Pressure Type
Two pressure-type front door side impact sensors (2) are used on this vehicle, one each for the left and right sides of the vehicle. These sensors are mounted remotely from the impact sensor that is internal to the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). Each side sensor is secured with two screws and is sealed by a resilient gasket (1) to the front door hardware module carrier on the front door inner panel. The sensors are concealed behind the front door trim panel within the passenger compartment.
The right and left front door side impact sensors are identical in construction and calibration. The impact sensor housing has an integral connector receptacle (3), two integral mounting tabs, and an integral hood-like water shield (4). The water shield extends through a hole in the front door module carrier into the interior of the door cavity and protects the sensor orifice from contamination. A cavity in the center of the molded plastic impact sensor housing contains the electronic circuitry of the sensor, which includes an electronic communication chip and the pressure sensor.
The housing cavity is filled with a potting material to seal and protect the internal electronic circuitry and components. A label on the sensor has a directional arrow and the word down imprinted upon it to provide verification of the correct sensor orientation in the vehicle. The pressure-type side impact sensors are each connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the front door wire harness.
These pressure-type front door side impact sensors cannot be repaired or adjusted and, if damaged or ineffective, they must be replaced.