CHEVROLET S10 1996 2.G Owner's Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I How the Air Bag System Works
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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 14 to 18 mph (23 to 29 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range.
Where
is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle
of the steering wheel.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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 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, rear impacts 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. The
part
of the bag that comes into contact with you may be
warm, but it will never be too hot to 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.
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.
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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 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
The 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 service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and
the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications’’ in the Index.
I
h CAUTION:
For up to two minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an
air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape,
or yellow connectors. They are probably part
of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for
you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Equipment to Your
Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
&= 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.
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.)
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, belou
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 ‘beltis pulled out all the way, it will
lock.‘If it
does, let it go backdl the way and start.again:
-:! * >.?X. -
Center Passenger
..
I b IC c- .
Lap Belt’
S’
If your vehicle has a bench seat, someone can sit in the
center position.
-. ‘
’. -.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine . -. --
... ..
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When you, sit in a center seating position, you have a lap
safety belt, which has no retractor.
To make the belt
longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. To
make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until
the belt is snug.
Buckle, position and release it the way as the lap part
of
a lap-shoulder belt. 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.
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I I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Seat Passengers (Extended Cab
Jump Seats)
Lap Belt
These are reserve seating positions equipped with lap
belts only.
(If your extended cab pickup has the
optional side access panel, there’s only one reserve
seating position.)
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.
,!
Each jump seat has a lap belt with no retractor. To
make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate a little and pull
the belt.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes
infants and all children smaller than adult size. In fact, the law in every state
in the United States and in every
Canadian province says children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
Smaller Children and Babies
To make it shorter, pull the belt as shown until it is snug.
Buckle
and position it the same way as the lap part of
the driver’s safety belt (see “Driver Position” in the
Index), 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. To unlatch the belt, just
push the button on the buckle.
Don’t use child restraints on these seats. They won’t
work properly.
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Smaller children and babies should always be,
restrained in
a child or infant restraint. The
instructions for the restraint will say whether it is
the right type aqd size for your child.
A very
young child’s hip bones are
so small that a
regular belt might not stay low on the hips, as it
should. Instead, the, belt will likely be over the
child’s abdomen. In
a crash, the belt would apply
force right on the child’s abdomen, which could
cause serious or fatal injuries.
So, be sure that
any child small enough for one is always properly
restrained in
a child or infant restraint. 1 ,
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
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Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a
vehicle. A baby doesn't weigh much -- until a
crash. During a crash a baby will become so
heavy you can't hold it. For example, in a crash
CAUTION: (Continued)
at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-1b. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become a 240-lb.
(110 kg) force on
your arms. The baby would be almost impossible
to hold.
Secure the baby in an infant restraint.
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