1998 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 42

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontalor near-frontal collisions, can even belted o~ccupants contact the steering wheelor i the instrument panel.Ar bags supplement the protection provided by safety belts.Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over occupant's upper body, the stopping the occupant more gradually. But bags would ai^ not help youin many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward thosea r i bags. Air bags should neverbe regarded as anything and more than a supplement to safety belts, then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. What will you see afteran air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize th'eair bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag -- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you maybe warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. When an air bag inflates, there is dustthe air. in This dust could cause breathing problems for or people with a history of asthma other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safeto do so. If you have breathing problems but can't out get of the vehicle after an air inflates, then get bag fresh air by opening window or door. a ~~ In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag. Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include air bag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. 1-26