1996 Buick Skylark Owner's Manual - Page 37

impacts, or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. Don't put anything or attach anything to, the on, steering wheel or instrument panel. Also, don't put anything (such pets or objects) between as any occupant and the steering wheel or instrument panel. If something is between an occupant and an air bag, it could affect the performance of the air bag or worse, it could cause injury. -- L When should an air inflate? bag The air bagis designed to inflate moderate to severe in air frontal or near-frontal crashes. The bag will inflate only if the impact speed above the system's designed is If "threshold level." your vehicle goes straight into a is wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). The threshold level so can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,that or If it c.an be somewhat above below this range. your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The in air bagis not designed to inflate rollovers, side In any particular crash,no one can say whether air an bag should have inflated simply becausethe damage of of to a vehicle or because what the repair costs were. Inflation is determined by the angleof the impact and the vehicle's deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one indication of this. What makes anair bag inflate? ~n frontal or near-frontal impactsufficient severity, a of is the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle suddenly stopping as a result ,of a crash. The sensing a of system triggers chemical reaction the sodium azide sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen ar gas, which inflates thei bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardwqe are all part the air bag modules of packed inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front the right front passenger. of 1-24