sensors PONTIAC VIBE 2005 Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has side
impact airbags, never secure anything to the
roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or
tiedown through any door or window opening.
If you do, the path of an inating side impact
airbag will be blocked. The path of an inating
airbag must be kept clear.
When Should an Airbag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to inate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inate
only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account
a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment
events and are used to predict how severe a crash
is likely to be in time for the airbags to inate and help
restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags
will or should deploy is not based on how fast your
vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact and how quickly your
vehicle slows down.
In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags,
which adjust the restraint according to crash severity.
Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors,
which help the sensing system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal
impact. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags
inate at a level less than full deployment. For more
severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
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Airbags may inate at different crash speeds.
For example:
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag
could inate at a different crash speed than if
the object were moving.
If the object deforms, the airbag could inate at
a different crash speed than if the object does
not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole)
the airbag could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object
(like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle the
airbag could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
The frontal airbags for the driver and right front
passenger may also deploy if a serious impact occurs
to the underside of your vehicle such as hitting a
curb, falling into a deep hole, or landing hard.
The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because ination
would not likely help the occupants.The side impact airbags are designed to inate in
moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact airbag
will inate if the crash severity is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.” The threshold level can vary
with specic vehicle design. Side impact airbags are not
designed to inate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers or rear impacts, because ination would not
likely help the occupant. Your vehicle has sensors which
detect side impacts. These sensors signal the
appropriate side airbag to inate. A side impact airbag will
only deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
It is possible that, in a crash involving the front of your
vehicle, only one of the two frontal airbags in your vehicle
will deploy. This is rare, but it can happen in a crash just
severe enough to make a frontal airbag inate.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, ination is determined by
the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side
impact airbags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
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In many crashes severe enough to inate an airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to inate only once. After an
airbag inates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them,
the airbag system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts.
The service manual for your vehicle covers the
need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-9.
Let only qualied technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.Notice:If you damage the covering for the frontal
airbags, the airbag covering on the driver’s and right
front passenger’s seatback or the airbag covering
on the ceiling near the side windows, the airbags
may not work properly. You may have to replace
the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s airbag, or the airbag
modules, the seatback, and the ceiling covering
for the side impact airbags (if equipped). Do not
open or break the airbag coverings.
If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water – such as
water up to the carpeting or higher – or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the airbag controller
can be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens,
and then you start your vehicle, the damage could make
the frontal and side impact airbags inate and safety
belt pretensioners activate, even if there is no
crash. You would have to replace the airbags, all the
sensors and related parts, parts of the safety belt system
and parts of the driver and right front passenger’s
seatbacks. If your vehicle is ever in a ood, or if it is
exposed to water that soaks the carpet, you can avoid
needless repair costs by turning off the vehicle
immediately and disconnecting the battery cables.
Do not let anyone start the vehicle under any
circumstances. See your dealer for service.
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Passenger Sensing System
Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. A
passenger airbag status indicator on the instrument
panel will be visible when you turn your ignition key to
ON. The words ON and OFF will be visible in the
passenger airbag status indicator during the system
check. When the system check is complete, either the
word ON or the word OFF will be visible. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30.
The passenger sensing
system will turn off the
right front passenger’s
frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact
airbag (if equipped)
under certain conditions.The passenger sensing system will also turn off the
right front passenger’s safety belt pretensioner if
it detects that there is no occupant in that position.
The driver’s airbag and the roof-mounted side impact
airbags are not part of the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors
that are part of the right front passenger’s seat assembly
and safety belt assembly. The sensors are designed
to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant
and determine if the passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) and
safety belt pretensioner should be enabled (may inate)
or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a
rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is
because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the
airbag deploys.
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the vehicle that
could keep the airbags from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet
metal or height, they may keep the airbag system
from working properly. Also, the airbag system may
not work properly if you relocate any of the airbag
sensors. If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two
of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on
page 7-2.Do not perform any of the following changes
without consulting your dealer. Such changes can
interfere with the proper operation of the airbag
system, passenger sensing system and/or safety
belt pretensioners.
Repairs on or near the front seat belt retractor
assemblies
Modication of the suspension system
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo
bar, etc), snowplow, winches or any other
equipment to the front end
Repairs made on or near the front fenders,
front end structure or console
Installation of electronic devises such as a
mobile two-way radio, cassette tape player
or compact disc player
Modication of the suspension system
Modication of the front end structure or the side
structure of the passenger compartment
Repairs made on or near the console of the
front seat
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Temperature Display
The outside air temperature is displayed on the center
of the instrument panel, within the speedometer.
The display will show the outside air temperature in
Fahrenheit with a range from−22°F to 122°F
(−30°C to 50°C).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also ash until the driver’s
belt is buckled. If the
driver’s belt is already
buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
Your vehicle also has a safety belt reminder light for the
right front passenger position.This light is located on the
center of the instrument
panel, above the audio
system.
When the key is turned to ON or START, this light will
come on as a reminder for the right front passenger
to fasten the safety belt. The safety belt light will ash
until the right front passenger’s safety belt is buckled.
The passenger’s safety belt reminder light will not
illuminate if the right front passenger’s belt is already
buckled or if a sensor does not detect the weight
of a passenger in that seat.
If something is placed on the right front passenger’s seat,
the sensors in the seat may detect that object and cause
the right front passenger’s safety belt reminder light to
come on. If this ever happens, move the object to the rear
seat or place it in a rear storage area, if at all possible.
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Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensors, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system, see
Airbag System on page 1-46.
This light will come on for
about seven seconds
when you start your
vehicle. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your
airbag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on or keeps
ashing after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system and safety belt pretension
system may not be working properly.
The airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without a
crash. To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced right away if
the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should come on for about
seven seconds when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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