Inflatable Restraint Passenger Presence System

The PPS is used to monitor the weight of an occupant on the front outboard passenger seat and communicate the status to the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) whether to enable or suppress the deployment of the instrument panel (I/P) inflator module. The PPS consist of an electronic control module, sensor mat, heated seat element (if equipped), wiring harness, and PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF indicators. The sensor is made up of several flexible conductive metal strips placed underneath the seat cushion trim. These sensor strips transmit and receive a low-level electric field. The weight of the occupant sitting in the front passenger seat is measured as a change in current flow within the sensor mat. If the sensor determines that the occupant weight is less than a specified value, the PPS module will send a suppress signal to the SDM to disable the I/P module. If the sensor determines the occupant weight is higher than a specified value, the PPS module will send an enable signal to the SDM to enable the I/P. The PPS module will notify the customer of the enable/disable status by turning on one of the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF indicators located in the center of the instrument panel cluster (IPC). The PPS monitors itself for faults and will display flash diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when a fault is detected and the SDM commands it by using the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF indicators. The PPS will also notify the SDM of a fault and the SDM will request the IPC to turn the AIR BAG indicator located on the IPC ON. To determine what DTCs have been set by the PPS, the scan tool is used to command the SDM to request the PPS to flash the DTCs using the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF indicators located on the I/P.