Chevrolet 2002 Malibu Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 32)

1-26

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. Air bags supplement 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 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 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.

What will you see after an air bag inflates?

After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly

that some people may not even realize the air bag

inflated. Some components of the air bag module

-- the

steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or the

instrument panel for the right front passenger’s

bag

-- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag

that come into contact with you may be warm, but not

too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust

coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag

inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or from

being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people

from leaving the vehicle.

CAUTION:

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.

This dust could cause breathing problems for

people with a history of asthma or other

breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the

vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.

If you have breathing problems but can’t get out

of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get

fresh air by opening a window or door.

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,

windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.

Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the

right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they

inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag

system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system

won’t be there to help protect you in another crash.

A new system will include air bag modules and

possibly other parts. The service manual for your

vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

1 ... 31 32 33 ... 341

Comments to this Manuals

No comments

Chevrolet 2002 Malibu Owner's Manual Page 32

Comments to this Manuals

Related products and manuals for Cars Chevrolet 2002 Malibu