2004 Mercury Monterey Owner's Manual - Page 140

Seating and Safety Restraints Do not lean your head on the door. The side air bag could injure you as it deploys from the side of the seatback. Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag SRS, its fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an air bag. See your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer. All occupants of the vehicle should always wear their safety belts even when an air bag SRS is provided. How does the side air bag system work? The side air bag system consists of the following: • An inflatable nylon bag (air bag) with a gas generator concealed behind the outboard bolster of the driver and front passenger seatbacks. • A special seat cover designed to allow airbag deployment. • The same readiness airbag light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used for the front air bags. • Two crash sensors located under the outboard side of the front seats, attached to the floor. Side air bags, in combination with seat belts, can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision. The side air bags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the air bag on the side affected by the collision will be inflated, even if the respective seat is not occupied. The air bag was designed to inflate between the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided occupants in side impact collisions. The air bag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit that initiates air bag inflation. 140 2004 Monterey (mty) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA English (fus)