Description And Operation: Description
Side curtain airbags are used in markets where they are required equipment. Vehicles with side curtain airbags can be identified by a molded trim button with the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) logo located at the top of each B- and C-pillar trim.
The side curtains use a hybrid inflator. To deploy the airbag, the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) sends a current to the airbag inflator which ignites the chemical pellets. When the chemical pellets ignite, the pressure of the expanding gases produces enough pressure to break a containment cap of a cylinder of inert gas. The gas is directed into the side curtain airbag. The side current airbags will stay inflated for approximately five seconds to help protect passengers in the event of a rollover event. The deflation rate of the airbags is controlled by the tightness of the airbag fabric mesh.
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, the B and C-pillar deploy brackets as well as all other visibly damaged components must be replaced.