How does the car sense the passenger?

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Oct 25, 2005 | 10:24 PM

Maximus350

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How does the car sense the passenger?

When my friend got in my car today, the buckle seat belt warning chime kept going. When he got out of the car, the chime didnt turn back on. How does the car detect the passenger? I assume there's some sort of weight sensor in the seat?

Oct 25, 2005 | 10:46 PM

kingkong5

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From: California

There's some sort of weight sensor in the seat.

Oct 26, 2005 | 07:54 AM

skynite

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From: CA

Does it sense the passengers in the back?

Oct 26, 2005 | 08:32 AM

jlin101

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From: Kansas

probably not. The reason for the weight sensor in the front passenger seat is so that the front airbag strength can be adjusted based on passenger size/weight. There's no such need in the backseat. It was the front airbags that caused fatalities in small passengers who sat too close to the dashboard a few years ago. The IS even has bi-lobed front passenger airbag to decrease direct impact with the face.

Oct 26, 2005 | 11:50 AM

encore888

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From: CA

I wonder if it's bad to wear glasses during an airbag deployment.

Oct 26, 2005 | 12:11 PM

wolverine

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From: California

so if no one sits in the passenger seat the passenger airbags won go off? I was wondering why there werent an off switch for the passenger side like my dads car.

Oct 26, 2005 | 12:12 PM

lalexusgs

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From: Los Angeles, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma354

I wonder if it's bad to wear glasses during an airbag deployment.

It's not. In fact my glasses saved my eyes when I was hit by airbag in my previous car. My fase was all red from that airbag, but my eyes didn't suffer at all...

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Oct 26, 2005 | 08:06 PM

MR LEX

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From: WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximus330

When my friend got in my car today, the buckle seat belt warning chime kept going. When he got out of the car, the chime didnt turn back on.

You can also disable this by doing the following:

Buzzer Reminder Cancel Mode Setting

1) Set the LCD on the combination meter to the ODO display.

2) Press and hold the TRIP meter reset **** for ten seconds or more within six seconds of turning the power source to IG-ON. Fastening the driver's seat belt or front passenger seat belt while holding the **** cancels the buzzer reminder.
3) When this occurs, the LCD displays "b-oFF". The buzzer reminder can be switched between ON and OFF each time the TRIP meter reset **** is pressed. The LCD displays "b-on" or "b-oFF" according to the buzzer reminder ON/OFF status. The display changes to the ODO or TRIP meter if the **** is not pressed for ten seconds.

4) Performing steps 1) and 2) again when the buzzer reminder is off exits cancel mode.

5) The cancel mode will also exit when the battery or combination meter connector is disconnected or reconnected.

Lex

Oct 26, 2005 | 08:11 PM

#10

MR LEX

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From: WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximus330

How does the car detect the passenger? I assume there's some sort of weight sensor in the seat?

Now for the technical explanation

The occupant detection sensor, which is enclosed in the seat cushion of the front passenger seat, is used to detect whether or not the front passenger seat is occupied. This sensor consists of a construction in which two sheets of electrodes sandwich a spacer. When the occupant is seated, the electrode sheets come in contact with each other through the hole that is provided in the spacer portion, thus enabling the current flow and detecting whether or not an occupant is seated in the front passenger seat.

Lex

Oct 26, 2005 | 08:27 PM

#11

Skulinex

Lexus Test Driver

Joined: May 2001

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From: Atlanta GA

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma354

I wonder if it's bad to wear glasses during an airbag deployment.

Dont ask yourself that again, last time i did, i found out a week later.. head on against a hwy divider, around 60mph while coming out from spinning.. all I ended up with FROM the airbag, was a burned skin bruise on my forehead, I still had my glasses on after the whole ordeal

Oct 26, 2005 | 11:46 PM

#12

the lndr

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From: ca

ouch! are u ok now?

Oct 27, 2005 | 01:44 AM

#13

maz

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From: California

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR LEX

man, couldn't they just put an OFF button in the nav display?

Oct 27, 2005 | 07:25 AM

#14

jlin101

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From: Kansas

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR LEX

Now for the technical explanation

Good explanation; but I thought these sensors could also tell how much weight was put on the seat (child vs adult) to adjust the air bag force accordingly.