Acura TSX (2014 year). Manual - part 3

35

uu 

Airbags 

u 

Airbag System Components

Continued

The front, front side, and side curtain 
airbags are deployed according to the 
direction and severity of impact. The airbag 
system includes:

a

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

b

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.

c

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.

d

An electronic control unit that continually 
monitors and records information about 
the sensors, the airbag activators, the 
seat belt tensioners, and driver and front 
passenger seat belt use when the ignition 
switch is in ON 

 (

w .

e

Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The 
driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts 
incorporate sensors that detect whether 
or not they are fastened.

f

A driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat 
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate 
with less force.

g

Weight sensors in the front passenger’s 
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be 
turned off if the weight on the seat is 65 
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant 
or small child).

h

Impact sensors that can detect 

a moderate-to-severe front or 
side collision.

i

An indicator on the dashboard that alerts 
you that the front passenger’s front 
airbag has been turned off.

j

Sensors that can detect if a child or small 
statured adult is in the deployment path 
of the front passenger’s side airbag.

k

An indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you to a possible problem with your 
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.

l

An indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you that the front passenger’s side 
airbag has been turned off.

m

Safing Sensor

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Airbag System Components

36

Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with 
tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause burns, bruises, 
and other minor injuries, and sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not 
wearing their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.

What you should do: Always wear 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.

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.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag. 
Carrying hard or sharp 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.

Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers. Objects on 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.

■

Important Facts About Your Airbags

1

Important Facts About Your Airbags

Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together, 
airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

When driving, keep hands and arms out of the 
deployment path of the front airbag by holding each 
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over 
the airbag cover.

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Types of Airbags

Continued

Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:

• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver’s and front passenger’s seat-backs.

• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.

Each is discussed in the following pages.

Front Airbags (SRS)

The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help protect 
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to 
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary 
restraint system.

The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and 
in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.

■

Housing Locations

1

Types of Airbags

The airbags can inflate whenever the ignition switch 
is in ON 

 (

w 

.

After an airbag inflates in a crash, you may see a 
small amount of smoke. This is from the combustion 
process of the inflator material and 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.

1

Front Airbags (SRS)

Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags 
(SRS)
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-
threshold front airbags (SRS).

During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or 
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate 
at different rates, depending on the severity of the 
crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to 
supplement the seat belts to help reduce the 
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal 
crashes.

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Front Airbags (SRS)

38

Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions. 
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control 
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a 
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.

While your seat belt restrains your torso, the 
front airbag provides supplemental protection 
for your head and chest.

The front airbags deflate immediately so 
that 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 so fast that most occupants are not 
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

■

Operation

■

How the Front Airbags Work

1

How the Front Airbags Work

Although the driver’s and front passenger’s 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.

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■

When front airbags should not deploy

Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and 
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur 
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.

2014 TSX Sport Wagon

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Continued

Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration 
causes a driver or front passenger to move toward the front of the vehicle. Side 
airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the 
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which 
can cause the driver or passenger to move toward the side of the vehicle.

Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear 
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not designed 
to deploy in such collisions.

Rollovers: Seat belts, and in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side 
airbags, and side curtain airbags offer the best protection in a rollover. Because 
front airbags could provide little if any protection, they are not designed to 
deploy during a rollover.

■

When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the 
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy. 
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object 
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is 
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■

When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage 
appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of 
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some 
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags 
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they 
had deployed.

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Front Airbags (SRS)

40

Your front airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag 
related injuries to smaller occupants.

The driver’s advanced front airbag system 
includes a seat position sensor.

If the seat is too far forward, the airbag 
inflates with less force, regardless of the 
severity of the impact.

The passenger’s advanced front airbag system 
has weight sensors.

Although we recommend against carrying an 
infant or small child in front, if the sensors 
detect the weight of a child (up to about 65 
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically 
turn off the passenger’s front airbag.

■

Advanced Airbags

1

Advanced Airbags

If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position 
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and the airbag 
will inflate with full (normal) force, regardless of the 
driver’s seating position.

For both advanced front airbags to work properly:

•

Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats.

•

Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.

•

Make sure any objects are positioned properly on 
the floor. Improperly positioned objects can 
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.

•

All occupants should sit upright and wear their seat 
belts properly.

•

Do not place any cover over the passenger side 
dashboard.

Make sure the floor mat behind the front passenger's 
seat is hooked to the floor mat anchor. An improperly 
placed mat can interfere with the advanced airbag 
sensors.

2 Floor Mats P. 273

Driver’s 
Seat 
Position 
Sensor

Passenger’s 
Seat 
Weight 
Sensors

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Side Airbags

Continued

Side Airbags

The side airbags help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front passenger 
during a moderate-to-severe side impact.

The side airbags are housed in the 
outside edge of the driver’s and 
passenger’s seat-backs.

Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals 
the side airbag on the impact side to 
immediately inflate.

■

Housing Locations

1

Side Airbags

Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags. 
They can interfere with the proper operation of the 
airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

If the impact is on the passenger's side, the airbag 
may not deploy when there is no passenger in the 
front passenger seat.

Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers 
without consulting a dealer.

Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back 
covers can prevent your side airbags from properly 
deploying during a side impact.

Housing Location

■

Operation

When 
inflated

Side Airbag

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Side Airbags

■

When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side 
of the vehicle’s framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there 
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough 
impact to deploy the airbag.

■

When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage 
appears severe

It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in 
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was towards 
the far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle’s crushable body parts 
absorbed most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have 
been needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

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Side Airbags

To reduce the likelihood that a front passenger may be injured by an inflating side 
airbag, the passenger side airbag is automatically turned off when:

• The height sensors detect a child or short-statured adult is seated in the front 

passenger seat.

• The position sensor detects that the front passenger is leaning into the 

deployment path of the side airbag.

When the side airbag cutoff system is activated, the side airbag off indicator 
comes on.

2 Side Airbag Off Indicator P. 47

If the side airbag off indicator comes on, have the passenger sit upright. A few 
seconds after the passenger is sitting properly, the side airbag will automatically be 
turned on, and the indicator will go off.

If the front passenger is a child, stop when it is safe to do so, and have the child sit 
properly restrained in a rear seat.

■

Side Airbag Cutoff System

■

Side Airbag Off Indicator

1

Side Airbag Cutoff System

The sensors that monitor the front passenger’s height 
and body position may not work if:

•

The seat-back is wet

•

The passenger is touching a metal or other 
electrical conductive object

•

A seat cushion is on the seat

•

The passenger is wearing excessively thick clothing

Sensors that 
monitor the 
passenger’s height.

Sensors that monitor the 
passenger’s position.

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Side Curtain Airbags

Side Curtain Airbags

The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in outer 
seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact.

The side curtain airbags are located in the 
ceiling above the side windows on both sides 
of the vehicle.

The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy 
in a moderate-to-severe side impact.

■

When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision

One or both side curtain airbags may inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled 
frontal collision.

In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the front airbags.

■

Housing Locations

1

Side Curtain Airbags

The side curtain airbags are most effective when an 
occupant is wearing their seat belt properly and 
sitting upright, well back in their seat.

Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof 
pillars as they can interfere with the proper operation 
of the side curtain airbags.

Side Curtain Airbag Storage

■

Operation

Deployed Side Curtain Airbag

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Airbag System Indicators

Continued

Airbag System Indicators

If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a 
message appears on the multi-information display.

■

When the ignition switch is turned to 
ON 

 (

w 

The indicator comes on for a few seconds, 
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, have the 
system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don’t, your airbags and seat 
belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.

■

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator

1

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator

3 

WARNING

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.

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Airbag System Indicators

46

■

When the passenger airbag off 
indicator comes on

The indicator comes on to alert you that the 
passenger’s front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the weight sensors detect 
65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the weight of an infant 
or small child, on the seat.

Infants and small children should always ride properly restrained in a back seat.

2 Child Safety P.

 

49

Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.

If the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger’s front airbag will not deploy and 
the indicator will not come on.

■

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

1

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

If the indicator comes on with no front passenger and 
no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an adult 
riding there, something may be interfering with the 
weight sensors, such as:

•

An object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back 
pocket.

•

A child seat or other object pressing against the 
rear of the seat-back.

•

A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of 
the front passenger’s seat.

•

The front seat or seat-back is forced back against 
an object on the seat or floor behind it.

•

An object placed under the front passenger’s seat.

If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.

The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and 
goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is 
near the airbag cutoff threshold.

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Airbag System Indicators

■

When the side airbag off indicator 
comes on

This indicator comes on if the passenger’s side 
airbag has been turned off because the 
passenger is too small to be sitting in the front 
seat, is slouching or not sitting upright, or has 
leaned into the airbag’s deployment path.

Unless the passenger is a smaller statured 
adult or a child, the indicator should go off 
when the passenger returns to a proper 
upright sitting position.

■

Side Airbag Off Indicator

1

Side Airbag Off Indicator

When you turn the ignition switch to ON 

 (

w 

, the 

indicator should come on for a few seconds and then 
go out. If it doesn’t come on, stays on, or comes on 
while driving without a passenger in the front seat, 
have the system checked by a dealer as soon as 
possible.

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Airbag Care

Airbag Care

You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any 
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle 
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:

■

When the airbags have deployed

If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be 
replaced. Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it 
must be replaced.

■

When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision

Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s 
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt 
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.

■

Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer

This would likely disable the driver’s seat position sensor or the weight sensors in the 
passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat to accommodate 
a person with disabilities, contact an Acura dealer. For U.S. vehicles you can also 
contact Acura Client Relations at 800-382-2238. 

1

Airbag Care

We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag 
system components, including the airbag, tensioners, 
sensors, and control unit.

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Continued

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers

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 death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province 
and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride 
in a vehicle.

Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:

• An inflating front or side airbag can injure 

or kill a child sitting in the front seat.

• A child in the front seat is more likely to 

interfere with the driver’s ability to safely 
control the vehicle.

• Statistics show that children of all sizes and 

ages are safer when they are properly 
restrained in a rear seat.

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Protecting Child Passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend 
that all children age 12 and under be properly 
restrained in a rear seat. Some states or provinces/
territories have laws restricting where children may 
ride.

3 

WARNING

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, using a booster seat if necessary.

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Protecting Child Passengers

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• Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an 

approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap belt 
portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.

• Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the 

event of a collision.

• Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would 

likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

• Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very 

seriously injured in a crash.

• Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.

• Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when 

the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate 
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.

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Protecting Child Passengers

To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle 
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag 
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning 
labels on the dashboard and on the front visors. 
Please read and follow the instructions on these 
labels.

2 Safety Labels P. 62

3 

WARNING

Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or 
wrap one around their neck can result in 
serious injury or death.

Instruct children not to play with any seat 
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a 
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted, 
and locked.

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