1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manual - Page 32

If something is betweenan 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 mustkept clear. Don't be attach or put anything between an occupant and on an air bag, and don't attach or put anything the steeringwheel hub or on or near any air bag covering. air When should an bag inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal ornear-frontal crash. Theair 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 16 mph (14 to 26 kmh). 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 inflatein rollovers, side impacts or rearimpacts, 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 bag inflate? air 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 right front passenger. 1-24