1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER steering wheel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The
right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 14 mph (14 to 23 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
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near-frontal impacts.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient seventy, 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
right front passenger.
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 anythng 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 right front
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the
right front 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
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the
air bag coverings.
Servicing Your 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 dealer and the Cavalier 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.
I
If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water
up to the carpeting or higher -- or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the
air bag controller
can be soaked and ruined.
If this ever happens, and then
you start your vehicle, the damage could make the
air
bags inflate, even if there’s no crash. You would have to
replace the air bags
as well as the sensors and related
parts. If your vehicle is ever in a flood, or if it’s exposed
to water that
soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless
repair costs by turning
off the vehicle immediately.
Don’t let anyone start the vehicle, even to tow it, unless \
the battery cables are first disconnected.
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 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remote Trunk Release (If Equipped)
Pull upward on the remote
release handle, located on
the
floor near the left side of
the driver’s seat, to release
the trunk lid.
Key in the Ignition
Theft
Vehicle theft is big busines s, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number
of theft-deterrent
features,
we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
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 vehicle and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime 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 transaxle, taking your
key out also locks your transaxle. 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine New Vehicle “Break-In” Ignition
Positions
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
a
a
0
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in.
See “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
C
A
AL E
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch
to five positions:
ACCESSORY (A): In this position, you can operate
your electrical power accessories. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn it toward you.
LOCK (B): This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and transaxle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine OFF (C): This position unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle, but does not send electrical
power to any accessories. The instrument cluster and the
automatic transaxle gear shift indicator have electrical
power while in
OFF. Use this position if your vehicle
must be pushed or towed, but never try to push-start
your vehicle. A warning chime will sound if you open
the driver’s door when the ignition is
off and the key is
in the ignition.
RUN (D): This is a position to which the switch returns
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in
RUN when the engine is running. But
even when the engine is not running, you can use
RUN
to operate your electrical power accessories, and to
display some instrument panel warning lights.
START (E): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to
RUN for normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, the positions
ACCESSORY and RUN are on positions that allow
you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the key to
LOCK 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 only
to
OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
I NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank to open and close each window.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
The driver’s window switch has an auto-down feature.
The driver’s window can be opened to the desired
amount by pushing the rear of the switch to the first
detent.
For the auto-down feature, push the rear of the
switch all the way down. The window will continue
going down until fully opened.
With power windows, switches
on the center console
control each
of the windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, in four-door models, each rear passenger door
has a control switch for its own window.
To stop the window while it is lowering, briefly press
the switch forward, then release.
To raise the window, press and hold the switch forward.
Jmkout Switch
fiour-door moclels also have a lockout switch. Press it to
disable the rear passenger’s power window switches.
This will prevent rear passengers from opening and
closing the windows. The driver can still control all
windows with the switch in the lock position.
Press the lockout button again to enable the passenger’s
window switches.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the center of your
steering wheel near the horn symbols.
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