What Makes an Airbag Inflate?

In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag module.

Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant seating positions.

    See also:

    Rear Window Defogger
    The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. (Rear Window Defogger): Press to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light below the button ...

    Hood
    To open the hood: 1. Pull the interior hood release handle located to the left of the steering column below the instrument panel. 2. Go to the front of the vehicle and push the secondary ...

    Sunroof
    On vehicles with a sunroof, the switch is located on the overhead console. The sunroof only operates when the ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/ ACCESSORY or in Retained Accessory Power (RAP). See Retai ...