sensor PONTIAC VIBE 2007 Owners Manual

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 only 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.Frontal airbags may inate at different vehicle
crash speeds. For example:If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the
airbags could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits an object that
does not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole),
the airbags 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 airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the
object.
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.
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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.
Side impact airbags are intended 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 intended to
inate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or
in many rear impacts. Your vehicle has sensors
which detect side impacts. These sensors
signal the appropriate side airbag to inate. Both
side impact airbags (seat-mounted and
roof-mounted) are intended to deploy on the side
of the vehicle that is struck. It is possible that,
in a crash involving the rear side of your vehicle,
that only the roof-mounted airbag will deploy.
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 what
the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, vehicle
speed, 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.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is
in a crash. The sensing system triggers a release
of gas from the inator, which inates the
airbag. The inator, airbag and related hardware
are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal
airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and the instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are
also airbag modules in the side of the front
seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with
roof-mounted side impact airbags, there are
also airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle,
near the side window.
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Your vehicle has a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information
after a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and
Event Data Recorders on page 411.
Let only qualied technicians work on the
airbag system. Improper service can mean that
the airbag system will not work properly. See
your dealer for service.
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 depending
on whether the seat is occupied and/or the
weight of the occupant. SeePassenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 163. The passenger
sensing system will turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag, seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped), and the safety
belt pretensioner under certain conditions. The
driver’s 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 right
front passenger’s frontal airbag, seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped), and the safety belt
pretensioner should be enabled (may inate) or not.
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
or sides of the vehicle that could keep the
airbags from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your
vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height,
front end or side sheet metal, 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 400.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my airbag system?
A:Changing or moving any parts of the
front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel,
instrument panel, ceiling headliner, ceiling and
pillar garnish trim, roof-mounted airbag
modules, or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system. If you have
questions, call Customer Assistance. 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 400.
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Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional daytime running lamps
are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the
following conditions are met:
The ignition is on with the engine running.
The exterior lamps switch is off.
The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only the headlamps will be
on at a reduced brightness. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps will not be on. The
instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When you turn the exterior lamp switch to the
headlamp position, the DRL will go off and
the headlamps will come on. The other lamps that
come on with the headlamps will also come on.When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps. See “Automatic Headlamp System”
following.
When you turn the exterior lamp switch off, the
regular lamps will go off and the headlamps
will change to the reduced brightness of DRL
provided it is not dark outside. DRL also comes on
if only the parking lamps are being used.
Automatic Headlamp System
Your vehicle has an automatic light sensor on the
top left corner of the instrument panel, so be
sure it is not covered or the headlamps will be on
continuously.
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system will turn on the low-beam
headlamps at the normal brightness along with
other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps and instrument panel lights. This is
indicated by the headlamp symbol on your
instrument panel cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 159.
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Power Outlet 115 Volt Alternating
Current
With this power outlet, you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment with a maximum limit of
115 VAC. If you try to use equipment that requires
more than the limit, a protection circuit will cut
the power supply. The power will automatically
restart when equipment that operates within
the limit is plugged in.
The power outlet is located near the center of the
instrument panel. Before using the outlet, turn
on the ignition and press the button next to
the outlet. An indicator light in the button will come
on. After using the outlet, press the button again
to turn it off.The power outlet is not designed for the following
electrical equipment and they may not work
properly:Equipment with high initial peak
wattage: cathode-ray tube type televisions,
compressor-driven refrigerators, electric
power tools.
Other equipment requiring an extremely stable
power supply: microcomputer-controlled
electric blankets, touch sensor lamps, etc.
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
Notice:If you put papers, pins, or other
ammable items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes
or other smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage your vehicle. Never
put ammable items in the ashtray.
To use the lighter, if your vehicle has one, push
the lighter in all the way and let go. When it
is ready, it will pop back out by itself. If the engine
is not running, the key must be in ACC to use
the lighter.
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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 their safety belt. This light will
ash until the right front passenger’s safety belt
is buckled. The passenger’s safety belt reminder
light will not come on 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
seat, the sensors in the seat may detect that
object and cause the right front passenger safety
belt reminder light to come on. If this happens,
remove the object.Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel cluster, 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 monitors the airbag
sensor assembly, front airbag sensors,
seat-mounted side impact and roof-mounted airbag
sensors, driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat
belt buckle switch, right front occupant sensing
system and indicator light, front passenger’s seat
belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner
assemblies, inators, interconnecting wiring and
power sources. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 63.
This light will come on
briey when you start
your vehicle, then
it should go out. This
means the system
is ready.
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