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Crash Data Retrieval Glossary

GM / Saturn Airbag SIR System Component Description & Definitions
The glossary on this page is copyrighted and provided courtesy of: Logan Diagnostic
www.airbagcrash.com

Advanced Automatic Crash Notification GM's advanced automatic crash notification (AACN) system is available on a dozen new 2005 GM models equipped with OnStar. AACN automatically calls an OnStar advisor if the vehicle in involved in a qualified frontal, rear or side impact crashes, regardless of air bag deployment.
AE Algorithm Enable, also known as SDM airbag module 'wakeup.'

Air Bag An inflatable cloth cushion designed to deploy in certain frontal crashes. Also used as side airbags in some cars.

Asynchronous An event that can occur at any time without a warning and without falling within a defined time period.

B+ Battery voltage.

Black Box Generic industry term for the event data recorder aka the airbag SDM and EDR. Like its counterpart in planes, black boxes in cars record crash data that can be retrieved with the Vetronix CDR equipment after an accident event. See 'SDM' and 'EDR.'

Bulb Test The SDM will cause the air bag warning indicator to flash 7 times. A malfunction could prevent the module from flashing the indicator.

Crash pulse Relates to the acceleration change the airbag SDM 'sees' during an accident event.

CDR Related to the Vetronix CDR module. Aka the Crash Data Retrieval tool. Also called crash data recorder.

Continuous Monitoring Test The SDM module continuosly moniters the SIR system during each 100 millisecond interval.

CPA Connector position assurance.

Data Link Connector The DLC electronically connects to many on-board computers and also with scan tools. AKA as the ALDL or Assembly Line Diagnostic Link.

Datum Line A base line parallel to the plane of the vehicle.

Deploy To inflate the air bag.

Deployment Loop Continuity Test SDM test of the drivers and passenger airbag circuitry.

Deployment Loops The circuits that provide the current to the inflator modules for air bag deployment.

DERM Diagnostic Energy Reserve Module. Older GM term for the airbag module. See 'SDM.'

Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) A set of codes used by the SDM in order to indicate specific SIR system malfunctions.

EDR Event data recorder. Technically called the air bag SDM module on GM vehicles. Generic industry term for the 'black box' data. Also called crash data recorders.

EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.

Event Accident, collision, crash, impact, wreck, rollover, rearended, side impact, etc.

Ignition Cycle The ignition switch causes this cycle to occur. The SDM counts how many ignition cycles have occured before a crash event.

EFS Inflatable Restraint Front End Discrimating Sensor / A sensor mounted on the front of the vehicle that supplies an input signal to the SDM.

GM advanced air bags Newer crash and deployment system. More info can be found at this link. http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/airbags9e_20050209.htm

Inflatable Restraint I/P module Passenger side airbag, an inflater, and an initiator.

Inflatable Restraint Steering Wheel Module Drivers side airbag, an inflater, and an initiator.
PPS / passenger presence systems. FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) requires all vehicles sold in the U.S. to be equipped with automatic passenger airbag suppression by model year 2006. The PPS monitors the occupant on the front outboard passenger seat and communicates the status to the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) whether to enable or suppress the deployment of the I/P module.

Steering Wheel Module Coil Like a clockspring. The assembly allows the rotation of the steering wheel while maintaining continuous electrical circuit contact.

Steering Column The steering column is energy absorbing. It can compress during a frontal crash to decrease the chance of injury to the driver.

Initiator The initiator initiates the chemical reaction that inflates the air bag.

RCM Ford version of a air bag module.

SDM GM Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic air bag Module. Aka the 'black box' or EDR. SDM is the newer GM term for the airbag module. See 'Derm.' The SDM moniters the side impact module if equipped. The SDM records information during a crash event.

SISM / aka SIS Inflatable Restraint Side Impact Sensing (and Diagnostic) Module. If equipped. Side impact crash detection.

Knee Bolster Knee bolsters absorb energy and control forward movement of the front seat occupants during a frontal crash.

Normal Operating Voltage Range Depending on year. 8.2-17.1 VDC or 7.8-18.0 VDC.

OnStar Current GM onboard subscription communications device. Technically a car based analog cell phone. Future versions will have both analog and digital coverage. Onstar will attempt to call you if there is a deployment or near deployment event, typically about 15-20 seconds after the deployment event or near deployment event. See 'Advanced Automatic Crash Notification.'

Power-on Test A test the SDM performs once per ignition cycle in order to measure the resistance of the deployment loops.

Scan Tool An off-board computer that reads on-board computer diagnostic information via the DLC/ALDL. GM Tech 1, GM Tech 2, Snap-on, are all examples of diagnostic scan tools.

Serial Data The information communicated to an off-board computer using the DLC/ALDL. See Tech 2 scanner.

SIR Supplemental inflatable restraint.

SRS Supplemental restraint system.

State Of Health (SOH) DTCs Diagnostic trouble codes set by any module communicating on the Serial Data Line Class 2.

23 VLR The 23 volt loop reserve. The energy supply that is internal to the SDM.

GM Tech 2 Current GM factory/dealer diagnostic scanner tool. See 'scan tool.' The GM Tech 2 cannot collect the air bag crash data.

Seat Belt Pretensioners During a crash event the SDM can ignite the material in the pretensioner gas generator. This reaction rapidly shortens the seat belt buckle height. They must be replaced after a deployment event.

The listed SDM air bag information above pertains to General Motors, GM, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet, GMC trucks and Saturn vehicles only. Information on your GM car may be different depending on year and model.

The glossary on this page is copyrighted and provided courtesy of:
Logan Diagnostic
www.airbagcrash.com

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