1995 GMC SIERRA belt

Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
Don’t put anything on, or attach anything to, the steering \
wheel.
Also, don’t put anything (such as pets or objects) between the
driver and the steering wheel.
If something is between an
occupant and an air bag, it could affect the performance
of the
air bag
- or worse, it could cause injury.
When should an air bag inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate only
if the impact speed is
above the system’s designed “threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight
into
a wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is about 12 to 16
mph (19 to 26 kdh). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle design,
so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such
as a parked car, the
threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not designed
to inflate in
rollovers, side impacts, or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the
occupant.
In any particular crash,
no one can say whether an air bag should have
inflated simply because of the damage to
a vehicle or because of what the
repair costs were. Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
the
vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one indication of this.
The air bag system
is designed to work properly under a wide range of
conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds,
especially
on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See
“Off-Road Driving” in the Index for more tips
on off-road driving.
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 the air
bag. The inflator, air bag, and related hardware are all part of
the air bag
module packed inside the steering wheel.
How does an air bag restrain?
rn moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering wheel. The air bag supplements the
protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force
of the
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impact more evenly over the occ.upant’s upper body, stopping the occupant
more gradually. But air bags would not help you
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 belts, and then only
in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of
the air bag module
in the steering wheel hub will be hot for a short time, but
the part of the bag that comes into contact with you will not be hot to the
touch. There will be some smoke
and dust coming from vents in the deflated
air bag. Air bag inflation
will not prevent the driver from seeing or from
being able to steer the vehicle, nor
will it stop people from leaving the
vehicle.
A CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could
cause breathing problems for people with
a history of asthma or
other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle
should get out as soon as it
is safe to do so. If you have breathing
problems but can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag\
inflates,
then get fresh air
by opening a window or door.
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0
The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it inflates, 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 the air bag module and possibly other parts.
The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other
parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module, which records
information about the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when
the sensors are activated and
driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag system. Improper
service can mean that your air bag system won’t work properly. See
your dealer for service.
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Q: Is there anything I might add to the front of the vehicle that could
keep the air bag from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle's frame, bumper
system. front end sheet metal or height. they may keep the air
bag
system f'rom working properly. Also. the air bag system may not work
properly
if you relocate any of the air bag sensors. If you have any
question about this, you should contact Customer Assistance before
you modify your vehicle. (The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are
in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure
in this manual. See "Customer Satistiaction Procedure" in
the Index.)
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all
occupants. they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don't wear
safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt. and the lap portion
should be worn
as low as possible throughout the pregnancy.
The best way
to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt
is worn properly, it's more likely that the fetus won't be hurt
in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key
to making safety belts effective is
wearing them properly.
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Right Front Passenger Position
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s
safety belt. See “Driver Position,” earlier
in this section.
When the lap portion
of the belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it
does, let it go back all the way and start again.
Center Passenger Position
Lap Belt
If your vehicle has front and rear bench seats, someone can sit in the center
positions.
When
you sit in a center seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which
has
no retractor. To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along
the belt.
To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug.
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Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a
lap-shoulder belt.
Tf the belt isn‘t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender“
at the end of this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned
so you would be
able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics
show that unbelted people
in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes
than those who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown out
of the vehicle in
a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety
belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions (Extended
Cab)
If you have a Crew Cab, see “Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions (Crew
Cab)” later
in this section.
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Lap-Shoulder Belt (Extended Cab)
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here's how to
wear one properly.
r
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don't let the belt
get twisted.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops
before
it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until
you can buckle it.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see "Safety Belt Extender" at the end of
this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle
is positioned so you would
be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
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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 slid 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 a crash.
A CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a
crash you would move forward too much, which could increase
injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.
To unlatch the belt,
just push the button
the buckle.
on
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Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions (Crew Cab)
If you have an Extended Cab, see "Rex Seat Outside Passenger Positions
(Extended
Cab)" earlier in this section.
Lap-Shoulder Belt (Crew Cab)
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here's how to
wear one properly.
1 . Pick LIP the latch plate and pull the bell ~w-oss you. Don't let the belt
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch
get twisted.
plate
to make wre it is secure. When the lap belt is pulled out all the
way,
it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again.
If the belt is not long enough, see "Safety Belt Extender" at the end of
this section.
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