2006 Ford Ranger Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 82

Seating and Safety Restraints While the system is designed to help reduce serious injuries, it may also cause minor abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss. Because airbags must inflate rapidly and with considerable force, there is the risk of death or serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of airbag deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away from the airbag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control. Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation. If the air bag has deployed, the air bag will not function again and must be replaced immediately. If the air bag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision. The SRS consists of: • driver and passenger airbag modules (which include the inflators and airbags), • one or more impact and safing sensors, passenger airbag deactivation switch and diagnostic monitor (RCM) • a readiness light and tone, • and the electrical wiring which connects the components. • Safety belt pretensioners The RCM (restraints control module) monitors its own internal circuits and the supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the passenger airbag deactivation switch, the impact sensors, the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the airbag back up power and the airbag ignitors). Determining if the system is operational The SRS uses readiness lights in the instrument cluster and the passenger airbag deactivate switch or a tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Airbag readiness section in the Instrument cluster chapter or Passenger airbag on/off switch section in this chapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required. 82 2006 Ranger (ran) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus)