Hyundai Accent: Main components of occupant detection system

• A detection device located within the front passenger seat.
• Electronic system to determine whether the front passenger air bag system should be activated or deactivated.
• A warning light located on the instrument panel which illuminates the words PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" indicating the front passenger air bag system is deactivated.
• The instrument panel air bag warning light is interconnected with the occupant detection system.

If the front passenger seat is occupied by a person that the system determines to be of adult size, and he/she sits properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor), the PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" indicator will be turned off and the front passenger's air bag will be able to inflate, if necessary, in frontal crashes.

You will find the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator on the center facia panel. This system detects the conditions 1~4 in the following table and activates or deactivates the front passenger air bag based on these conditions.

Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants are seated and restrained properly (sitting upright with the seat in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended, feet on the floor, and wearing the safety belt properly) for the most effective protection by the air bag and the safety belt.

The ODS may not function properly if the passenger takes actions which can affect the detection system. These include:

(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.
(2) Leaning against the door or center console.
(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.
(4) Putting legs on the dashboard or resting them on other locations.
(5) Improperly wearing the safety belt.
(6) Reclining the seat back.
(7) Unauthorized replacement of seat cover.
(8) Covering seat with blanket

Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant detection system

*1) The ODS system uses a field to evaluate a person's size to determine whether the air bag should deploy. It is possible for a child to be detected and activate the ODS, thus allowing the airbag to deploy. To maximize safety, do not allow children to ride in the front passenger seat.

*2) Never install a child restraint system on the front passenger seat.

WARNING

Riding in an improper position or placing weight on the front passenger's seat when it is unoccupied by a passenger adversely affects the Occupant Detection System (ODS). Your ODS is designed to resist electronic waves, but do not place an electronic device such as laptop computer on or near the seat cushion since it may defeat the proper functioning of the ODS.

- Never put a heavy load, an active electronic device or blanket in the front passenger seat or seatback pocket.

- Never place feet on the front passenger seatback.

- Never sit with hips shifted towards the front of the seat.

- Never excessively recline the front passenger seatback.

- Never place feet on the dashboard.

- Never lean on the door or center console.
- Never sit on one side of the front passenger seat.

When an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, if the PASS AIR BAG “OFF” indicator is on, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK or OFF position and ask the passenger to sit properly (sitting upright with the seat back in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor). Restart the engine and have the person remain in that position. This will allow the system to detect the person and to enable the passenger air bag.

If the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator is still on, ask the passenger to move to the rear seat.

WARNING

Do not allow an adult passenger to ride in the front seat when the PASS AIR BAG “OFF” indicator is illuminated because the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash. If the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator remains illuminated after the adult passenger repositions themselves properly and the car is restarted, it is recommended that passenger move to the rear seat because the passenger's front air bag will not deploy.

Front seat passengers must stay properly seated to avoid serious injury from a deploying air bag.

NOTICE

The PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator illuminates for about 4 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or after the engine is started. If the front passenger seat is occupied, the occupant detection sensor will then classify the front passenger after several more seconds.

WARNING

Do not put a heavy load in the front passenger seatback pocket or on the front passenger seat. Do not hang onto the front passenger seat. Do not hang any items, such as a seatback table, on the front passenger seatback. Do not place feet on the front passenger seatback. Do not place any items under the front passenger seat. Any of these could interfere with proper sensor operation.

WARNING

• Even though your vehicle is equipped with the occupant detection system, never install a child restraint system in the front passenger's seat. A deploying air bag can forcefully strike a child resulting in serious injuries or death. Any child age 12 and under should ride in the rear seat. Children too large for child restraints should use the available lap/shoulder belts. No matter what type of crash, children of all ages are safer when restrained in the rear seat.
• If the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator is illuminated when the front passenger's seat is occupied by an adult and he/she sits properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor), have that person sit in the rear seat.
• Do not modify or replace the front passenger seat. Don't place anything on or attach anything such as a blanket or seat heater to the front passenger seat. This can adversely affect the occupant detection system.
• Do not sit on sharp objects such as tools when occupying the front passenger seat. This can adversely affect the occupant detection system.
• Do not use accessory seat covers on the front seats.
• Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear, as opposed to the front seat. It is recommended that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
• Air bags can only be used once – have an authorized HYUNDAI dealer replace the air bag immediately after deployment.
• The occupant detection system may not work properly if water, coffee or any other liquid including rain gets on the seat. Keep the front seat dry at all times.
• Do not place an electronic device such as a laptop computer on the front passenger seat. Its electronic field may cause the ODS to switch to the "on" condition and thus allow the passenger air bag to deploy needlessly in a collision, increasing your repair costs.
• The adult or child in the front passenger’s seat who is not seated correctly (for example: seat excessively reclined, leaning on the door or center console, or hips shifted forward in the seat) can cause a condition where the occupant detection system senses less field than if the occupant were seated properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor).
  This condition can result in an adult potentially being misclassified as a child and illumination of the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator.

WARNING

If the occupant detection system is not working properly, the SRS air bag warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate because the passenger's front air bag is connected with the occupant detection system. If there is a malfunction of the occupant detection system, the PASS AIR BAG "OFF" indicator will not illuminate and the passenger's front air bag will inflate in frontal impact crashes even if there is no occupant in the front passenger's seat. If the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, remains illuminated after approximately 6 seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, or if it illuminates while the vehicle is being driven, have an authorized HYUNDAI dealer inspect the occupant detection system and the SRS air bag system as soon as possible.