Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.  For  both 
frontal  and  side  impact  air  bags,  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,  instrument  panel  and  the  side of the  front 
seatbacks  closest  to  the  door. 
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.  In  moderate  to  severe  side  collisions,  even  belted  occupants  can  contact  the  inside 
of  the  vehicle.  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  the  frontal  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.  Side  impact  air  bags  would  not  help  you  in 
many  types 
of collisions,  including  frontal  or near  frontal  collisions,  rollovers,  and  rear  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  for 
the  driver’s  and  right  front  passenger’s  frontal  air  bags,\
 
and  only  in moderate  to  severe  side  collisions  for the 
driver’s  and  right  front  passenger’s  side  impact  air  bags.\
 
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,  the 
instrument  panel  for the  right  front passenger’s  bag,  the 
side  of the  seatback  closest  to  the  door  for  the  driver  and 
right  front  passenger’s  side  impact  air  bags 
-- 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  the 
vents  in  the  deflated  air  bags.  Air  bag  inflation  doesn’t 
prevent  the  driver  from  seeing  or  being  able  to  steer  the  vehicle,  nor  does  it stop  people  from  leaving  the  vehicle. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your  vehicle  is certified  to  meet  California  Emission 
Standards  (indicated  on  the  underhood  emission  control 
label),  it is  designed  to  operate  on  fuels  that  meet 
California  specifications.  If  such  fuels  are  not  available 
in  states  adopting  California  emissions  standards,  your 
vehicle  will  operate  satisfactorily  on  fuels  meeting 
federal  specifications,  but  emission  control  system 
performance  may  be  affected.  The malfunction  indicator 
lamp  on  your  instrument  panel  may  turn  on  and/or  your 
vehicle  may  fail 
a smog-check  test.  If this  occurs,  return 
to  your  authorized  Cadillac  dealer  for diagnosis  to 
determine  the  cause  of failure.  In  the  event  it is 
determined  that  the  cause  of the  condition  is  the  type  of 
fuels  used,  repairs  may  not  be  covered  by  your  warranty. 
Some gasolines  that  are  not  reformulated  for  low 
emissions  contain  an  octane-enhancing  additive  called 
methylcyclopentadienyl  manganese  tricarbonyl  (MMT);  ask  your  service  station  operator  whether  or  not  his  fuel 
contains  MMT.  General  Motors  does  not  recommend  the 
use of such  gasolines. If fuels  containing  MMT  are  used, 
spark  plug  life may  be  reduced  and  your  emission 
control  system  performance  may  be  affected.  The 
malfunction  indicator  lamp  on  your  instrument  panel 
may  turn 
on. If this  occurs,  return to your  authorized 
Cadillac  dealer  for service.  To 
provide  cleaner  air,  all  gasolines  in the  United  States 
are  now  required  to  contain  additives  that  will  help 
prevent  deposits  from  forming  in  your  engine  and  fuel 
system,  allowing  your  emission  control  system  to 
function  properly.  Therefore,  you  should  not  have  to  add 
anything  to  the  fuel.  In  addition,  gasolines  containing 
oxygenates,  such  as  ethers  and  ethanol,  and 
reformulated  gasolines  may  be  available  in  your  area  to 
help  clean  the  air.  General  Motors  recommends  that  you 
use  these  gasolines  if 
they comply  with  the 
specifications  described  earlier. 
I NOTICE: 
Your  vehicle  was  not  designed  for  fuel  that 
contains  methanol.  Don’t  use  it. 
It can  corrode 
metal  parts  in  your  fuel  system  and  also  damage 
plastic  and  rubber  parts.  That  damage  wouldn’t 
be covered  under  your  warranty. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A C’ 
If you get  gasoline  on  yourself  and then 
something  ignites 
it, you  could  be  badly burned. 
Gasoline  can  spray  out  on you  if  you  open the 
fuel  filler  cap too  quickly.  This spray  can happen 
if your tank is nearly  full, and is more  likely  in 
hot  weather.  Open  the fuel  filler 
cap slowly  and 
wait for any  “hiss”  noise  to stop.  Then  unscrew 
the  cap  all the way. 
Be  careful  not  to  spill  gasoline.  Clean  gasoline  from 
painted  surfaces  as 
soon as  possible. See “Cleaning  the 
Outside  of  Your  Vehicle”  in  the  Index.  When  you  put  the  cap  back  on, 
turn it 
to  the  right 
(clockwise)  until 
you hear  a  clicking  sound.  Make  sure 
you  fully  install  the  cap. The  diagnostic  system  can 
determine  if the  fuel cap  has  been  left 
off or improperly 
installed.  This  would  allow  fuel  to  evaporate  into  the 
atmosphere.  See “Malfunction  Indicator  Lamp”  in 
the  Index. 
NOTICE: 
If you  need a new  cap,  be  sure  to get the  right 
type.  Your  dealer can get  one  for you. 
If you  get 
the  wrong  type,  it may  not 
fit properly.  This may 
cause your  malfunction  indicator lamp 
to light 
and  your  fuel tank  and  emissions  system  may  be 
damaged.  See  “Malfunction  Indicator Lamp” in 
the  Index. 
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