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1996 Chevrolet Tahoe Owner's Manual - Page 39

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe Manual

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When shouldan 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 goesstraight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, that so it canbe 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 inflationwould not help the occupant. . In any particular crash, no one cansay whether an air bag should have inflated simply becauseof the damage to a vehicle orbecause of what the repair costs were. Inflation isdetermined by the angleof 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 rangeof 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 off-road driving. on 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 asa 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 areall part of the air bag module packed inside the steering wheel. How does an air bag restrain? In moderateto 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 occupant's upper body, stopping the the occupant moregradually. 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 nottoward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severefrontal or near-frontal collisions. 1-32

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Power Driver’s Seat (Option)	9
Rear Seats	14
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	23
Why Safety Belts Work	24
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	27
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	28
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System	36
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	42
Right Front Passenger Position	43
Center. Passenger Position	43
Rear Seat Passengers	45
Children	50
Child Restraints	52
Larger Children	59
Safety Belt Extender	62
Checking Your Restraint Systems	62
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	63
Features and Controls	64
Keys	64
Door Locks	65
Keyless Entry System (Option)	67
Theft	71
New Vehicle “Break-In”	72
Ignition Positions	73
Starting Your Gasoline Engine	74
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)	75
Automatic Transmission Operation	77
Shifting Into PARK (P)	85
Parking Over Things That Burn	87
Engine Exhaust	88
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked	88
Windows	90
Horn	91
Tilt Wheel (Option)	91
Multifunction Lever	92
Lamps	98
Interior Lamps	101
Mirrors	102
Storage Compartments	105
Luggage Carrier (Option)	113
Cigarette LightedAshtrays	115
Sun Visors	116
Power Outlets	116
Instrument Panel	117
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	132
Comfort Controls	132
Standard Climate Control System	132
Optional Climate Control System	133
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating Systems (Suburban) ’	134
Air Conditioning	137
Heating	138
Ventilation System	138
efogging and Defrosting D	139
Audio Systems	140
Setting the Clock for Systems without Automatic Tone Control	141
Setting the Clock for Systems with Automatic Tone Control	141
AM-FM Stereo	141
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (Option)	143
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Automatic Tone Control (Option)	145
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control (Option)	151
Theft-Deterrent Feature	155
Understanding Radio Reception	157
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	158
Care of Your Compact Discs	159
Fixed Mast Antenna	159
Your Driving and the Road	160
Defensive Driving	160
Drunken Driving	161
Control of a Vehicle	164
Braking	164
Anti-Lock Brakes	165
Steering	167
Off-Road Recovery	169
Passing	170
Loss of Control	171
Driving Guidelines	172
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle	173
Driving at Night	186
Night Vision	187
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	188
City Driving	191
Freeway Driving	192
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	193
Highway Hypnosis	194
Hill and Mountain Roads	194
Winter Driving	196
Loading Your Vehicle	200
Towing a Trailer	202
Power Winches	213
Power Take-Off (PTO)	213
Problems on the Road	216
Hazard Warning Flashers	216
Jump Starting	217
Towing Your Vehicle	221
Engine Overheating (Gasoline Engine)	224
Cooling System -- Gasoline Engines	226
If a Tire Goes Flat	234
Changing a Flat Tire	235
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	251
Service and Appearance Care	254
Fuel (Gasoline Engine)	256
Checking Things Under the Hood	259
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)	265
Air Cleaner	269
Automatic Transmission Fluid	271
Rear Axle	275
Four- Wheel Drive	275
Front Axle	276
Engine Coolant	278
Radiator Pressure Cap	281
Thermostat	281
Power Steering Fluid	282
Windshield Washer Fluid	283
Brakes	284
Fluid Leak Check	287
Battery	288
Bulb Replacement	288
Halogen Bulbs	288
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	295
Tires	296
Appearance Care	304
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	305
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	309
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	313
Electrical System	314
Replacement Bulbs	321
Capacities and Specifications	323
Air Conditioning Refrigerants	326
Maintenance Schedule	328
Introduction	328
Your Vehicle and the Environment	328
How This Section is Organized	329
Part A:’ Scheduled-Maintenance Services	330
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	330
Selecting the Right Schedule	330
Maintenance Schedule	331
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	369
At Each Fuel Fill	369
At Least Once a Month	369
At Least Twice a Year	370
At Least Once a Year	370
Part C: Periodic Maintenanc,Inspections	373
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants,	375
Part E: Maintenance Record	378
Customer Assistance Information	380
'Reporting Safety Defects'	387
REPORTING SAF-TY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT	387
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT	388
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS	388
Service and Owner Publications em	388

Match case Limit results 1 per page

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

mph

(14

km/h).

The threshold level

can vary, however, with specific

vehicle

design,

that

canbe 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

not designed to

inflate

rollovers,

side

impacts

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

the impact and

the vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one

indication of this.

The

air

bag

system

designed to work properly under a

wide

range of conditions, including off-road usage.

Observe

safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain.

always, wear your safety belt. See “Off-Road

Driving” in the Index

for

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

suddenly stopping

as a result of a crash. The sensing

system triggers a chemical reaction

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

the air bag

module

packed inside the steering wheel.

How

does an air

bag

restrain?

moderateto severe frontal

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

evenly

over

the occupant’s upper body, stopping

the occupant

moregradually. 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

not

toward the

air bag.

Air bags should never be regarded as anything more

than a supplement to safety belts, and then only

moderate

severe

frontal or near-frontal collisions.

1-32