1993 Cadillac DeVille Owner's Manual - Page 44

- What makes an air bag inflate? - In a frontal impact of sufficient severity, sensors strategically located on the vehicle detect that thevehicle is suddenly stopping as a result of a crash. These sensors complete an electrical circuit, triggering a chemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed in the inflator.The reaction produces nitrogen gas, which inflates the cloth bag. The inflator, cloth bag, and - related hardware are all part of the air bag inflator module packed inside the steering wheel. How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steeringwheel. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force the of - impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not provide protection in many types of collisions, including rollovers and rearand side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward the airbag. Air _ bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belt protection in moderate tosevere frontal and near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air bag inflation? After the airbag has inflated, it will then quickly deflate. This occurs so _ quickly that some people may not even realize that the air bag inflated. The air bag will not impede the driver's visionor ability to steerthe vehicle, nor will it hinder the occupants from exiting the vehicle. There _ will be small amounts of smoke coming from vents in the deflated air bag. Some componentsof the airbag module in the steeringwheel hub may of be hot for a short time, but the portionthe bag that comes into contact with you willnot be hot to thetouch. The nitrogen gas used to inflate the _ air bag will have vented into thepassenger compartment, and the bag will be deflatedwithin seconds after the collision. Nitrogen makes up about 80% of the air we breathe and is not hazardous. As the nitrogen vents - from the bag, small particles are also vented into the passenger compartment. 31