CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1996 Service Manual

Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is over an armrest.
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Q: What's wrong with this?
I
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the
shoulder at all times.
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Q: What's wrong with this?
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A: The belt is twisted across the body.
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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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:
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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 air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
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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 12 to 16 mph (19 to 26
km/h).
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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0
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 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.
I 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.
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 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.
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Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: IfI add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the front of my vehicle,
A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is attached to your vehicle
will it keep the air bag from working properly?
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: What if I add a snow plow? Will it keep the air bag from working
properly?
A: We’ve designed our air bag systems to work properly under a wide
range
of conditions, including snow plowing with vehicles equipped
with the optional Snow Plow Prep Package (RPO VYU). But don’t
change or defeat the snow plow’s “tripping mechanism.”
If you do, it
can damage your snow plow and your vehicle, and it may cause an air
bag inflation.
Q: Is there anything I might add to the front of the vehicle that could
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper
keep the air bag from working properly?
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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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.
.... .
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 lap portion
of the belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it
does, let it
go back all the way and start again.
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Center Passenger Position
Lap Belt
If your vehicle has front and rear bench seats, someone can sit in the center
positions.
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.
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