Description & Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mazda Protege5 and 2003 Mazda Protege. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Accidental air bag deployment is possible. Personal injury may result. Read and follow all WARNINGS and AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS before working on air bag system or related components.

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), also known as air bag system, is designed to provide increased accident protection for driver and passenger by deploying air bags and seat belt pretensioners in front-end or side collisions. The air bag system is designed to be used in conjunction with 3-point seat belts. The air bag system consists of AIR BAG warning light, driver-side air bag module, passenger-side air bag module, left side air bag module, right side air bag module, side air bag sensors, clockspring, SAS control module (air bag sensor unit) and wiring harness. See Figure.

The air bag is designed to deploy in a collision when the ignition is in ON or START positions, the crash sensor (integral to SAS control module) senses adequate deceleration, and the SAS control module logic circuits determine that the impact is sufficient to warrant deployment.

During a side impact of sufficient force, contacts in side air bag sensor close to complete the circuit, and SAS control module logic circuits determine that side impact is sufficient to warrant deployment of side air bag.

The SAS control module monitors the air bag system for failures. If a failure occurs, the SAS control module turns the AIR BAG warning light on. If AIR BAG warning light is burned out, SAS control module will sound a buzzer to alert driver of a system malfunction.