1997 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 35

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 of force the impact more evenly over occupant's upper body, the stopping the occupant more gradually. air bags would But not helpyou in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and impacts, primarily side because an occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags should never regarded as anything be more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. A CAUTION: When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. 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 doso. as If you have breathing problems can't getout but of the vehicle afteran air bag inflates, then get fresh airby opening a window or door. In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag. 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 air bag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. What will you see after anair bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates,so quickly that i some people maynot even realize the a r bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in the steering wheel hub for the driver's i bag, or the instrument panel ar for the right front passenger's bag, will be hot for a short time. The partsof the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from vents the deflated in air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing orfrom being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. 1-27