Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) Indicator

The passenger air bag deactivation (PAD) indicator is a visual indicator used to inform the front seat occupants of the passenger air bag deactivation state. The PAD indicator is a stand-alone lamp installed into the vehicle instrument panel in a position visible to each front seat occupant.

The restraints control module (RCM) controls the state of the PAD indicator through a direct hardwire connection, based on information provided by the occupant classification sensor (OCS) system. The PAD indicator illuminates to indicate the passenger air bag module is disabled. An exemption to this is when the front passenger seat is determined to be empty and the passenger safety belt is unbuckled, therefore indication of a deactivated passenger air bag module is not necessary. In all other cases, the PAD indicator is unlit when the passenger air bag module is enabled.

When the ignition switch is in the ON position, the PAD indicator prove-out period is initiated by the RCM. The RCM briefly activates the PAD indicator to prove-out the indicator function and verify to the front occupants correct functional operation of the PAD indicator.

When the occupant classification system module (OCSM) detects a fault that causes diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B2290 and/or B1013 to set on-demand in the OCS system, the OCSM sends a message to the RCM. Upon receiving the fault message from the OCSM, the RCM disables the passenger air bag module, illuminates the PAD indicator indicating the passenger air bag module is disabled and sends a message to the instrument cluster to illuminate the air bag warning indicator. The passenger air bag module will remain disabled until the cause for the on-demand DTC has been corrected. For information on the OCS system, refer to Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) System Reset .

The following table indicates the passenger air bag status and the PAD indicator status based the size of the front outboard passenger occupant.