Inflatable Restraint Passenger Presence System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

IMPORTANT: The passenger presence system (PPS), heated seat element (if equipped), and the seat bottom foam cushion is a calibrated unit and cannot be service separately. After repairing or replacing the PPS, the system must be rezeroed in order to function properly.

The PPS is used to monitor the weight of an occupant on the front outboard passenger seat and communicate the status to the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) whether to enable or suppress the deployment of the instrument panel (I/P) inflator module. The PPS consists of an electronic control module, a conductive based sensor mat, wiring harness, and PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF indicators. The sensor mat is made up of several flexible conductive metal strips placed underneath the seat cushion trim. These sensor strips transmit and receive a low-level electric field. The weight of the occupant sitting in the front passenger seat is measured as a change in current flow within the sensor mat. If the sensor determines that the occupant weight is less than a specified value, the PPS module will send a suppress signal to the SDM to disable the passenger air bag module. If the sensor determines the occupant weight is higher than a specified value, the PPS module will send an enable signal to the SDM to enable the passenger air bag module. The PPS module will notify the customer of the enable/disable status by illuminating one of the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF indicators located in the center of the instrument panel cluster (IPC). The PPS monitors itself for faults and will display flash diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when a fault is detected, the PPS module sends out a message to the SDM. The SDM responds by sending a command to the IPC to illuminate the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF OFF indicator.