gas type PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owners Manual

impacts, or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
It is possible that in a crash only one of the two air ,bags
in your Pontiac will deploy. This ishare, but
can happen
in a crash just severe enough to make an air bag inflate.
,, _.. . .> . .~
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 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 modules
packed inside the steering wheel and in the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
,‘.\.,, evep . belted occqymts can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. 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 gradhdly. But
air bags would not help you in many types
of kollisions,
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 anythingmore
than a supplement to safety belts, and then
od$ in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal colliiions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?:.: 1 i
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. &is 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 for the driver’s air bag, or the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, 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 corning from vents in the
deflated air bags. 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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To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside
of Your Pontiac” in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit and your fuel tank
and emissions system might be damaged.
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Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
Pontiac, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
0 Gasoline
0 Benzene
0 Naphtha
Carbon Tetrach
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
0 Turpentine
[loride
0 Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous -- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
0 Laundry Soap
0 Bleach
0 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Pontiac dealer has two GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well. Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
0 Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
0 Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used if stains are
stubborn.
0 Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
only. If you use them, don’t saturate the stained area.
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