1996 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 32

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontalor near-frond, collisions, even belted occupants can contactthe steering wheel or the instrument panel. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. bags distribute the force Air of the impact more evenly over occupant's upper body, the stopping the occupant more gradually. But r bags would a i not help youin many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side hpacts, prirndybecause an occupant's motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as a n m g more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe fbntal or near-frontal collisions. What will you see afteran ais bag inflates? After the air bag Mates, it quickly deflates,This occurs so quickly thatsome people may not even realizethe air bag inflated. Some components of the.air bag module in the steering wheel hub the driver'sair bag, or the for instrument panelfor the right front passenger's bag, will be hot for a short time. The part of the bag that comes into contact with you may warm, but will never be be it too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from' vents in the deflatedair bags. Air bag inflation will not preventthe driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor will it stop people from leaving the vehicle. When an air bag inflates, there dust in the air. is This dust could cause breathing problems for people witha history of asthma,or other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone the in vehicle should get out soon as it is safe to do 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. In many crashes severe enough inflate an air bag, to windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshieldbreakage may also occur from the . rightfront passenger air bag. The air bags ,are designed to inflate only once. After they inflate, you'll need some new parts for your a r i bag system.If y0u don't get them, the air bag system in won't be there to help protect you another crash, A new system will include bag modulesand air possibly other parts.The service manual €or your to vehicle covers the need replace otherparts. 1-24 L