METHODS OF RESTRAINT IN ADDITION TO THE FRONT SEAT BELTS (1/4)
These are:
– pretensioners,
– chest and lap belt force limiters,
– air bags for driver and front pas-
senger.
These systems are designed to operate
independently or together in the event
of a front, side or rear impact.
Depending on the severity of the
impact, the system can trigger:
– seat belt locking;
– the lap belt pretensioner to keep
the occupant in their seat, the low
volume front air bag and the force
limiter;
– the large volume air bag.
Pretensioners
With the ignition switched on, if the ve-
hicle is subjected to a significant frontal
impact the system may, depending on
the severity of impact, trigger piston 1
which instantly retracts the belt.
The pretensioners flatten the belt
against the body, holding the occupant
against the seat, thus improving the ef-
ficiency of the belt.
1
– Have the entire restraint
system checked following
an accident.
– No operation whatso-
ever is permitted on any part of
the system (pretensioners, air
bags, computers, wiring) and the
system components must not
be reused on any other vehicle,
even if identical.
– To avoid incorrect triggering of
the system which may cause
injury, only qualified personnel
from an approved dealer may
work on the pretensioner and air
bag system.
– The electric trigger system may
only be tested by a specially
trained technician using special
equipment.
– When the vehicle is scrapped,
contact an approved dealer for
disposal of the pretensioner and
air bag gas generators.
