1998 GMC Jimmy Owner's Manual - Page 43

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. Air bags supplement 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 rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motionis not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be regardedas anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and thenonly in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. ?: When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma other or breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon it is safe todo so. as If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle afteran air bag inflates, then get fresh airby opening a window or door. 0 What will you see after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module -- the steering bag, wheel hub for the driver's air or the instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag will be hot for a short -time. The parts of the bag that come into contactwith you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bags.Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. a Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module, which records information about the air bag system. The module records information about the readiness of the system, when the sensors are activated and driver's safety belt usage at deployment. 1-28