat cushion, in
the rear of the lower seat cushion. There is one
anchor integral to the back of the third row seat back
panel, one on each seat back panel. Two lower second
row anchors are also provided for each rear outboard
seating position. The lower anchors are integral to
the seat cushion frame and are accessed from the
front of the second row seat where the seat back
meets the seat cushion.

PASSIVE RESTRAINTS

The passive restraints available for this model

include the following:

• Dual Front Airbags - Multistage driver. front

passenger, and driver knee blocker airbags are avail-
able for this model. This airbag system is a passive,
inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and
vehicles with this equipment can be readily identified
by the “SRS - AIRBAG” logo molded into the driver
airbag trim cover in the center of the steering wheel
and also into the passenger airbag door on the
instrument panel above the glove box. Vehicles with
the airbag system can also be identified by the airbag
indicator, which will illuminate in the instrument
cluster for about seven seconds as a bulb test each
time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
A pyrotechnic-type seat belt tensioner is integral to
the driver and passenger front seat belt retractor of
all models equipped with dual front airbags.

•

Occupant Classification System - These

vehicles also include an Occupant Classification Sys-
tem (OCS) with components that are located on or in
the passenger front seat cushion. These components
include an Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
and a seat weight bladder and pressure sensor
assembly. In addition, this system includes a belt
tension sensor integral to the lower anchor of the
passenger side front seat belt. Vehicles equipped with

the OCS can be readily identified by a Passenger Air-
bag Disabled (PAD) indicator (Fig. 1) located in the
instrument panel switch pod, below the hazard
switch, above the center stack a/c outlets.

• Curtain Airbags - Curtain airbags are avail-

able for this model when it is also equipped with
dual front airbags. This airbag system is a passive,
inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and
vehicles with this equipment can be readily identified
by a molded identification trim button with the “SRS
- AIRBAG” logo (Fig. 2) located on the headliner
above each B-pillar.

This vehicle is equipped with a Frontal Impact Air-

bag System, which utilizes the driver/passenger air-
bags, driver knee blocker airbag, and seat belt
tensioners. This system is designed to protect occu-

Fig. 1 PAD INDICATOR

1 - HAZARD SWITCH
2 - PAD INDICATOR

Fig. 2 SRS LOGO

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pants in the event of a front impact collision. These
airbags and seat belt tensioners are all serviceable
parts. If these pyrotechnics are deployed or defective,
they must be replaced, as well as the Occupant
Restraint Controller (ORC) must be diagnosed follow-
ing procedures outlined in the diagnostic information.

The Driver and Passenger Airbag System was

designed to reduce the likelihood of injury or death
in frontal collisions. Each separate system is supple-
mental (Fig. 2) or Passive to the primary restraint
device, which are the seat belts.

• Airbag Indicator - The airbag indicator is inte-

gral to the Instrument Cluster, which is located on
the instrument panel in front of the driver.

• Belt Tension Sensor - Vehicles equipped with

the Occupant Classification System (OCS) include a
belt tension sensor. This sensor is integral to the pas-
senger side front seat belt lower anchor which is
secured to the lower B-pillar, out board and rear of
the front passenger seat, concealed beneath an access
cover on the seat belt assembly.

• Clockspring - The clockspring is located near

the top of the steering column, directly beneath the
steering wheel (Fig. 3).

• Curtain Airbag - A side curtain airbag is

located on each inside roof side rail above the head-
liner, and extends from the A-pillar to just beyond
the D-pillar.

• Driver Airbag - The driver airbag is located in

the center of the steering wheel, beneath the driver
airbag trim cover (Fig. 3).

• Front Impact Sensor - Two front impact sen-

sors are used on vehicles equipped with dual front
airbags, one left side and one right side. The sensors
are located on the rail tips, rearward of the bumper
attachments.

• Knee Blocker Airbag - The driver knee blocker

airbag is secured to the instrument panel behind the
steering column opening cover (Fig. 3).

• Occupant Classification Module - Vehicles

equipped with the Occupant Classification System
(OCS) include an Occupant Classification Module
(OCM) which is secured to a stamped steel mounting
bracket on the underside of the passenger side front
seat cushion frame.

• Occupant Restraint Controller - The Occu-

pant Restraint Controller (ORC) is also sometimes
referred to as the Airbag Control Module (ACM). The

Fig. 3 AIRBAG COMPONENT LOCATION - INSTRUMENT PANEL

1 - PASSENGER AIRBAG
2 - OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER (ORC)

3 - KNEE BLOCKER AIRBAG
4 - DRIVER AIRBAG

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ORC is located on a mount on the floor transmission
tunnel just underneath the instrument panel center
stack (Fig. 3).

• Passenger Airbag - The passenger airbag is

located on the instrument panel, beneath the instru-
ment panel top pad and above the glove box on the
passenger side of the vehicle (Fig. 3).

• Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator

- Vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification
System (OCS) include a passenger airbag disabled
(PAD) indicator which is located in the instrument
panel switch pod, next to the cluster (Fig. 3).

• Passenger Knee Blocker - The passenger knee

blocker is a structural reinforcement that is integral
to and concealed within the glove box door (Fig. 3).

• Seat Belt Tensioner - A seat belt tensioner is

integral to both front seat belt retractors. The seat
belt retractors are secured to the lower B-pillars.

• Seat Weight Bladder and Pressure Sensor

Assembly - Vehicles equipped with the Occupant
Classification System (OCS) include a seat weight
bladder that is sandwiched between an insulator pad
on the top of the passenger side front seat pan and
the seat cushion foam padding. A short hose connects
the bladder to a pressure sensor which is secured to
the Occupant Classification Module (OCM) mounting
bracket on the underside of the passenger side front
seat cushion frame.

• Side Impact Sensors - Six side impact sensors

are used on vehicles equipped with the curtain air-
bags, three left side and three right side. The first
row side impact sensor is located in the B-pillar, just
above the front seat belt retractor. The second row
side impact sensor is located in the sliding side door
track opening, just in front of the C-pillar. The third
row side impact sensor is located behind the quarter
trim panel, above the rear tire wheel well, between
the C and D-pillars.

The ORC, the OCM, and the cluster each contain a

microprocessor and programming that allow them to
communicate with each other using the Programma-
ble Communications Interface (PCI) data bus net-
work. This method of communication is used by the
ORC for control of the airbag indicators.

OPERATION

The primary passenger restraints in this are the

seat belts and child restraint anchors. Seat belts and
child restraint anchors are referred to as an Active
Restraint

because

the

vehicle

occupants

are

required to physically fasten and properly adjust
these restraints in order to benefit from them.

ACTIVE RESTRAINTS

The primary passenger restraints in this or any

other vehicle are the seat belts and child restraint

anchors. Seat belts and child restraint anchors are
referred to as an active restraint because the vehicle
occupants are required to physically fasten and prop-
erly adjust these restraints in order to benefit from
them. See the owner’s manual in the vehicle glove
box for more information on the features, use and
operation of all of the active restraints.

LAP/SHOULDER BELTS

All the seats are equipped with Lap/Shoulder

Belts.

The belt webbing retractor is designed to lock dur-

ing very sudden stops or collisions. This feature
allows the shoulder part of the belt to move freely
with you under normal conditions. But in a collision,
the belt will lock and reduce the risk of your striking
the inside of the vehicle or being thrown out.

(1) Enter the vehicle and close the door. Sit back

and adjust the seat.

(2) The seat belt latch plate is near the seat back

of the front seats and next to your arm in the rear
seats. Grasp the latch plate and pull out the belt.
Slide the latch plate up the webbing as far as neces-
sary to allow the belt to go around your lap.

(3) When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the

latch plate into the buckle until you hear a “click”.

(4) Position the lap belt across your thighs, below

your abdomen. To remove slack in the lap belt por-
tion, pull up on the shoulder belt. To loosen the lap
belt if it is too tight, tilt the latch plate and pull on
the lap belt. A snug belt reduces the risk of sliding
under the belt in a collision.

(5) Position the shoulder belt on your chest so that

it is comfortable and not resting on your neck. The
retractor will withdraw any slack in the belt.

(6) To release the belt, push the red button on the

buckle. The belt will automatically retract to its
stowed position. If necessary, slide the latch plate
down the webbing to allow the belt to retract fully.

FRONT SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER

In the front seats, the shoulder belt anchorage can

be adjusted upward or downward to help position the
belt away from your neck. Press the button to release
the anchorage, and then move it up or down to the
position that serves you best.

As a guide, if you are shorter than average, you

will prefer a lower position, and if you are taller than
average, you’ll prefer a higher position. When you
release the anchorage, try to move it up or down to
make sure that it is locked in position.

SEAT BELT TENSIONERS

The seat belts for both front seating positions are

equipped with tensioning devices that are designed
to remove slack from the seat belt in the event of a
collision. These devices improve the performance of

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