Chevrolet 2004 Epica Specifications download pdf (Page 58)

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air

bag should have inﬂated simply because of the damage

to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.

For frontal air bags, inﬂation is determined by the angle

of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down

in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact

air bags, inﬂation is determined by the location

and severity of the impact.

What Makes an Air Bag Inﬂate?

In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing

system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both

frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system

triggers a release of gas from the inﬂator, which inﬂates

the air bag. The inﬂator, the air bag and related hardware

are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air bag

modules are located inside the steering wheel and

instrument panel. For vehicles with side impact air bags,

the air bag modules are located in the seatback closest to

the driver’s and/or right front passenger’s door.

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,

even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or

the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side

collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside

of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection

provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of

the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,

stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air

bags would not help you in many types of collisions,

including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts,

primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the

air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many

types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal

collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because

an occupant’s motion is not toward those air bags. Air

bags should never be regarded as anything more than a

supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to

severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and

right front passenger’s frontal air bags, and only in

moderate to severe side collisions for vehicles with a

driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bag.

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Chevrolet 2004 Epica Specifications Page 58