Side airbags

Side airbags are located in the driver's seat (pic. 1.102) and other seats. The locations of the side airbags are indicated by the inscription «AIRBAG» at the top of the seat back upholstery.



Side airbags, together with seat belts, provide additional protection for the upper body of the driver and passengers in side collisions.

Side impacts reduce the chance of injury to the driver and front passenger on the side of the impact. In addition to their main protective function, seat belts ensure that the position of the driver and passengers in the outer seats in the event of a side impact, in which the effectiveness of the protective action of the airbags is maximum.

Side airbags do not deploy when:

• off ignition;
• light side impacts;
• light frontal impacts;
• blows to the rear of the car;
• car overturn.

The side airbag system includes:

• electronic control unit;
• side cushions on the outer sides of the front and rear seats;
• warning light in the instrument panel.

The performance of the airbag system is constantly monitored. After the ignition is switched on, the signal lamp lights up for a few seconds (self-diagnosis).

Side airbag action

Side airbags inflate in the event of severe side impacts on the side of impact (pic. 1.103).



In certain types of accidents, the front, side and window airbags deploy.

When the system is triggered, the air bags of the pillows are filled with a special gas.

The filling of the air bag occurs at a high speed in a matter of fractions of a second, which provides reliable protection. When the air bag is emptied, some dust is released. This is quite normal and should not be cause for concern.

By resting against the fully deployed airbags, the energy of motion of the driver and passenger is extinguished, and the likelihood of injury is reduced.

Under the influence of the load from the mass of the bodies, a controlled release of gas from the pillow occurs to soften the blow to the head and upper body.

WARNING: All work on airbags and associated areas (e.g. seat back upholstery) should only be carried out by specialized workshops with the necessary tools and qualified personnel.

WARNING: Do not make any changes to the air bag system.

WARNING: Failure to wear seat belts and improper posture greatly increases the risk of serious bodily injury. This danger is even greater when the airbags deploy in a violent collision.

WARNING: The maximum protective effect of the side airbags is only achieved when the seat belts are properly worn and the seat is properly seated.