CHEVROLET BLAZER 1995 2.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0: Why don’t they just put in air bags so people won’t have to wear
safety belts?
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in more of them in the
future. But
they are supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts - not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered
for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even
if you’re in a vehicle
that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection.
That’s true not only in frontal collisions,’but especially
in side and
other collisions.
0: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I
wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an accident - even
one that isn’t your fault
- you and your passengers can be hurt. Being
a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control,
such
as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of home. And the
greatest number
of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less
than
40 mph (65 kndh).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things
to know about safety belts and
children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a
child will be riding in your vehicle,
see the part of this manual called
“Children.” Follow those rules
for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
1-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it \
properly.
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.
If the belt isn’t 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.
5. To make the lap
part tight, pull
down on the buckle end
of the
belt as you pull
up on the
shoulder belt.
.
1-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Q: What's wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won't give nearly as much protection
this way.
1-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
1-14

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.
1-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
A
A
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.
1-16

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System
(SIR)
This part explains the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) system, or air
bag.
Your vehicle has an air bag for the driver.
Here are the most important things to
know about the air bag system:
1-17

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
1 .. ..
Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
1-18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 14 to 18
mph (23 to 29 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 woul\
d 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.
The air bag system is designed to work properly under a wide range
of
conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds,
especially
on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See
“Off-Road Driving” in the Index for more tips on off-road\
driving.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-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 fo\
rce 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
1-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some compone\
nts 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 and dust 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.
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.
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.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module, which records
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 module. Do not
open or break the air bag cover.
1-20