1999 Chevrolet Prizm Owner's Manual - Page 117

yellowblue Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators This part describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let you know they're working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there's a problem with your vehicle. When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They're a big help. Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to ON or START, a tone will come on for about eight seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is already buckled. The safety belt light will also flash until the driver's belt is buckled. If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the tone nor the light will come on. Air Bag Readiness Light There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the words AIR BAG. The system checks the air bag's electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag system, see "Air Bag" in the Index. 2-47