2005 Mercury Sable Owner's Manual - Page 116

Seating and Safety Restraints Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of accessory seat covers may prevent the deployment of the side air bags and increase the risk of injury in an accident. 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 air bag deployment. • The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used for the front air bags. • Two crash sensors located on the pillars between the front and rear doors (one on each side of the vehicle). 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. 116 REVIEW COPY 2005 Sable (sab), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) (own2002), Market: USA_English (fus)