Ford Thunderbird (2004 year). Manual — part 21

How does the safety belt pretensioner and air bag supplemental
restraint system work?

The safety belt pretensioner and air
bag SRS are designed to activate
when the vehicle sustains
longitudinal deceleration sufficient
to cause the sensors to close an
electrical circuit that initiates
pretensioner activation and air bag
inflation.

The fact that the pretensioners and
air bags did not activate in a
collision does not mean that
something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces were
not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Front air bags and
pretensioners are designed to activate in frontal and near-frontal
collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or rear-impacts unless the collision
causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.

The air bags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After air bag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate the bag) or
sodium compounds (e.g., baking
soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates the
air bag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.

While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with a deploying air bag may also cause
abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss. Because air bags 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 air bag deployment. Thus, it is
extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away
from the air bag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control.

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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 air bag modules (which include the inflators and

air bags)

• side air bags. Refer to Side air bag system later in this chapter

• safety belt pretensioners

• one or more impact and safing sensors

• a readiness light and tone

• and the electrical wiring which connects the components
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical system wiring (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air
bag back up power, the air bag ignitors and safety belt pretensioners.

Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Air bag readiness
section in the Instrument cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the
air bag is not required.
Any difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following:
• The readiness light will either

flash or stay lit

• The readiness light will not

illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned to the RUN position

• A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat

periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.

If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a
collision.

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Passenger front and side air bag ON/OFF switch

An air bag ON/OFF switch
has been installed in this

vehicle. Before driving, always
look at the face of the switch to
be sure the switch is in the proper
position in accordance with these
instructions and warnings. Failure
to put the switch in a proper
position can increase the risk of
serious injury or death in a
collision.

Turning the passenger front and side air bags off

1. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF position and hold in
OFF position while removing the
key.

2. When the ignition is turned to the
ON position the OFF light
illuminates briefly, momentarily
shuts off and then turns back on.
This indicates that the passenger
front and side air bags are
deactivated.

If the OFF light fails to illuminate when the front and side
passenger air bag switch is in the OFF position and the ignition

switch is in ON, have the front and side passenger air bag switch
serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the switch, always
remove the ignition key from the front and side passenger air

bag ON/OFF switch.

ON

OFF

OFF

PASSENGER AIRBAG

ON

OFF

OFF

PASSENGER AIRBAG

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Turning the front and side passenger air bags back on

The front and side passenger air bags remain OFF until you turn them
back ON.

1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.

2. The OFF light will briefly
illuminate when the ignition is
turned to ON. This indicates that
the passenger front and side air
bags are operational.

If the OFF light is illuminated when the front and side passenger
air bag ON/OFF switch is in the ON position and the ignition

switch is in ON, have the front and side passenger air bag ON/OFF
switch serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately.

The front passenger air bag and the passenger side air bag should always
be ON (the air bag OFF light should not be illuminated) unless the
passenger is a person who meets the requirements stated either in
Category 1, 2 or 3 of the NHTSA/Transport Canada deactivation criteria
which follows.

The safety belts for the driver and right front passenger seating
positions have been specifically designed to function together

with the air bags in certain types of crashes. When you turn OFF your
air bag, you not only lose the protection of the air bag, you also may
reduce the effectiveness of your safety belt system, which was
designed to work with the air bag. If you are not a person who meets
the requirements stated in the NHTSA/Transport Canada deactivation
criteria turning OFF the air bag can increase the risk of serious injury
or death in a collision.

Always use safety belts and child restraints properly. If a child in
a rear facing infant seat must be transported in front, the

passenger air bag must be turned OFF. This is because the back of the
infant seat is too close to the inflating air bag and the risk of a fatal
injury to the infant when the air bag inflates is substantial.

ON

OFF

OFF

PASSENGER AIRBAG

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