1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Owner's Manual - Page 41

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Manual

Page 41 highlights

If something is between an occupant andan air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put anything between occupant andan air an bag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. When should an air bag inflate? An air bag isdesigned to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crash. The airbag will inflate only if the impact speed is abovethe system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above orbelow 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 anair 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 how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or near-frontal impacts. The air bag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See "Off-Road Driving" in the Index for more tips on off-road driving. What makes an air bag inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the right front passenger. 1-34

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If
something is between an occupant
and an air
bag,
the
bag
might
not
inflate
properly
or
it
might
force
the
object
into
that
person.
The
path
of
an inflating
air
bag
must
be
kept
clear.
Don’t
put
anything
between
an occupant
and an air
bag,
and
don’t
attach
or
put
anything
on
the
steering wheel hub
or
on
or
near
any
other
air
bag
covering.
When
should
an
air
bag
inflate?
An air bag
is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crash.
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
9
to
16
mph
(14
to
26
km/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 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
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal
or
near-frontal impacts.
The air bag system is designed to work
properly under
a wide range
of
conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe
safe
driving
speeds, especially on
rough
terrain.
As
always, wear
your safety belt. See “Off-Road
Driving” in the Index for more tips on off-road driving.
What makes an air bag
inflate?
In an impact
of
sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator,
which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag
and
related
hardware are all part of the
air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in
the instrument panel
in front
of
the
right front passenger.
1-34