1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO Owners Manual

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A The belt is twisted across thebody.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To unlatch the belt,
just push the button
on the buckle. The
belt should
go back
out
of the way. .-
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam
the door
on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.
SUPPLEMENTL INFLATABLE
RESTUNT SYSTEM (AIR BAGS)
This section explains the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR), or “air
bag,’’ system. Your Cadillac has an air bag for both the driver and the
right-front passenger.
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Here’s the most important t,hing to know:
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which has the
system checks for electrical malfunctions, and the light tells you if there
is -
a problem.
AIR
BAG AIR BAG
You will see the “AIR
BAG” light flash for
a few seconds when
you turn your ignition
to “Run” or “Start.”
Then the light should
go out, which means
the system is ready.
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Remember, if ,:r-. the ._ . air b me,on syhen you start
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fe-.!;afimg, our air bag
How 132e Air Bag System Works
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The right-front
passenger’s air bag
is located in the instrument panel on the passenger’s
side.

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When is an air bag expected to.inflateT _. ;:, .. ,-,' ...
In any particular crash, the determination of whether the air bag should
have inflated cannot be based solely on the level
of damage on the
vehicle(s). Inflation is determined.by the angle
of the impact and the
vehicle's dederation,
of which vehicle damage is only one indication.
Repair cost is not
a good indicator of whether an air bag should have
deployed.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity, the air bag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is suddenly stopping as\
a result of
a crash. The sensing system triggers a chemical reaction of the sodium
azide sealed
in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen gas, which
inflates a cloth bag. The inflator, cloth bag, and related hardware are all
part
of the air bag inflator modules packed inside the steering wheel and
in the instrument panel in front of the passenger.
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. The air
bag supplements 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 air bags would not
provide protection in many types
of collisions, including rollovers and
rear and side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is \
not
toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belt protection
in moderate to severe frontal
and near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflation?
After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly deflate. This occur\
s 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 for the
driver’s air bag or the instrument panel for the passenger’s bag 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 bags. 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.
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