Air Bag, Side Curtain: Description
Side curtain airbags (also known as Side AirBag Inflatable Curtains/SABIC) (1) are standard factory-installed equipment for this vehicle. These airbags are passive, inflatable, Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) components. The side curtain airbag system is designed to reduce injuries to the vehicle occupants in the event of a side impact collision. Each side curtain airbag cushion provides full coverage of the side glass on the same side of the vehicle as the monitored impact.
Each vehicle is equipped with two individually controlled side curtain airbag units. These side curtain airbag units are concealed and mounted above the headliner where they are each secured to one of the roof side rails. Each folded airbag cushion is contained within a fabric wrap and several miniature plastic wrappers that extend along the roof rail from the A-pillar at the front of the vehicle to the C-pillar at the rear of the vehicle. A tether extends down the A-pillar from the front of the side curtain airbag cushion, while a shorter tether extends back to over the C-pillar. The end of each tether (3) is secured to the sheet metal with a threaded fastener.
The hybrid-type inflator (2) for each side curtain airbag is secured to the roof rail above the B-pillar and the rear window opening, and is connected to the airbag cushion by a long tubular manifold. The inflator bracket and the plastic wrappers are secured with both plastic push-in fasteners and screws to the roof rail. The inflator is initially hung from the roof rail by stamped metal hooks, then with screws. Color-coded labeling and tape on the side curtain airbag unit identify the right side (red) from the left side (blue). In addition, a black line imprinted on the inboard side of the folded cushion is only visible if the cushion is twisted during installation.
The airbag inflator is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the body wire harness near the top of the B-pillar. The body wire harness connects the side curtain airbag unit to the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC).
The side curtain airbag units cannot be adjusted or repaired and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged. Once a side curtain airbag has been deployed, the complete side curtain airbag unit, the headliner, the upper A, B, and C-pillar trim as well as all other visibly damaged components must be replaced.