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Lap-Shoulder Belt (conrr.)
The lap part of the belt should be worn
low and snug on the hips, just touching
the thighs.
In a crash, this applies force
to
the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be
less likely to slide under the lap belt. If
you sfid under it, the belt would apply
force at
your abdomen. This could
cause serious
or even fatal injuries. The
shoulder belt should go over the
shoulder and across the chest. These
parts of the body are best able to take
belt restraining.forces.
The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden
stop or crash.
If-you do not want the lap belt to move
freely, push the “cinch” button. To
loosen the belt, unbuckle it, let it
retract,
and buckle up again.
Q: What’s wrong with this?
.A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It
won’t
give nearly as much protection
this way.
..
You can be seriously. hurt -if. :
your shoulder belt is ,tao
loose. In, a crash you would move
forward too much, which could
significantly increase injury.
‘Thg
shoulder belt should fit against your
body.
Page 27 of 370
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Lap-Shuuider Belt (CONT.)
To unlatch the belt; just push the
button, 00 the. bwckle, The belt should
go back out of the-way.
Before:you close the door, be Sure the
belt is aut of the wqy. If yau slam the
door on it, you can darnage bath the
b,elt and your vehicle.
26
SupplementalZn@hble
Restraint ,System. (Air Bag)
This section explabs th.e driver's
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR)
system, commonly referred to-as an air
bag.
Here are: the Most Important Things
$0 Know:
I CAUTION
P
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How the Air Bag System Works
Q: Where is the air bag?
A The driver's air bag is in the middle
of the steering wheel.
Q: When is an, air bag expected to
inflate?
A: The air bag is designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal
or near-
frontal crashes.
The air bag will only
inflate if the velocity of the impact is
above the designed threshold. level.
When. impacting straight irito a
wall
that does not move or deform, the
tbeshold level for most GM vehicles
is between 9 and 14 mph (14 and
23 ldh). However, thi,s velocity
threshold depends on
the vehicle
design
and may be several miles-per-
hour faster
or slower. In addition,
28
this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object such as a parked car
which
will move and ,deform on
impact. The air bag is also. not
designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts, .or rear impacls where the
inflation would provide no occupant
protection benefit.
In any
particular ;crash, the
determination
of whetherthe ail bag
should have inflated cannot be based
solely on the level of dgrnage on the
vehicle(s).. Inflation is-determined by
the angle of the impact and the
vehicle's deceleration,
of which
vehicle
damage is only one
indication. Repair cost is not a good
indicator of whether an air bag
should.
have deployed.
Q: What makes -an air bag inflate?
A: In a.frontal impact of sufficient
severity, sensors strategically located
an the vehicle. detect th& the vehicle
is. suddenly stopping .as a result of a
crash. These sensors complete an
electrical circuit, triggelling-
a
chemical reaction of the sodium-
az-ide sealed in the .inflator. The
reaction produces nitrogen
gas;
which inflates the cloth bag. The
inflator, cloth bag,
and related
hadwareare all
part of the air bag
inflator module packed inside the
steering wheel.
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How fhe Air Bag System Works
(CONT.)
CAUTION
Don’t attach .anything’to
A the steering wheel pad. It
might injure the driver if the air
bag
inflates.
The air bag isdesigned to inflate
only once. After it inflates, you”ll
.n~ed ‘some new parts €or
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.
Let oniy qualified technicians
work on yow air bag system.
Improper service can mean that
your air bag system won’t work
properly. See your dealer
for
service.
30
Servicing Your Corvette with the
Air Bag System
Please tell or remind anyone who works
on your Corvette that
it fias the air bag
system. There are parts
of the air bag
system in several places around your
vehicle.
You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working
on
your vehicle. The air bag system does
not need regular maintenance. Your
Chevrolet dealer and the 1993 Corvette
Service Manual have information about
the air bag system, including repair or
disposal.
When electrical work is done under the
hood or inside your vehicle, the ignition
should be in
Lock, if possible.
Avoid yellow wires, wires wrapped with
yellow tape, or yellow connectors. They
are probably part
of the air bag system.
But if the ignition has to be on for
electrical work, or if the steering column
is to be disassembIed, the air bag system
must be disconnected.
-_ -.
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.;, p ,.
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection!
That includes
infants and all childreo
smaller than adult .size.
In fact, the law
in every state and Canadian province
says childreu up-to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
I I
Smaller' children .md babies
in a child or infant restraint. The.
iristructions:for the restraint will
say whether
it is the. right type and
size for your child. A very young
khild's hip bones
are. so small that 8
regular belt :might .not stay low on
the hips, as it should. Instead, the
belt
will likely be over the child's
abdomen. 1.n a crash the. belt would
apply force right on the child's
abdomen, which could cause
serious or fatal injuries. S.0, be sure
that any chWsmal1 enough for one
is always properly restrained in a
child or infant restraint.
A ,&ould -&rays. be festr&ad . .A Never--hold a baby jln-yow, "
arms while riding ,in: a vehicle, '
A baby doesn't weigh-much-until a.
crash. During- a.crash a- baby will.
become so heavy you can't .hold .it.
For example, in a-crash at only
%mph (40 Wh) a 12-pound'
(5.5 kg) baby will suddenly bec,ome
a 240-pound (1 10 kg) force ;on your
arms. The baby would,be almost . .
impossible to hold.
(colztirzued)
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Top Strap
If your child restraint has a top strap, it
should
be anchored.
If’yau.have a convertible, don’t use a.
restraint like that in your vehicle
because .the top strap anchor cannot be
installed properly. You shouldn’t use
this type ohestraint without-.anchoring
the
top strap.
If your vehicle is not ..a convertible. and
you need to have an anchor installed,
you can ask your Chevrokt dealer to
put one -in-for you. I% you wgnt to install
an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell
you how to do it.
14
Securing a Child Restraint-in the
Passenger Seat
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt.
See the,earlier section about the top
strap if the child restraint has one.
I. Put the restraint an the seat. Fallow
the instructions for the child
restraint.
-2. Secure the-.child in the child .restraint
as the
instructions say.
3.. Pull out the vehicle’s safety belt and
run the lap part through or around
the restraint. The child restraint
instructions
will show you how.
See $the shouldey belt would go in
front of the child’s-face or neck If so,
put it behind the child. restraint.
Page 37 of 370
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3
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
restraints should wear the vehicle's
safety belts.
Children who aren't buckled up can
Children who aren't budded up can
be
thrown
out in a crash.
strike other
people who are.
I6
A-."
I
. 'Here two, children are ,. . .
ever: do .this. ..
wearing the same belt..'.The bdt
cafi't .properly spread 'the impact
forces. In a-crash, the.two childten
can be- crushed together
and
seriously.injured. A belt must be
used by only one person at a time.
Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-
- shoulder belt, but the child is so
small that the shoulder belt is very
dose to the child's €ace omeck?
A Move the child toward the center of
the vehicle, but be sure. that the
shoulder belt still is on the child's
shoulder,
so that in a crash the
child's
upper body would have the
restraint that belts provide.
Page 39 of 370
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Replacing Safety Belts After a
Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new
belt-s? '
After -a very minor cbllision, nothing
may
be necessary. But if the belts were
stretched,
its they would be if worn
during a
more severe-crash, then you
need new belts.
B8
If belts are cut or damaged, replace
them. Collision damage also may mean
you wiIl have to have safety belt parts,
like the retractor, replaced or anchorage
locations repaired-vim 3 the belt
wasn't being used at the time of the
collision.
Q: What% wrong with this?
"A The belt is torn.
I CAUTlON