Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Front Impact Sensor
The front impact sensors are used to provide the supplemental restraint system module (SRS) with advance information about the collision pulse. This enables the control module to determine more accurately the components to be activated.
The front impact sensors have integrated logic which transmits acceleration data to the supplemental restraint system module (SRS) in the same way as the side impact sensors.
In the event of a collision, the control module calculates the acceleration data from the front impact sensors and the internal sensors of the control module to check if the damage is sufficiently great to deploy the front impact protection.
In the event of a front impact sensor fault, a fault signal is sent to the control module, which generates a diagnostic trouble code. A trouble code is also generated if there is faulty communication between the control module and any of the front impact sensors. Each front impact sensor has a serial number that is used to check that the right front impact sensor is installed.
If one or both of the front impact sensors stops functioning, the control module uses the internal acceleration sensor to determine when the impact protection should be deployed.
Data is transmitted on the same cable used for power supply. There is a signal/power supply cable to each front impact sensor and a ground cable.
The two front impact sensors are behind the left and right-hand headlamps.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.