General information
1. Depending on the model and year of manufacture, driver airbag, passenger airbag, side airbags and curtain side airbags may be installed.
2. The driver and passenger airbag system will deploy in the event of a frontal collision with an impact force equal to or greater than the predetermined value, depending on the impact location. In this case, the airbag inflates within a few milliseconds and forms a kind of safety buffer between the people in the car and the car interior. This prevents contact between the upper torso and the interior of the vehicle and therefore greatly reduces the risk of injury. The airbag then deflates almost immediately. In addition, the control unit simultaneously activates the front seat belt pretensioners (see chapter 11).
3. Side airbags are built into the side of the backrest of each front seat. Each airbag has its own lateral acceleration sensor, which is mounted on the vehicle body. The side airbags are not connected to each other and work individually.
4. Curtain side airbags are installed behind the A-pillar trim and headlining on each side of the cabin.
5. Each time the ignition is turned on, the airbag control unit performs a self-test. The self-test takes approximately 6 seconds, during which time the airbag warning light on the instrument panel comes on. After the self-test is completed, the indicator lamp should go out (unless the passenger airbag has been deactivated - see point 6). If the warning light does not come on, stays on after the initial period, or comes on while the vehicle is moving, there is a problem with the airbag system. The vehicle should be checked by a Peugeot/Citroen dealer as soon as possible.
6. Vehicles with a passenger airbag have an airbag deactivation switch located on the instrument panel. The switch is activated with the ignition key and disables the passenger airbag (driver airbag, side airbags and head airbags cannot be deactivated), to allow the passenger seat to be fitted with a rear-facing child seat.
Precautionary measures
Attention! When working on vehicles equipped with airbags, the following precautions must be observed to avoid injury.
General Precautions
7. When performing work on vehicles equipped with airbags, the following precautions should be observed:
- A) Do not disconnect the battery while the engine is running.
- b) Before doing any work in the vicinity of the airbag. removing any of the components of the airbag system or performing welding work on the vehicle, deactivate the system as described in the next part of the paragraph.
- V) Do not attempt to test the electrical circuits of the airbag system using gauges, testers, or any other test equipment.
- G) If the airbag warning light comes on or if there is a suspected problem with the system, contact your Peugeot/Citroen dealer immediately. Do not attempt to troubleshoot or disassemble components.
Airbag Handling Precautions
- A) When transporting the airbag, place it with the cover up.
- b) Do not put your hands on the airbag.
- V) Carry the airbag closer to your body, with the cover away from you.
- G) Do not drop or strike the airbag.
- d) Do not attempt to disassemble the airbag.
- e) Never connect electrical equipment to any part of the airbag electrical circuit.
Airbag Storage Precautions
- A) Store the airbag in a special cabinet with the lid up.
- b) Do not expose the airbag to temperatures above 80'C.
- V) Do not expose the airbag to open flames.
- G) Do not attempt to dispose of the airbag yourself: contact your Peugeot/Citroen dealer.
- d) Never install an airbag if it is known to be defective or damaged
Deactivating the airbag system
8. Before performing any work on the airbag components or in the surrounding area, disable the system by proceeding as follows:
- A) Turn the ignition on and check the operation of the airbag warning light on the instrument panel. The control lamp should turn on when the ignition is turned on, and then should go out.
- b) Switch off the ignition.
- V) Remove the ignition key.
- G) Turn off all electrical equipment.
- d) Disconnect the ground wire from the battery (see «Disconnecting the battery»).
- e) Insulate the negative battery terminal and the end of the battery ground wire to prevent any possibility of contact.
- and) Wait at least two minutes before doing any subsequent work. If the airbag warning light was not working properly, wait at least ten minutes.
Airbag activation
9. To wake up the system when you have completed some work, do the following:
- A) Make sure no one is in the vehicle and there are no loose objects near the steering wheel. Close the doors and windows of the car.
- b) Turn off the ignition, then connect the wire «masses» to the battery.
- V) Open the driver's door and turn on the ignition without making any manipulations in front of the steering wheel. Check that the airbag warning lamp illuminates for a few seconds and then goes out.
- G) Switch off the ignition.
- d) If the airbag warning light does not work as described in step c), consult your Peugeot/Citroen dealer before driving.