Chevrolet 1998 Prizm Owner's Manual page 43

If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water up to the carpeting or higher
--
or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the air bag controller
can be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens, and then
you start your vehicle, the damage could make the
frontal and side impact air bags inflate and safety belt
pretensioners activate, even if there's
no
crash. You
would have to replace the air bags, all the sensors and
related parts, parts of the safety belt system and parts of
the driver and right front passenger's seatbacks. If your
vehicle is ever in a flood, or if it's exposed to water that
soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless repair costs by
turning off the vehicle immediately. Don't let anyone
start the vehicle, even to tow it, unless the battery cables
are first disconnected.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several
places around your vehicle. Your dealer and the
Prizm Service Manual have information about servicing
your vehicle and the air bag systems. To purchase a
service manual, see "Service and Owner Publications"
in the Index.
1
For up to 90 seconds after the ignition key is
' turned off and the battery disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag systems should be inspected by a qualified
technician 10 years from the manufacture date on the
Certification label. After 10 years from the manufacture
date, have the systems inspected every 24 months. (The
Certification label is located at the rear edge of the
driver's door.)
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