2004 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manual - Page 121

Seating and Safety Restraints How does the Safety Canopy system work? The design and development of the Safety Canopy system included recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of injuries related to the deployment of side airbags (including the Safety Canopy ). The Safety Canopy system consists of the following: • An inflatable nylon curtain with a gas generator concealed behind the headliner and above the doors (one on each side of the vehicle). • A headliner that will flex to open above the side doors to allow Safety Canopy deployment. • The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used for the front airbags. • Two side crash sensors mounted at the base of the B-pillar (one on each side). • Two side crash sensors located at the c-pillar behind the rear doors (one on each side). • Roll over sensor in the restraints control module (RCM). The Safety Canopy system, in combination with seat belts, can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision or rollover event. Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in the second or third row seats (if equipped). The Safety Canopy will not interfere with children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the doors along the side window openings. The Safety Canopy system is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the side crash sensor to close an electrical circuit that initiates Safety Canopy inflation or when a certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor. 121 2004 Mountaineer (mnt) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA English (fus)