Frontal SIR System Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6, 2006 Chevrolet Uplander, and 2006 Buick Terraza. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The frontal supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system consists of the following components:

AIR BAG indicator located in the instrument panel cluster (IPC)
Driver and passenger knee bolsters
Inflatable restraint instrument panel (I/P) module.
Inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM)
Steering wheel and column
Inflatable restraint steering wheel module
Inflatable restraint steering wheel module coil
Inflatable restraint wiring harnesses
Inflatable restraint front end sensor (left/right)
Inflatable restraint Passenger AIR BAG ON/OFF indicator
Inflatable restraint passenger presence system (PPS)
Inflatable restraint seat belt retractors pretensioner (left/right)

A frontal collision of sufficient force up to 30 degrees off the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle will deploy the frontal air bags. The SDM contains a sensing device that converts vehicle velocity changes to an electrical signal. In the event of a frontal collision, the SDM receives a signal from the front end sensor, which assists the SDM in determining the severity of the collision. The SDM compares these signals to a value stored in memory. When the generated signals exceed the stored value, the SDM will cause current to flow through the frontal deployment loops simultaneously deploying the frontal air bags. The SDM, I/P module, steering wheel module, steering wheel module coil and the connecting wires makeup the frontal deployment loops. The SDM continuously monitors the deployment loops for malfunctions and turns the AIR BAG indicator ON if a fault is detected.