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Air Bag System
This part explains the air bag system.
If it says AIR BAG on the middle part of the steering
wheel and AIR BAG on the instrument panel in front of
the right front passenger’s seat, your vehicle has
two air bags — one air bag for the driver and another
air bag for the right front passenger.
If it says AIR BAG on the middle part of the steering
wheel but it doesn’t say AIR BAG on the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger’s seat, your
vehicle has an air bag for the driver only.If it says AIR BAG 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.
Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of
injury from the force of an in ating air bag. But these
air bags must in ate very quickly to do their job
and comply with federal regulations.
Here are the most important things to know about the
air bag system:
{CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash
if you are not wearing your safety belt — even
if you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt
during a crash helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or being
ejected from it. Air bags are designed to work
with safety belts, but do not replace them. Air
bags are designed to deploy only in moderate
to severe frontal and near frontal crashes.
They are not designed to in ate in rollover,
CAUTION: (Continued)
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There is a air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAir Bag Readiness Light on page 3-27
for more information.Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
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If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s air
bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
{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.
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Seat Position Sensors
Vehicles with dual stage air bags are also equipped with
special sensors which enable the sensing system to
monitor the position of both the driver and passenger
front seats. The seat position sensors provide
information which is used to determine if the air bags
should deploy at a reduced level or at full depoyment.
Air Bag Systems
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have in ated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
In ation is determined by the angle of the impact
and how quickly the vehicle slows down in front 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
in ator, which in ates the air bag. The in ator, 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 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.
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What Will You See After an Air Bag
In ates?
After an air bag in ates, it quickly de ates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag in ated.
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 the vents in the
de ated air bags. Air bag in ation 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. 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.
Air bags are designed to in ate only once. After they
in ate, 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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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 system
commands air bag in ation and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only quali ed 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 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.
Air Bag Off Switch
If the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of your
vehicle is 8600 or above, your vehicle has an air bag off
switch. You can nd the GVWR on the certi cation/tire
label on the rear edge of the driver’s door. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-33for more information.
You can use the air bag off switch on the instrument
panel to turn off the right front passenger’s air bag.
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Other Warning Devices
If you carry re ective triangles, you can use them to
warn others. Set one up at the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Horn
Press the horn symbol in the middle of the steering
wheel to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when
you enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever is located on the lower left side of the steering
column.To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable
level, then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
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The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Locking Rear Axle
If your vehicle has this feature, your locking rear axle
can give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the
time, but when one of the rear wheels has no traction
and the other does, this feature will allow the wheel with
traction to move the vehicle.
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