Side Impact Sensor

Side Impact Sensor







The side impact sensors in the vehicle are used to measure the collision pulses.

The four sensors which are used in the car are:
- 1 side impact sensor in each left and right B post
- 1 side impact sensor in each left and right C post.

The side impact sensors have integrated logic. In the event of a collision, they determine whether the impact was large enough to warrant transmitting an activation signal to the control module to deploy the side impact airbag. Only the side impact protection on the side from which the activation signal was sent can be deployed.

The side impact sensors transmit continuous signals to the control module to indicate that they are working. In the event of a fault in the side impact sensor, a fault signal is transmitted to the control module which then stores a diagnostic trouble code (DTC). A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is stored when the communication between the control module and one of the side impact sensors does not function. Each side impact sensor has a software ID. The ID is used to check that the correct side impact sensor is installed. This is because the activation level of the signal which is transmitted to the control module is not necessarily the same for the different side impact sensors.

The front (B-post) and rear (C-post) side impact sensors are a different color and have different coding on their connectors to simplify installation.

The front side impact sensors cannot be installed in the position for the rear side impact sensors and vice versa.

Data is transmitted on the same cable used for power supply.

Front impact sensor (certain markets and models only)







The frontal impact sensors are used to provide the supplemental restraint system module (SRS) with advance information about the collision pulse. This enables the control module to determine more accurately the components to be activated.

The frontal impact sensors have integrated logic which transmits acceleration data to the supplemental restraint system module (SRS).

The front impact sensors transmit continuous signals to the control module to indicate that they are working. In the event of a fault in a frontal impact sensor, a fault signal is transmitted to the control module which then stores a diagnostic trouble code (DTC). A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is also stored if the communication between the control module and one of the frontal impact sensors does not function. Each frontal impact sensor has a software ID. The ID is used to check that the correct frontal impact sensor is installed.

Data is transmitted on the same cable used for power supply.

The two frontal impact sensors are inside the left and right-hand headlamps.