1993 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 39

What makes an air bag inflate? In a frontal impact of sufficient severity, sensors that strategically located on the vehicle detect the vehicle is suddenly stopping as a result of a crash. These sensors complete an electrical circuit, triggering a chemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed in the inflator. The reactionproduces nitrogen gas, which inflates thecloth bag. The inflator, cloth bag,and related hardware are allpart of the airbag inflator module packed inside the steering wheel. What will you see after an air bag inflation? After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly deflate. This occurs so quickly that some people may not even realize that the airbag inflated. The airbag will not impede the driver's vision or ability to steer the vehicle, nor will it hinderthe occupants from exiting the of vehicle. There will be small amounts smoke coming from vents in the deflated airbag. Some components of the airbag module in the steering wheel hub may be hot for a short time,but the portion of the bag that comes into contactwith you will not be hot to the touch. The nitrogen gas used to inflatethe air bag will have vented into 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 are alsovented into the passenger compartment. - How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel. The airbag supplements the protection provided by of safety belts. Air bags distribute the force 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 beltprotection in moderate to severe frontaland near-frontal collisions. 37