1996 GMC SAVANA belt

&.' What's wrong with this?
A: The belt is over an armrest.
You can be seriously injured if your belt goes
over an armrest like this. The belt would be much
too high. In
a crash, you can slide under the belt.
The belt force would then be applied at the
abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and that could
cause serious
or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt
goes under the armrests.
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@ What's wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
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You can be seriously injured if' you "ear the
shoulder belt under your arm.
In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance
of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to the
ribs, which aren't as strong as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver
or spleen.
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What’s wrong with this? You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt.
In
a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the
belt to spread impact forces.
If a belt is twisted,
make
it straight so it can work properly, or ask
your dealer to
fix it.
I I I I I I I I I I I
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
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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.
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
(SIR) System
This part explains the Supplemental Inflatable
Restraint
(SIR) system or air baL Q :y stem.
If it says SUPPLEMENTAL
INFLATABLE RESTRAINT
on the middle
part of the
steering wheel and there's
a right f1-ant passenger seat,
your vehicle has
two air
bags -- one air bag for the
driver and another air bag for
the right front passenger.
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If it says SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE
RESTRAINT on the middle part
of the steering wheel
but there is
no right front passenger seat, your vehicle
has an air bag for the driver only.
.If it doesn't say SUPPLEMENTAL 'INFLATABLE
RESTRAINT on the middle part
of the steering wheel,
your vehicle doesn't have air bags.
Here are the most important things to know about the
air bag system:
Air bags are designed to work anly- in moderate. to
severe crashes where the front of your vehicle
hits
something. They aren't.designed to inflate at all in
rillover, rear, side dr .low=speed frontal crashes.
Everyone in your vehicle, including the.,driver,
should wear a safety belt properly - whether or
not there's
an air bag fbr that person.
I
Yon can be severely injured or killed in a crash if
you aren't wearing yow.sa€ety belt I- even if you
have an air bag. Wearing
your safety belt during
a crash
'hdps- reduce, your chance of hitting things
inside the vehicle or being ejected from
it. The air
bag
is only-a "supplementa1,restraint.)' That is, it -
'works'witb safety belts but doesn't replace them.
' - CAUTION: (Continued)
L
Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink
af an eye. If yoltl're too close to an inflating
air bag, it
could seriously injure you. Safety belts
help keep you
in position for an air bag inflation
in a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even
with
an air bag. The driver should sit as far
back as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle.
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If your vehicle has an air bag for the right front
passr
, please read this:
A CAUTION:
An inflating air bag can seriously injure small
children. Always secure children properly in your
vehicle.
To read how, see the part of this manual
called “Children” and the caution label on the
right front passenger’s safety belt.
I
AIR
BAG
There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR
BAG.
The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light”
in the Index
for more information.
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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 Inore gradually. But
air bags would not help you
in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts,
pritnarily 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 for the driver‘s air bag, or the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag,
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
corning from vents
in the deflated air bags. 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.
b
A C * UTION:
I
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.
0 The air bags are designed to inflate only once. After
they inflate, 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 air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for
your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
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0 0 . Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
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 or the
right front passenger’s
air bag, they may not
work properly.. You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel or both the
air bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s
air bag. Do not open or
break the
air bag covers.
Servicing Yodr Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
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.
For up to 10 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.
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