NISSAN 2012 Maxima - Manual (Page 63)

Front passenger air bag and status light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF under some con-
ditions. Read this section carefully to
learn how it operates. Proper use of the
seat, seat belt and child restraints is nec-
essary for most effective protection. Fail-
ure to follow all instructions in this
manual concerning the use of seats, seat
belts and child restraints can increase the
risk or severity of injury in an accident.
Status light
The front passenger air bag status light is
located above the radio. After the ignition switch
is placed in the
ЉONЉ position, the front passen-
ger air bag status light on the instrument panel
illuminates for about 7 seconds and then turns off
or remains illuminated depending on the front
passenger seat occupied status. The light oper-
ates as follows:
● Unoccupied passenger’s seat: The is
OFF and the front passenger air bag is OFF
and will not inflate in a crash.
● Passenger’s seat occupied by a small adult,
child or child restraint as outlined in this
section: The
illuminates to indicate
that the front passenger air bag is OFF and
will not inflate in a crash.
● Occupied passenger seat and the passenger
meets the conditions outlined in this section:
The light
is OFF to indicate that the
front passenger air bag is operational.
Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag is designed to auto-
matically turn OFF when the vehicle is operated
under some conditions as described below in
accordance with U.S. regulations. If the front
passenger air bag is OFF, it will not inflate in a
crash. The driver air bag and other air bags in your
vehicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help reduce
the risk of injury or death from an inflating air bag
to certain front passenger seat occupants, such
as children, by requiring the air bag to be auto-
matically turned OFF. Certain sensors are used
to meet the requirements.
One sensor used is the occupant classification
sensor (pattern sensor). It is in the bottom of the
front passenger seat cushion and is designed to
detect an occupant and objects on the seat by
weight. It works together with seat belt sensors
described later. For example, if a child is in the front
passenger seat, the Advanced Air Bag System is
designed to turn the passenger air bag OFF in
accordance with the regulations. Also, if a child
restraint of the type specified in the regulations is
on the seat, its weight and the child’s weight can be
detected and cause the air bag to turn OFF. Occu-
pant classification sensor operation can vary de-
pending on the front passenger seat belt sensors.
The front passenger seat belt sensors are de-
signed to detect if the seat belt is buckled. Based
on the weight on the seat detected by the occu-
pant classification sensor, the Advanced Air Bag
System determines whether the front passenger
air bag should be automatically turned OFF as
required by the regulations.
LRS0865
1-46 Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system