Kia Optima: Pre-tensioner Seat Belt

Your vehicle is equipped with driver’s and front passenger’s pre-tensioner seat belts. The purpose of the pre-tensioner is to make sure that the seat belts fit tightly against the occupant’s body in certain frontal collisions.

The pre-tensioner seat belts can be activated alone or, together with the airbags, where the frontal collision is severe enough.

The pre-tensioner seat belt operates in the same way as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) type of seat belt. When the vehicle stops suddenly, or if the occupant tries to lean forward too quickly, the seat belt retractor will lock into position. However, in certain frontal collisions, the pretensioner will activate and pull the seat belt into tighter contact against the occupant’s body.

The seat belt pre-tensioner system consists mainly of the following components. Their locations are shown in the illustration.

1. SRS airbag warning light.
2. Seatbelt pre-tensioner assembly.
3. SRS control module.

WARNING

To obtain maximum benefit from a pretensioner seat belt:

• The seat belt must be worn correctly.
• The seat belt must be adjusted to the correct position.

✽ NOTICE

• Both the driver’s and front passenger’s pretensioner seat belts will be activated in certain frontal collisions. The pre-tensioner seat belts can be activated alone or, where the frontal collision is severe enough, together with the airbags. The pretensioners will be activated under these conditions even if the seat belts are not being worn at the time of the collision.
• When the pre-tensioner seat belts are activated, a loud noise may be heard and fine dust, which may appear to be smoke, may be visible in the passenger compartment and are not toxic.
• Although it is harmless, the fine dust may cause skin irritation and should not be breathed for prolonged periods. Wash your hands and face thoroughly after an accident in which the airbags and/or pretensioner seat belts were activated.

CAUTION

• Because the sensor that activates the SRS airbag is connected with pre-tensioner seat belt, the SRS airbag warning light on the instrument panel will blink for approximately 6 seconds after the ignition key has been turned to the “ONâ€� or “ACCâ€� positions, then it should go off.
• If the pre-tensioner seat belt is not working properly, this warning light will illuminate even if there is no malfunction of SRS airbag system. If the SRS airbag warning light does not illuminate when the ignition key is turned to “ONâ€� or “ACCâ€�, or if it remains illuminated after blinking for approximately 6 seconds, or if it illuminates while the vehicle is being driven, please have an authorized Kia dealer inspect the pre-tensioner seat belt or SRS airbag system as soon as possible.

WARNING

• Pre-tensioners are designed to operate once. After activation, pre-tensioner seat belts must be replaced. All seat belts, of any type, should always be replaced after they have been worn during a collision.
• The Pre-tensioner seat belt assembly mechanisms become hot during activation. Do not touch the pretensioner seat belt assemblies for several minutes after they have been activated.
• Do not attempt to inspect or replace the pre-tensioner seat belts yourself. This must be done by an authorized Kia dealer.
• Do not strike the pre-tensioner seat belt assemblies.
• Do not attempt to service or repair the pre-tensioner seat belt system in any manner.
• Improper handling of the pre-tensioner seat belt assemblies, and failure to heed the warnings not to strike, modify, inspect, place, service or repair the pretensioner seat belt assemblies may lead to improper operation or inadvertent activation causing serious injury.
  Always wear the seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.