1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE steering wheel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How the Air Bag System Works
I
The passenger's air bag
passenger's side.
Where are the air bags?
The driver's air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
is in the instrument panel on the
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t
put anything between an occupant and an air
bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag
covering.
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal
or near-frontal crash. 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
9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 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.
It
is possible that in a crash only one of the two air bags
in your Corvette will deploy.
This is rare, but can happen
in a crash just severe enough to make an air bag inflate.
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
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near-frontal impacts.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front
of
the passenger.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Air bags supplement 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 those air bags. 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 an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module
-- the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or the
instrument panel for the passenger’s bag
-- will be hot
for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into
contact with
you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.
There will be some smoke and dust coming from vents
in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t prevent
the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
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.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
passenger air bag.
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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0
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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 covering for the driver’s or the
passenger’s air bag, the bag 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
passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or break the air
bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Corvette
Air bags affect how your Corvette 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
Corvette dealer and the Corvette 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 yellow wires, 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Corvette and open the driver’s
door, you’ll hear a tone reminding you
to remove your
key from the ignition and take it with you. Always do
this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and
so will
your ignition.
If you have an automatic transmission,
taking your key out also locks your transmission. And
remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out
of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your key?
Do not leave
valuables
in your vehicle, since there would be no place
to secure them.
Universal Theft-Deterrent System
SECURITY
Your Corvette has a
theft-deterrent alarm
system. With this system,
the SECURITY light will
flash as you open the door
(if your ignition is off). This
light reminds you to arm the
theft-deterrent system.
To arm the system, do the following:
1. Press the LOCK button on the key fob transmitter, as
2. Walk out of range with the passive switch on, OR
3. Open the door. (The SECURITY light should flash.)
Lock the door with the power door lock switch. The
SECURITY light will stop flashing and stay on. Close
all the doors. The SECURITY light should
go off.
Now, if a door or the hatch is opened without the key or
the key fob transmitter system, the alarm will go
off.
Your horn will sound for two minutes, then it will go off
to save battery power. And, your vehicle won’t start.
mentioned earlier,
OR
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ignition Switch
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn the
switch to four positions.
OFF: The only position from which you can remove
the key. Removing the key locks your steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to
OFF unless the shift lever is
in PARK
(P).
ACC: The position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. With the key in this
position, the automatic transmission and steering
column will unlock.
ON: The position to which the switch returns after
you start the engine and release the switch. The switch
stays
in the ON position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate your electrical power accessories and to
display some instrument panel messages and telltales.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine START Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return to
ON
for normal driving.
When the engine is not running, ACC and
ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in
OFF or ACC and the key
is in the ignition.
I A CAUTION:
Removing the key from the ignition switch will
lock the steering column and result in a loss of
ability to steer the vehicle. This could cause a
collision.
If you need to turn the engine off while
the vehicle is moving, turn the key to ACC.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in OFF and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With RAP, your power windows and the audio system
will continue to work for up to
15 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to
OFT and neither door is opened.
If a door is opened, the audio system and power
windows will shut off.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This knob is on the center console. Turn it to select the
suspension characteristic
of your choice.
TOUR: Use for normal city and highway driving.
Provides
a smooth, soft ride.
SPORT Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand more control. Provides more “feel,”
or response to the road conditions.
PERF: Use for performance driving. Provides a tight,
firm ride and precise response to road conditions.
You can select a setting at any time. Based on road
conditions, steering wheel angle and your vehicle speed,
the system automatically adjusts to provide the best ride
and handling. Select a new setting whenever driving
conditions change.
There are three Driver Information Center messages that
are displayed when
a malfunction occurs with the
Selective Real Time Damping system. Refer to “DIC
Warnings and Messages’’ in the Index.
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