2000 Saab 9-5 Owner's Manual - Page 28

28 Safety Side airbags Side airbags are housed inside the backrests of the front seats and are designed to protect the driver and front passenger in the event of a side impact. In a side impact, only the airbag on that side will be activated, and only then if certain predetermined conditions are met such as the force and angle of the impact, the speed of the car on impact, and at which point on the car's side the impact occurs. The sensors, which are fitted in the front doors, sense the rise in pressure caused by the door panel being pressed in during an impact condition. The side airbag trigger will be commanded based on the characteristics of this pressure rise. What should I do if the AIR-BAG warning light comes on? If the warning light is on, it means that a fault has been detected in the system. The airbag cannot be relied on to operate as intended and it might even be activated erroneously. You should therefore take the car to an authorized Saab dealer as soon as possible. When an airbag is inflated there is dust in the air. Because the dust sometimes contains particles of a substance resembling dish detergent, the following precautions should be taken: • As soon as possible, wash any exposed skin using a mild soap and water. • If there is irritation of the eyes, flush them liberally with clean water for at least 20 minutes. Side airbag inflated IB422 WARNING