What Makes An Airbag Inflate; How Does An Airbag Restrain; What Will You See After An Airbag Inflates - Chevrolet Captiva Owner's Manual

WHAT MAKES AN AIRBAG
INFLATE?
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.
HOW DOES AN AIRBAG
RESTRAIN?
In moderate to severe frontal or near
frontal collisions, even belted occu-
pants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to
severe side collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the inside of the
vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Frontal
airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the occupant's
upper body, stopping the occupant
more gradually. Seat-mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly
over the occupant's upper body.
But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily because
the occupant's motion is not toward
those airbags. See When Should an
Airbag Inflate? on page 2-25 for more
information.
Airbags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to
safety belts.
Seats and Restraints 2-27
WHAT WILL YOU SEE AFTER
AN AIRBAG INFLATES?
After the frontal airbags and seat-
mounted side impact airbags inflate,
they quickly deflate, so quickly that
some people may not even realize an
airbag inflated. Roof-rail airbags may
still be at least partially inflated for
some time after they inflate. Some
components of the airbag module may
be hot for several minutes. For location
of the airbags, see Where Are the
Airbags? on page 2-24.
The parts of the airbag that come into
contact with you may be warm, but not
too hot to touch. There may be some
smoke and dust coming from the vents
in the deflated airbags. Airbag inflation
does not prevent the driver from seeing
out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.