1994 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 25

Seats & Restraint Systems How The Air Bag System Works (CONT) What will you see after an airbag inflation? After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly deflate, This occurs so quickly that some people may not even realize that the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in the steering wheel hub may be hot for a short time, but the portion of the bag that comes into contact with you will not be hot to the touch. There will be small amounts of smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bag. The air bag will not impede the driver's vision or ability to steer the vehicle, nor will it hinder the occupants from exiting the vehicle. 0 Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module, which records information about the air bag system if the air bag deploys during a crash. The module records information about the readiness .of the system, which sensors activated the deployment, and whether the driver's safety belt was in use. Is the smoke from an air bag inflation harmful? The particles emitted duringair bag inflation are not harmful to most people. Some people with respiratory ailments may experience difficulty breathing if they'stay in the vehicle with the windows closed'after air bag inflation. So, if your air bag inflates, you and any passengers Let only qualified technicians work on should exit the vehicle if and when it is your air bag system. Improper service safe'to do If you or your passengers so. can mean that your air bag system can't get out of the vehicle, try to get won't work properly. See your dealer fresh air by opening a window, turning on for service. a the fan, or opening door. NOTICE: If you damage the cover for the driver's air bag, it may not work properly. You may have to replace the air bag on the steering wheel. Do not open or break the air bag cover. The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it inflates, 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 the air bag module and possibly other parts. The service manual has information about the need to replace other parts. ...24