1997 Buick Riviera Owner's Manual - Page 35

~ If something is between an occupant and an air bag, the bag may not inflate properlyitmight or force the object that person. Thepath of an into inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put anything between an occupant and an air bag, and don't attach or putanything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. this it can be somewhat above or below 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 orrear 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 the damage of to a vehicle because of what the repair costs were. or of Inflation is determined by the angle the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down frontal or in near-frontal impacts. When shouldan air bag inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate a moderateto severe in frontal or near-frontal crash. 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, threshold level is the about 8 to 11 mph (13 to 18 km/h). The threshold level so can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, that What makesan air bag inflate? h an impactof sufficient severity, a r bag sensing the i system detects that vehicle is in a crash. The sensing the system triggers a release gas from the inflator, which of inflates the air bag. inflator, air bag and related The hardware are all part the air bag modules inside the of steering wheel and the instrument panel in of the in front right front passenger. 1-24