1996 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 35

1996 Chevrolet Astro Manual

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A CAUTION: Don't put anythingon, or attach anything to, steering wheel. the Also, don't put anything (such pets or objects) between the as driver and the steering wheel. 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. When should an air bag inflate? The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 11 to 16 mph (1 8 to 26 k d h ) . The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or impacts, because inflation would not help the rear occupant. In any particular crash,no one can say whether an air bag should have. inflated simply because of the damageto a vehicle or because of what the repair costswere. Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and the vehicle's deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one indication of this. What makes an air bag inflate? In a frontalimpact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is suddenly stopping as a result a crash. The sensing of system triggers achemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen gas, which inflates the air bag.The inflator, air bag, and related hardware are all part of the air bag 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 steering wheel. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly overthe occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rolloversand rear and side impacts,primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. 1-23

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A
CAUTION:
Don’t
put
anything
on,
or
attach
anything
to,
the
steering
wheel.
Also,
don’t
put
anything
(such
as
pets
or
objects)
between
the
driver
and
the
steering
wheel.
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.
When
should
an
air
bag
inflate?
The
air bag
is
designed
to
inflate
in
moderate to
severe frontal or
near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate
only
if the impact speed is
above the system’s designed “threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight
into
a wall that doesn’t move or
deform, the threshold level is about
11
to
16
mph
(1
8
to
26
kdh).
The
threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle
design,
so
that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as
a parked car, the
threshold level will be higher.
The
air bag is not designed
to
inflate in
rollovers,
side
impacts,
or
rear impacts, because inflation would not help
the
occupant.
In any particular
crash,
no
one can say whether an air bag should have.
inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because
of
what the
repair
costs were. Inflation is determined by
the
angle
of
the impact and the
vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is
only
one indication
of
this.
What
makes
an
air
bag
inflate?
In a
frontal impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects
that the vehicle
is
suddenly stopping
as
a
result
of a
crash.
The
sensing
system triggers
a chemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed in the
inflator. The
reaction produces nitrogen gas, which inflates
the
air
bag.
The
inflator, air bag, and related hardware are all part of the air bag 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 steering wheel.
The
air bag supplements the
protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force
of
the
impact more evenly
over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant
more gradually.
But
air bags would not help
you
in
many types of collisions,
including
rolloversand rear and side
impacts, primarily because an
occupant’s motion is
not
toward the air
bag. Air bags should never be
regarded as
anything more than a supplement
to
safety belts, and then
only
in moderate to
severe
frontal
or
near-frontal collisions.
1-23