2008 Lincoln MKZ Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 137

Seating and Safety Restraints How does the side air curtain system work? The design and development of the side air curtain 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 side air curtain systems). The side air curtain system consists of the following: • An inflatable nylon curtain with a gas generator concealed behind the headliner and above the doors. • The headliner will flex to open above the side doors to allow air curtain deployment. • The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used for the front airbags. • Two crash sensors located under the outboard side of the front seats, attached near the floor. • Two crash sensors located at the base of the "C" pillars above the wheel house. Side air curtains and side airbags, in combination with safety belts, can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision. Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in the rear seats. The side air curtain 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 side air curtains are mounted to the sheet metal above the first and second row seats. In certain lateral collisions, the air curtain and seat-mounted side airbag on the side affected by the collision will be inflated, except that the passenger sensing system will deactivate the passenger seat-mounted side airbag if it detects an empty unbuckled 137 2008 MKZ (378) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus)