General Description

The Supplemental Air Bag Restraint System (SRS) is designed to provide increased frontal collision protection in addition to that provided by the three-point safety belt system. Safety belt use is necessary to obtain the best occupant protection and to receive the full advantages of the supplemental air bag. Ford recommends the use of safety belt systems for all vehicles occupants.

The SRS consists of:
- Driver side air bag module
- Passenger side air bag module
- Air bag diagnostic monitor
- RH radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket
- LH radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket
- LH kick panel safing rear air bag sensor and bracket
- Electrical system
- Air bag warning indicator
- Tone generator (internal to the air bag diagnostic monitor)

The following four steps show how the air bag system operates:

NOTE: Steps 1-3 take place in a fraction of a second.

1. The air bag sensors monitor deceleration in the forward direction. When at least one radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and the LH kick panel safing rear air bag sensor and bracket close at the same time, electric current flows to the inflator and ignites the chemicals.
2. The chemicals then rapidly burn in the metal container. The rapid burning produces nitrogen gas and small amounts of dust. The nitrogen gas and dust are cooled and filtered during inflation of the air bag.
3. The inflating air bag splits open the trim cover. The air bag then rapidly unfolds and inflates in front of the driver.
4. After inflation, the gas empties through holes in the air bag. The air bag begins to deflate at once.