steering wheel CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1993 4.G Owners Manual

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How the Air Bag System Works
Q: Where is the air bag?
A The driver's air bag is in the middle
of the steering wheel.
Q: When is an, air bag expected to
inflate?
A: 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 irito a
wall
that does not move or deform, the
tbeshold level for most GM vehicles
is between 9 and 14 mph (14 and
23 ldh). However, thi,s velocity
threshold depends on
the vehicle
design
and may be several miles-per-
hour faster
or slower. In addition,
28
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 impacls where the
inflation would provide no occupant
protection benefit.
In any
particular ;crash, the
determination
of whetherthe ail bag
should have inflated cannot be based
solely on the level of dgrnage 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.
Q: What makes -an air bag inflate?
A: In a.frontal impact of sufficient
severity, sensors strategically located
an the vehicle. detect th& the vehicle
is. suddenly stopping .as a result of a
crash. These sensors complete an
electrical circuit, triggelling-
a
chemical reaction of the sodium-
az-ide sealed in the .inflator. The
reaction produces nitrogen
gas;
which inflates the cloth bag. The
inflator, cloth bag,
and related
hadwareare all
part of the air bag
inflator module packed inside the
steering wheel.

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Q: How does an air bag restrain?
A: 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 hoderate to
severe frontal
and near-frontal
collisions.
Q: What wiu you see after an air bag
Mation?
A: Mer the air bag has inflated, it will
then quickly
deffate. This occurs so
quickly that some people may not
even realize that the air bag Sated.
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.
There
will be small amounts of
smoke
coming from vents in the
deflated
air bag. 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. The nitrogen gas
used to inflate the air bag will have ventdinto
the passenger
compartment, and the
bag will be
deflated within seconds after the
"collision. Nitrogen makes
up about
80% of the air we breathe and is not
hazardous. As the nitrogen vents
from the bag, small particles we also
vented into the passenger
compartment.
29

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How fhe Air Bag System Works
(CONT.)
CAUTION
Don’t attach .anything’to
A the steering wheel pad. It
might injure the driver if the air
bag
inflates.
The air bag isdesigned to inflate
only once. After it inflates, you”ll
.n~ed ‘some new parts €or
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.
Let oniy qualified technicians
work on yow air bag system.
Improper service can mean that
your air bag system won’t work
properly. See your dealer
for
service.
30
Servicing Your Corvette with the
Air Bag System
Please tell or remind anyone who works
on your Corvette that
it fias the air bag
system. 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. The air bag system does
not need regular maintenance. Your
Chevrolet dealer and the 1993 Corvette
Service Manual have information about
the air bag system, including repair or
disposal.
When electrical work is done under the
hood or inside your vehicle, the ignition
should be in
Lock, if possible.
Avoid yellow wires, wires wrapped with
yellow tape, or yellow connectors. They
are probably part
of the air bag system.
But if the ignition has to be on for
electrical work, or if the steering column
is to be disassembIed, the air bag system
must be disconnected.
-_ -.

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Features & Contr ,Is
Baff ery Replacement
Under normal use., the batteries in your
key chain.tramnitter should last about
eighteen months.
You can tell the batteries are weak if the
transmitter won’t workat
the normal
range in any location. If you have to get
close to your vehicle before the
transmitter
works, it’s probably time to
change the batteries.
To Replace Yaw Battery:
1. Gently pry the back of the transmitter
Off.
2. Gently push back the batteryretainer
and remove the battery (DL2450 or
equivalent),
-3. Replace the battery by placing the
negative side
down first.
4. Replace the transmitter covmand
squeeze the
two halves together.
5. Check the transmitter operation.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially
in
some cities. Although yo.ur Corvette
$as a number
of theft deterrent features,
we how that nothi-ng we put on it can
make it impossible to steal. However,
there are ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition: If you walk awgy
from your vehicle with the keys inside,
it’-s ;an.easy target far joy riders or
professional thieves-so don’t do it.
When you park your Corvette and
open the driver’s door, you’ll heat a
chime reminding you to remove your
key from the ignition and take it with
you.
Always do this. Your steering
wheel will be locked, and so will yo.ur
ignition.
I€ you have-an autbmatic
transmission,,
taking your key out also
locks your transmission-. And
remiember to lock the doors.

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Ignition Switch
With the-ignition key in the ignition
switch, you can turn
the switch to five
p.ositions:
Accessory: An “on” position in which
you
can operate your .electrical power
accessories. Press in the-ignition .switch
as
you turn the top of it toward you.
Lock: The only position in which you
can remove the key. This locks your
steering wheel, ignition. and automatic
shift lever.
UE Udo:cks the steering wheel,
ignition, and automatic shift lever. Use
this pasition if your vehicle must be
pushed or towed, but never try to push-
start your vehicle-.
A warning chime will
sound if you open the driver’s door when
the ignition is
off and the key is in
the ignition.
Run: An “on” position to which the
switch returns after you start your
engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in
the Run position when
the engine is running. But -even when
the engine is-not running, you can use.
Run to operate your electrical power
accessories,
and to display some instru-
ment panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine, When the
engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch will return to
Ruil fot
noma1 driving.
Note
that even if the engine is not
running, the positions
Accessory and
Run are “on” positions that allow y0.u
to operate your electrical accessories,
such
as the radio.
Key Release Button
(MANUAL TRANSMISSION)
..With a manual transmission, the
ignition key c-ot be removed from
the ignition unless the key release
button is used.
To Remove the Key:
Turn the key to the Lock position while
pressing the
key release buttoa down at
the same time. Keeping your thumb on
the button, pull the key straight out.

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You can sound the horn by pressing
either horn
symbol on your steering
wheel.
Tilt Steering Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to
adjust the steering wheel before
you
drive, You can also raise it to the.
highest level to give your
legs more.
room when
you exit and enter the
vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the- steering
wheel
and .pull the lever. Move the
steering wheel to a corn€wtable level,
then release the lever to lock: the wheel
in place.
Power Windows
With power windows, switches on the.
driver’s amest control
each of the
windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, the passenger door has a
control switch €or its, own window.
Push each s~tch up
or forward to raise
the power window; push it down or
rearward to lower the window.
The power windows
will remain
.operative
for. fifteen minutes after the
ignitionley is turned to the Off position.
Once eithgr door is opened the
windows will not operate. See the
Index
under DAB (Delayed Accessory Bus).
~. ..
81

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The Insfrument Panel-
Your lnformaiion System
Your instrument panel is designed to let
you lmow at a glance how your vehicle
is running.
You'll lrnow how fast you're
going, how much fuel
you're using, and
many other things you'll need to drive
safely
and economically.
The main components
of your
instrument panel are:
I. Acceleration Slip Regulation Switch
2. ,Side Widow Defogging Vents
3. Side Vents
4. Turn SignQHeadlight Beam Lever
5. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
(AW
6. Instrument Cluster
7. Fuel Gage
8. Ignition Switch
9. Trip Monitor Controls
IOm Solar Sensor
1 1. Center Vents
12. Driver Information. Center
13. Climate Controls and Rear Window
Defogger
14. Glove Box
15. Side Vents
16. Side Window Defogging Vents
17;Fuse Panel
18. Audio System
19. Ashtray/Lighter/Cup Holder
20. Selective Ride Control (Option)
21. Power Seat Controls (Option)
22. Gear Shift Lever
23. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
24. Horn
25. Light Controls
26. Fog Lights Switch
-. .

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Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist
because the engine stops
or the system
fails to function, you c-an steer but it
will take much more effort.
i.
steering Tips-Dtiving on Curves
It's important to tale curves at a
reasonable
speed.
A lot of the "driver lost control"
accidents mentioned
on. the news
happen on .curves. .Here's why:
Experienced driver
or beginner, each of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when
driving on'curves; The.;traction of
the tixes against the road surface makes
it possible
for the vehicle to change its
path when you turn the front wheels. If
there's no traction, inertia will keep the
vehicle going in the same direction. If
yuu"ve mer tried to steer a vehicle on
wet ice> you:U understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tizies
and
the road surface, the angle at which
the-curve
is banked, and your speed,
While you're in
a curve, speed is the one
factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through. a. sharp
a.xve. Then you suddenly acwlerate. If
excess wheel spin is detected, ASR will
reduce erigine torque to the wheels. Lf
your ASR system is off, those two
control systems-steering and
acceleration-can ovGrwhelm those
i places where-the tires meet the road and
~ make you lose control.
1 What should you do if this ever
happens? Let
up on the accelerator
pedal, steer
the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.

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Your Driving and the Road
’I
Steering Tips-Driving on Curves
(CONT.)
Speed limit signs near curves warm that
you should adjust your speed.
Of
course, the posted speeds are based on
good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you’ll
want to
go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you
approach
a curve, do it before you enter
the curve, while your hont wheels are
straight ahead.
Try
to adjust your speed so you can
Wive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out
of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
When you drive into
a curve at night,
it’s harder to see the road ahead
of you
because it bends away
from the straight
beams
of your lights. This is one good
reason to drive slower.
I80
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be
more effective than braking. For
example,
you come over a hill and find
a truck stopped
in your lane, or a car
suddenly pulls out
€ram nowhere, or a
child darts out from between parked
cars and stops right in front of you. You
can avoid these problems by braking-if
you can stop in time. But sometimes
you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the
time for evasive action-steering
around the problem.
Your Corvette
can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes. It is better
to remove as much
speed as you can
from a possible
collision. Then steer around the
9
problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close
attention and a quick decision.
If you
are holding the steering wheel at the
recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once
you have avoided the object. You
must then be prepared to steer back to
your original lane and then brake to a
controlled stop.
Depending on your speed, this can be
rather violent for an unprepared driver.
This is one of the reasons driving
experts recommend that you use your
safety belts and keep both hands
on the
steering wheel.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is
a good reason to
practice defensive driving at
all times.

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Ofl-Road .Recovery
You may hd sometime that your right
wheels bave dropped 08 the edge of-a
road mtwthe &odder while you’re
driving.
ff- the level of the shoulder is only
slightly below the pavement, recovery
should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing
in the way, steer so that. your%Wde
straddles the edge of. the pavement. You
can turn the steering wheel up to ‘h
turn until theight. front tire contacts
the pavement
edge. Then turn your
stetking wheel to go straight dm the
rcradway.
If the- shoulder appears to be about four
inches (100 mm) or more below the
pavement,. this difference.cm cause
problems. If there is not boough room
to pull entirely onto the shoulder and
stgp, then fdbw the same procedures.
But if the riglit €rant tire scrubs against
the side. af the pavement, do not skstr
more.sharplyy. With too much steering-
angle, the vehicle may jump back o~to
the road with so much steering input
that it-cmsses over into the oncoming
tr&c ,before you can bring it back
under control.. ;Instead, ease off again an
the? accelerator and steeping input,
straddle
the pavement once more, then
try again.