1998 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 33

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe fi-ontal near-frontal collisions, or even bdted occupants can contact steering wheel or the the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection provided by safety belts.Air bags distributethe force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But bags would air not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward those i bags. Air ar bags should never be regarded a as ng more than a supplement to safetybelts, and then only in moderate to severe fi-ontal or near-frontal collisions. When an air bag inflates, theredust inthe ar is i. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history asthma or other of breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out soon as it is safe to doso. as If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after air bag inflates, then get an fresh airby opening a window or door. In many crashes severe enough to inflate an ar bag, i windshields are broken vehicle deformation. by Additional windshield breakage may occur from also the right front passenger air bag. Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they i inflate, you'llneed some new parts for your a r bag system. If you don't getthem, the air bag system won't be there to help protect you another crash. in A new system will include bag modules and air possibly otherparts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. What will you see after air bag inflates? an After an air bag inflates, quickly deflates,so it quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the ar bag i module -- the steering wheelhub for the driver's air bag,or the instrument panel the right front for passenger's bag -- will behot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact withyou may be warm,but not too hot touch. There will be some to smoke and dust coming from vents the deflated air in bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from being able steer the vehicle, nor does it to stop peoplefrom leaving the vehicle. 1-26