1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 33

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severefrontal 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 bags would air not help you in manytypes of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not towardthose air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anythmg more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to I When anair bag inflates, there is dust the air. in This dust could cause breathing problems for of people with a history asthma or other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out soon as it is safe to do as so. If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicleafter an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door. severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air bag inflates? After an a r bag inflates, it quickly deflates,so quickly that i even realize the air bag inflated. some people may not Some components of the air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver's bag, or the instrument panel air for the right front passenger's bag will be hot for a short -time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hotto touch. There will be from vents in the deflated some smoke and dust coming air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from being able steer the vehicle, nordoes it to stop people from leaving the vehicle. In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakagemay also occur from the right front passenger air bag. Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they bag inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air system. If you don't get them,the air bag system won't be there to help protect in another crash. you 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. 1-26