Description & Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Monterey and 2004 Ford Freestar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Accidental air bag deployment is possible. Personal injury may result. Read and follow all WARNINGS and AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS before working on air bag system or related components.

The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), also known as air bag system, is designed to provide increased accident protection for driver and passenger by deploying front air bags and front seat belt pretensioners in a front-end collision, and side curtain and side air bags in side collisions and vehicle roll-overs. Air bag system is designed to be used with 3-point seat belts.

Depending on model, air bag system can include the following components: RCM, impact and safing sensors (located inside the RCM), back-up power supply (also located inside the RCM), front crash sensor, dual-stage driver-side air bag module, dual-stage passenger-side air bag module, right and left front side crash sensors, right and left rear side crash sensors, right and left side curtain air bag modules, right and left side air bag modules, right and left side curtain and side air bag bridge resistors, right and left front seat belt pretensioners, right front seat belt tension sensor, right and left front seat belt buckle switches, left front seat position sensor, right front seat Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS), Passenger-Side Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) indicator light, AIR BAG warning light, clockspring and associated wiring harnesses.