CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN 1995 2.G Owner's Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
A CAUTION:
, .. .. . , , a-,- ._ . ." . : . -.. .
You can be seriously injured if youp 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 spleen.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Q: What's wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
A CAUTION:
I
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you
wouldn't have the full width
of the belt to spread impact forces.
If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or
ask your dealer to
fix it.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go
back out of the way.
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the
door
on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows
AIR
BAG. The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See
“Air
Bag Readiness Light” in the Index for more information.
How the Air Bag System Works
Where is the air bag?
The driver’s facial air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
Don’t put anything on, or attach anything to, the steering wheel.
Also, don’t put anything (such
as pets or objects) between the
driver and the steering wheel. If something is between an
occupant
and an air bag, it could affect the performance of the
air bag
- or worse, it could cause injury.
When should an air bag inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed is
above the system’s designed “threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight
into a wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is about
11 to 16
mph (1 8 to 26 kdh). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle design,
so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the
threshold level will be higher.
The air bag is not designed to inflate in
rollovers, side impacts, or rear impacts, because inflation would not help
the
occupant.
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. Inflation is determined by
the angle of the impact and the
vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is
only one indication of this.
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 air bag. The
inflator, air bag, and related hardware are all part of the air bag 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 help you 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 belts, and then only
in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs so quickly that
some people
may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of
the air bag module in the steering wheel hub will be hot for a short time, but
the part of the bag that comes into contact with
you will not be hot to the
touch. There will be some smoke coming from vents in the deflated air bag.
Air bag inflation will not prevent the driver from seeing or from being able
to steer the vehicle, nor will
it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
A 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.
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 for your vehicle covers the need to replace other
parts
.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module, which records
information about the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the sensors are activated and
driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
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 of the driver’s facial air bag, it may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air bag module.
Do
not open or break the air bag cover.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Servicing Your Facial Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
The facial air bag affects how your vehicle 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
GM dealer and
the 1995 GM Service Manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual,
see “Service Publications”
in the Index. The air bag system does not need
regular maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your Facial Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
0: If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the front of my vehicle,
will it keep the air bag
from working properly?
A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is attached to your vehicle
so that the vehicle’s basic structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep
the air bags from working properly in a crash.
Q: Is there anything I might add to the front of the vehicle that could
keep the air bag from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper
system, front end sheet metal or height, they may keep the air bag
system from working properly. Also, the air bag system may not work
properly if
you relocate any of the air bag sensors. If you have any
question 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. See “Customer Satisfaction Procedure” in
the Index
.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
A
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt
is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt
in a crash. For
pregnant women,
as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is
wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s
safety belt. See “Driver Position,” earlier in
this section.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If
it does, let it
go back all
the way and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics
show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes
than those who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle
in
a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety
belts.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
Lap-Shoulder Belt
These positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull it across you. Don’t let it get twisted.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops
before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until
you can buckle
it. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender’’ at the end of
this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle
is positioned so you would
be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as
you pull up
on the shoulder part.
The lap part
of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic
bones.
And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at your abdomen.
This could cause serious or even
fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should
go over the shoulder and across the
chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks
if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.
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