1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When should an air bag inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moaerate 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
14 to 18 mph (23 to 29 km/h). 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?
In 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 impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not
help you
in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. The
part
of the bag that comes into contact with you may be
warm, but it will never be
too hot to 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:
I
When an air bag inflates, 1 !re is du in 1 ! 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 obening a window or door.
0
e
e
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.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s air bag,
it may not work properly.
You may have to
replace the air bag module.
Do not open or break
the air bag cover.
-
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
The air bag affects how your vehicle should be serv: d.
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. Your
GM dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and
the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications”
in the Index.
A CAUTION:
m
For up to two minutes after the ignition key is
turned
off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close
to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape,
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
c
Adding Equipment to Your
Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
e.@ If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the
front of
my vehicle, will it keep the air bag from
working properly?
A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is
attached to your vehicle
so that the vehicle’s basic
structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep the
air bags from working properly
in a’crash.
e.@ 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 from working properly. Also, the air bag system may not
work properly if you relocate any of the.& 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 Satisfaction Procedure” in the Index.)
3
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. 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.
..
.. .
Right’ Front Passenger Position i
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same , .,
I.1
I
way as the driver’s safety belt. See “Driver Position”
earlier in this section.
When the shoulder belt
is pulled out all the way, it will
lock.
If it does, let it go back all the way~and start again:
:i , f
Center Front Passenger Position
@-Door Models)
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn
as low as possible, below
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Lap Belt
If your vehicle has a front bench seat, someone can sit in
the center position.
When
you sit in the center front 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.
Buckle, position and release
it the way as the lap part of
a lap-shoulder belt. If 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1 Rear Seat Passengers
I It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up!
Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear
1 seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are
! wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown
1 out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others
i in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
j Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
1
I
:,i
l Lap-Shoulder Belt
1 The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
! belts. Here’s how to wear one properly.
i
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted. On four-door models, the
shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you.
very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull
up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
When
the shoulder 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.
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.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
On four-door models, the safety belt also locks if
you
pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
A CAUTION:
You can be serious1 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.
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