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Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The passenger’s air bag is in the instrument panel on
the passenger’s side.
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{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in ating 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 In ate?
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 does not 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, rear impacts, or in many side 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.
What Makes an Air Bag In ate?
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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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 many
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
In ates?
After the 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 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 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.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag in ates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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CAUTION: (Continued)
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 not get out of
the vehicle after an air bag in ates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you
experience breathing problems following an air
bag deployment, you should seek medical
attention.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate the 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 an
air bag 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 air bag
modules 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 system
commands air bag inflation and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
•Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an 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.
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Vehicle Personalization
Memory
If your vehicle has this feature, MEMORY can store and
recall the settings for the driver’s seat position, the
outside rearview mirror positions, telescopic steering
column (if equipped), radio presets, tone, volume,
playback mode (AM/FM, tape or CD), last displayed
station, compact disc position and tape direction and the
last climate control setting.The MEMORY buttons are located on the driver’s door,
above the power mirror controls. The MEMORY
buttons can store and recall settings for up to three
drivers. Use button 1 to store the settings for the first
driver, button 2 for a second driver or press buttons
1 and 2 at the same time for a third driver. To store your
memory settings, do the following:
1. Adjust your settings for the driver’s seat position,
outside rearview mirror positions, and telescopic
steering wheel (if equipped).
2. Press and hold a MEMORY button. The light above
the MEMORY button will glow steady for one
second and then flash once when the settings are
complete. Then the light will go off.
3. Set the climate control temperature, fan speed and
mode settings, radio presets, tone, volume,
playback mode (AM/FM, tape or CD), tape direction
and compact disc position.
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Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Horn
To sound the horn, press either horn symbol on the
steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can raise it to the highest level to
give your legs more room when you exit and enter
the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Then move the wheel to a comfortable
position and release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
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Telescopic Steering Column
If your vehicle has this feature, the telescopic steering
column will allow you to adjust the distance the steering
wheel is from the instrument panel.
The telescopic steering
column switch is located
on the right side of
the steering column.
To operate the telescopic steering column, push the
switch forward and the wheel will move away from you.
Pull the switch rearward and the wheel will move
toward you.
The telescopic steering column position can be stored
with your memory settings. SeeMemory on page 2-57
for more information.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
•Turn and Lane-Change Signals
•Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
•Flash-to-Pass Feature
•Cruise Control
For information on exterior lamps, seeExterior Lamps
on page 3-13.
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Be sure to continue scanning your displays, controls
and driving environment just as you would in a vehicle
without HUD. If you never look at your instrument
panel cluster, you may not see something important,
such as a warning light. Under important warning
conditions, the CHECK GAGES icon will illuminate in
the HUD. View your Driver Information Center (DIC) for
more information.The HUD controls are located to the left of the
steering wheel.
To adjust the HUD so you can see it properly, do the
following:
1. Start your engine and slide the HUD dimmer control
all the way up.
The brightness of the HUD image is determined by
the light conditions in the direction your vehicle is
facing and where you have the HUD dimmer control
set. If you are facing a dark object or a heavily
shaded area, your HUD may anticipate that you are
entering a dark area and may begin to dim.
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