Side Curtain Airbag

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

Side Curtain Airbag:

Optional side curtain airbags are available for this model when it is also equipped with dual front air-bags. These airbags are passive, inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) components. This system is designed to reduce injuries to the vehicle occupants in the event of a side impact collision.

Vehicles equipped with side curtain airbags have two individually controlled curtain airbag units. These airbag units are concealed and mounted above the front door openings where they are each secured to one of the roof side rails. Each folded airbag cushion is contained within a channel in the molded plastic garnish molding that extends along the roof rail from the A-pillar at the front of the vehicle to just behind the B-pillar. A tether extends down the A-pillar from the front of the airbag cushion, where it is secured to the base of the pillar near the belt line with a screw.

The hybrid-type inflator for each airbag is connected to the airbag cushion by a tubular manifold. The inflator bracket and the airbag cushion channel are located with a stamped metal lug to a bore in the roof rail, then secured with screws at the A-pillar in the front and the B-pillar in the rear. A two-wire pigtail wire is routed from the airbag inflator down the B-pillar where it connects the unit to a take out of the vehicle body wire harness with a keyed and latched connector insulator.

The side curtain airbag unit cannot be adjusted or repaired and must be replaced if deployed, faulty, or in any way damaged. Once a side curtain airbag has been deployed, the complete airbag unit and all other visibly damaged components must be replaced.

Each side curtain airbag is deployed individually by an electrical signal generated by the Airbag Control Module (ACM) to which it is connected through left or right curtain airbag line 1 and line 2 (or squib) circuits. The hybrid-type inflator assembly for each airbag contains a small canister of highly compressed inert gas. When the ACM sends the proper electrical signal to the airbag inflator, the electrical energy creates enough heat to ignite chemical pellets within the inflator. Once ignited, these chemicals burn rapidly and produce the pressure necessary to rupture a containment disk in the inert gas canister. The inflator and inert gas canister are sealed and connected to a tubular manifold so that all of the released gas is directed into the folded side curtain airbag cushion, causing the cushion to inflate.

As the airbag cushion inflates it will split the garnish molding at a pre-determined breakout line and drop down from the roof rail along the side glass and body pillars to form a curtain-like cushion to protect the vehicle occupants during a side impact collision. The front tether keeps the front portion of the side curtain bag taut, thus ensuring that the bag will deploy in the proper position. Following the airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly deflates by venting the inert gas through the loose weave of the cushion fabric, and the deflated cushion hangs down loosely from the roof rail.