Chrysler 2008 PT Cruiser, Owner'S Manual

Page: 97 / 491

The Head/Thorax airbag system (if equipped) consists
of the following:
•
AIRBAG Readiness Light (shared with the front airbag
system)
•
Front Seat— side mounted Head/Thorax Airbags — if
equipped
•
Airbag Control Module (shared with the front airbag
system)
•
Side impact sensors
How The Airbag System Works
•
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from direction provided by the ORC. The ORC may
also modify the rate of inflation based on the occupant
size provided by the Occupant Classification Module.
The ORC will not detect roll over.
The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or RUN positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the steering wheel and
column, and knee impact blockers. If the key is in the
OFF position, in the ACC position, or not in the
ignition, the airbags are not on and will not inflate.
During a moderate-to-severe rear impact the ORC may
deploy the seat belt pretensioners alone.
Also, the ORC turns on the AIRBAG warning
light and PAD indicator light in the instrument
panel for six to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the
self-check, the AIRBAG warning light will turn off. The
PAD indicator light will function normally (Refer to
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 95
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