2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual - Page 59

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Manual

Page 59 highlights

If something is between an occupant and an air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put anything between an occupant and an air bag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. Don't let seat covers block the inflation path of a side impact air bag. air bags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight intoa wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. I ' If your vehicle strikes something that will moveor deform,such as a parked car, thethreshold level will be higher. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation would not help the occupant. When Should an Air Bag Inflate? The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level". In addition, your vehicle has "dual stage" frontal air bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these Your vehicle may or may not have a driver side air bag. See Air Bag Systems in the Index. A driver 's side impact air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes involving the driver's door. A side impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity is above the system's designed "threshold level." The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. A driver's side impact air bag is not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. 1-52

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If
something
is
between an occupant and an
air
bag,
the bag might not inflate properly or
it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or
even
death. The path of an
inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or
on
or
near any other
air
bag covering. Don’t let
seat covers block the
inflation path of a
side
impact
air
bag.
When Should an
Air
Bag Inflate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate
only
if
the impact speed is above the system’s
designed “threshold level”.
In addition, your vehicle has
“dual stage” frontal air
bags,
which adjust the amount of restraint according to
crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these
air bags inflate at a
level less than full deployment.
For
more severe frontal impacts, full deployment
occurs.
If
the front of your vehicle
goes
straight
intoa wall
that
doesn’t
move or deform,
the threshold level
for
the reduced
deployment is about 12 to 18
mph
(19 to
29
km/h), and the threshold level for a full
deployment is about 18 to
24
mph (29 to
38.5 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 driver’s and
right
front
passenger’s frontal
air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers,
rear
impacts,
or in many
side impacts because inflation
would
not help the occupant.
Your vehicle may or may not
have a driver
side
air
bag.
See
Air Bag Systems in the
Index.
A
driver
’s
side
impact air bag is designed to inflate in moderate
to severe side crashes involving the
driver’s
door.
A
side impact air bag will inflate
if
the
crash
severity
is above the system’s designed
“threshold
level.”
The
threshold level can vary
with
specific
vehicle
design.
A
driver’s side impact air
bag is not
designed to inflate
in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers
or
rear
impacts, because inflation would
not
help
the
occupant.
I
1-52