1994 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manual - Page 28

Seats & Restraint Systems How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or nearfrontal collisions, even beltedoccupants can contact the steering wheel. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly overthe occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would provide not protection in many typesof collisions, including rolloversand rear and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety beltprotection in moderate to severe frontal and near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air bag inflation? After the air bag has inflated, it will then quicltly deflate. This occurs so quicltly that some peoplemay not even realize that the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag modulein the steering wheelhub may be hot for a short time, but the portion of the bag that comes into contact with you will not be hot to thetouch. There will be small amounts of smoke and dust coming from vents in deflated air the bag. The air bag will not impede the driver's visionor ability to steer the vehicle, nor will it hinder the occupants from exitingthe vehicle. The air bag is designedto inflate only once. After it inflates, you'll need some newparts for your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag systemwon't be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include the air bag module and possibly other parts. The service manual has information about the need to replace other parts. Your vehicle is equipped witha diagnostic module, which records information about the air bag system if the air bag deploys duringa crash. The module records information about the readiness of the system, which sensors activated the deployment, and whether the driver's safety belt was in use. Let only qualified 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 cover forthe driver's air bag, it not work may properly. You may have to replace the air bagon the steering wheel.Do not open or break air bag cover. the 26