2002 Ford Explorer Owner's Manual - Page 76

Seating and Safety Restraints The air bag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains a side impact sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit that initiates air bag inflation. The fact that the air bags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the collision force was not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Side air bags are designed to inflate in side-impact collisions, not frontal, near-frontal, roll over or rear-impact collisions unless the collision causes sufficient lateral deceleration to cause air bag inflation. Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation. If the side air bag has deployed, the air bag will not function again. The side air bag system must be inspected and serviced by a qualified technician. If the air bag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision. Determining if the system is operational The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to indicate the status of the system. Refer to Air bag readiness section in the instrument cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: • The readiness light will either flash or stay lit. • The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is turned on. • A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired. If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision. 76