Principles of Operation: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Ford Pickup, 2012 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2012 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2012 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The Restraints Control Module (RCM) continuously receives/monitors all inputs from the following Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) components:

Front impact severity sensor
Driver and passenger front door side impact sensors (if equipped)
Driver and passenger C-pillar side impact sensors (if equipped)
Safety belt buckle switch (driver side only)
Safing and rollover sensors internal to the RCM (if equipped)

If the RCM detects sudden vehicle deceleration and/or lateral deceleration based on information received from sensors and switches and determines that deployment is required, the RCM sends voltage and current to deploy the appropriate SRS components.

The RCM contains an internal sensor that detects vehicle rollover angles. If the RCM determines that a rollover condition exists and deployment is required, the RCM deploys the applicable SRS components.

During a frontal or side crash, the RCM may deploy the following SRS components, based on crash severity and sensor input.

Driver and passenger safety belt retractor pretensioners
Driver and passenger single-stage air bags (if equipped)
Safety Canopy® (if equipped)
Driver and passenger seat side air bags (if equipped)

The fact that the safety belt retractor pretensioner or air bags did not activate for both front seat occupants in a crash does not mean that something is wrong with the SRS system.

The RCM performs a self-test of the complete SRS during each startup. If an SRS fault exists, the air bag warning indicator illuminates and remains illuminated for the rest of the ignition cycle. In addition to the self-test at start up, the RCM continuously monitors all of its SRS components and circuitry for correct operation.