1994 GMC Safari Owner's Manual - Page 40

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 provide protection in many types of collisions, including rollovers and rear andside impacts, primarily because an occupant's motionis not toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than supplement to safety belt protection in a moderate to severe frontal and near-frontal collisions. What will yousee afteran air bag inflation? After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly deflate.This occurs so quickly that some people may not even realize that air bag inflated. The the air bag will nut impede the driver's vision or ability to steer the vehicle, nor will it hinder the occupants from exiting the vehicle. There will be small Some amounts of smoke coming from vents in the deflated air bag. components of the air bagmodule in the steering wheel hub be hot for may a short time, but the portion of the bag thatcomes into contact with you will not be hot to the touch. 0 The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it inflates, you'll need some new parts for your air bagsystem. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be there to help protect in another crash. A you new system willinclude the air bag module and possibly other parts. The service manual has information about the need to replace other parts. Your vehicle is equipped with diagnostic module, which records a a information about the air bag systemif the air bag deploys in crash. The module records information about the readiness of the system, which sensors activatedthe deployment, and whether the driver's safety belt was in use. Let only qualified technicians work on your air bagsystem. Improper service can mean that your air bag system won't work properly. See your dealerfor service. 0 0 NOTICE: If you damage the cover of the driver's facial air bag, may not it work properly. You may haveto replace the air bag on the steering wheel.Do not open or break the air bag cover. 1-28