BUICK REGAL 1994 Owner's Guide

To unbuckle the automatic belt, just push the button on
the buckle.
To reattach the automatic belt:
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see "Seats" in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
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What's wrong with this?
t
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won't give nearly
as much protection this way.
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You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder be&'&
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too loose. In a crash you would move forward
too much, which could significantly
increase
injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your
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What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
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Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
I A CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm.
In a crash, your
body would move
too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to the
ribs, which aren’t
as strong as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spieen.
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&.’ What’s wrong with this?
I I I I 1 I I 1 I 1 I
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
This section explains the driver’s Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS), commonly referred to as an air
bag. Here are the most important things to know:
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR
BAG. The system checks for
electrical malfunctions, and the light tells you
if there is
a problem.
AIR BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when
you
turn your ignition to “Run”
or “Start.” Then the light
should go out, which means
the system is ready.
Remember,
if the air bag readiness light doesn’t come
on when you start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on
when you are driving, your air bag system may not work
properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.
How The Air Bag System Works
Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
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When is an air bag expected to inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will only
inflate if the velocity of the impact is above the designed
threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that
does not move or deform,
the threshold level for most
GM vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph (14 and 23
km/h). However, this velocity threshold depends on the
vehicle design and may be several miles-per-hour faster
or slower. In addition, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher if the vehicle strikes an object such
as a parked car which will move and deform on impact.
The air bag is also not designed
to inflate in rollovers,
side impacts, or rear impacts where the inflation would
provide
no occupant protection benefit.
In any particular crash, the determination of whether
the
air bag should have inflated cannot be based solely on
the level of damage on the vehicle(s). Inflation is
determined by the angle
of the impact and the vehicle’s
deceleration, of which vehicle damage is only one
indication. Repair cost is
not a good indicator of
whether an air bag should have deployed.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal impact of sufficient severity, the air bag
sensing system detects that
the vehicle is suddenly
stopping as a result of a crash. The sensing system
triggers a chemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed
in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen gas,
which inflates the cloth bag. The inflator, cloth bag, and
related hardware are all part of the air bag inflator
module packed inside the steering wheel.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel.
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 air bags would not
provide protection
in many types of collisions, including
rollovers and rear and side impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags
should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belt protection in moderate to
severe frontal and near-frontal collisions.
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What will you see after an air bag inflation?
After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly
deflate. This occurs
so quickly that some people may
not
even realize that the air bag inflated. Some
components
of the air bag module in the steering wheel
hub may be hot for a short time, but the portion of the
bag that comes into contact
with you will not be hot to
the touch. There will be small amounts of smoke and
dust coming from vents
in the deflated air bag. The air
bag will
not impede the driver’s vision or ability to steer
the vehicle, nor will
it hinder the occupants from exiting
the vehicle.
0
0
The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it
inflates, 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 the air bag module and
possibly other parts. The service manual has information about
the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped
with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag system
if the air bag deploys during a crash: The module
records information about the readiness of the
system, which sensors activated the deployment, and
whether the driver’s safety belt was
in use.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s air bag, it
may not work properly. You may have to replace
the air bag on the steering wheel.
Do not open or
break the air bag cover.
Is the smoke from an air bag inflation harmful?
The particles emitted during air bag inflation are not
harmful to most people. Some people
with respiratory
ailments may .experience difficulty breathing
if they stay
in the vehicle with the windows closed after air bag
inflation.
So, if your air bag inflates, you and any
passengers should exit the vehicle
if and when it is safe
to do
so. If you or your passengers can’t get out of the
vehicle,
try to get fresh air by opening a window,
turning on the
fm, or opening a door.
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Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick
The air bag affects how your Buick should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
Buick dealer and the
1994 Regal Service Manual have
information about servicing
your vehicle and the air bag
system. The air bag system does not need regular
maintenance.
I A CAUTION:
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely
to be
seriously injured
if they don’t wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low as possible
throughout the pregnancy.
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