2010 PONTIAC VIBE sensor

When Should an Airbag
Inate?
Frontal airbags are designed to
inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes to help
reduce the potential for severe
injuries mainly to the driver or right
front passenger head and chest.
However, they are only designed
to inflate if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds
are used to predict how severe a
crash is likely to be in time for the
airbags to inflate and help restrain
the occupants.
Whether the frontal airbags will
or should deploy is not based on
how fast the vehicle is traveling.
It depends largely on what you
hit, the direction of the impact,
and how quickly your vehicle
slows down.Frontal airbags may inflate at
different crash speeds. For example:•If the vehicle hits a stationary
object, the airbags could inflate
at a different crash speed than if
the vehicle hits a moving object.
•If the vehicle hits an object that
deforms, the airbags could inflate
at a different crash speed than if
the vehicle hits an object that
does not deform.
•If the vehicle hits a narrow object
(like a pole), the airbags could
inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide
object (like a wall).
•If the vehicle goes into an object
at an angle, the airbags could
inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight
into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with
specific vehicle design. Frontal airbags are not intended to
inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.
Frontal airbags for the driver and
right front passenger may also
deploy if a serious impact occurs to
the underside of the vehicle such as
hitting a curb, falling into a deep hole,
or landing hard.
In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing
system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags
inflate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs.
2-26 Seats and Restraints

The vehicle has seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags.
SeeAirbag System on page 2-23 .
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended to
inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes. Seat-mounted side impact
and roof-rail airbags will inflate if the
crash severity is above the system’s
designed threshold level. The vehicle
has sensors which detect side
impacts. These sensors signal the
appropriate side impact airbag to
inflate. The threshold level can vary
with specific vehicle design.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts.
A seat-mounted side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of
the vehicle that is struck. A roof-rail
airbag is intended to deploy on the
side of the vehicle that is struck. It is
possible that, in a crash involving the
rear side of your vehicle, that only the
roof-mounted airbag will deploy.
In any particular crash, no one
can say whether an airbag should
have inflated simply because of
the damage to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, inflation is
determined by what the vehicle
hits, the angle of the impact, and
how quickly the vehicle slows down.
For seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and
severity of the side impact.What Makes an Airbag
Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the
airbag causing the bag to break out
of the cover and deploy. The inflator,
the airbag, and related hardware are
all part of the airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located
inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags,
there are airbag modules in the side
of the front seatbacks closest to the
door. For vehicles with roof-rail
airbags, there are airbag modules in
the ceiling of the vehicle, near the
side windows that have occupant
seating positions.
Seats and Restraints 2-27

In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage
may also occur from the right front
passenger airbag.
•Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag inflates,
you will need some new parts for
the airbag system. If you do not
get them, the airbag system will
not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system
will include airbag modules and
possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers
the need to replace other parts.
•The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a crash.
SeeVehicle Data Recording and
Privacy on page 12-14 andEvent
Data Recorders on page 12-14 .
•Let only qualified technicians work
on the airbag systems. Improper
service can mean that an airbag
system will not work properly.
See your dealer/retailer for
service.
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be visible
in the instrument panel when the
vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF will be
visible during the system check.
When the system check is complete,
either the word ON or the word OFF will be visible depending on
whether the seat is occupied and/or
the weight of the occupant. If the
seat is unoccupied, the light will not
be visible after the system check.
See
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-13 .
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbags and
the roof-rail airbags are not affected
by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system will
also turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped), and
safety belt pretensioner if it detects
that there is no occupant in that
position.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part
of the right front passenger seat.
Seats and Restraints 2-29

The sensors are designed to detect
the presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right
front passenger frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped) should be enabled
(may inflate) or not.
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer
when properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position.
We recommend that children be
secured in a rear seat, including:
an infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;
an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are
large enough, using safety belts.A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk
to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured or
killed if the right front passenger
airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to
the inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if
the right front passenger airbag
inflates and the passenger seat
is in a forward position.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
and seat-mounted side impact
airbag (if equipped), no system
is fail-safe. No one can guarantee
that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual
circumstance, even though
the airbag(s) are off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the airbag(s)
are off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the
right front seat, always move the
front passenger seat as far back as
it will go. It is better to secure the
child restraint in a rear seat.
2-30 Seats and Restraints

Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add
to or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle’s frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument panel,
roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling
headliner or pillar garnish trim,
front sensors, side impact
sensors, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag
system.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for
the right front passenger position, which includes sensors that
are part of the passenger seat.
The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the
original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery
or trim, or with GM covers,
upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object, such
as an aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the
seat fabric, could also interfere
with the operation of the
passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the
passenger sensing system from
properly turning off the passenger
airbag(s). See
Passenger
Sensing System on page 2-29 .
If you have questions, call
Customer Assistance. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in
this manual. See
Customer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.
Q:Because I have a disability,
I have to get my vehicle
modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my
airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call
Customer Assistance. The phone
numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in
this manual. See Customer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and
the service manual have information
about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module and airbag wiring.
Seats and Restraints 2-35

When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included
with the equipment.
Notice:Improper use of the
power outlet can cause damage
not covered by the warranty.
Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the
plug because the power outlets
are designed for accessory power
plugs only.
Power Outlets (115 Volt
Alternating Current)
Electrical equipment with a
maximum limit of 115 VAC can
be plugged into this power outlet.
If the equipment used requires
more than the limit, a protection circuit will cut the power supply.
The power automatically restarts
when equipment that operates
within the limit is plugged in.
The power outlet is located below
the shift lever.
Before using the outlet, turn on the
ignition and press the button located
on the instrument panel below the
climate control system. An indicator
light in the button comes on. After
using the outlet, press the button
again to turn it off.
The power outlet is not designed for
the following electrical equipment
and they may not work properly:
•Equipment with high initial peak
wattage: cathode-ray tube type
televisions, compressor-driven
refrigerators, or electric power
tools.
•Other equipment requiring an
extremely stable power supply:
microcomputer-controlled electric
blankets, touch sensor lamps, etc.
Instruments and Controls 4-7

This light flashes until the right front
passenger safety belt is buckled.
The passenger safety belt reminder
light will not come on if the right front
passenger belt is already buckled or
if a sensor does not detect the weight
of a passenger in that seat.
If something is placed on the right
front passenger seat, the sensors
in the seat may detect that object
and cause the right front passenger
safety belt reminder light to come on.
If this happens, remove the object.Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on
page 2-23.
The airbag readiness light comes
on and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then the
light goes out. If it stays on after the vehicle has
been started or comes on when while
driving, the airbag system may not
work properly. Have the vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
4-12 Instruments and Controls

Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside,
the automatic headlamp system
turns on the low-beam headlamps
at the normal brightness along with
other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps and
instrument panel lights. An indicator
light on the instrument panel comes
on when the headlamps are on.
SeeInstrument Cluster on page 4-9 .
If the vehicle is driven through a
parking garage, overcast weather,
or a tunnel, the automatic headlamp
system may turn on. There is a
delay before the lights turn on when
starting the car at night.
Do not cover the automatic light
sensor, located on the top left corner
of the instrument panel. If the sensor
is covered the headlamps will stay on
continuously.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|
(Hazard Warning Flasher):
Press this button located on the
instrument panel, to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps flash on
and off. This warns others that you
are having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the
flashers off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument panel
cluster flashes in the direction of the
turn or lane change. Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a
lane change. Hold it there until
the lane change is completed.
The lever returns to its starting
position whenever it is released.
If after signaling a turn or a
lane change the arrow flashes
rapidly or does not come on,
a signal bulb may be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 9-38.
Lighting 5-3