How the Air Bag System Works
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crashes. The air bag will only inflate if the velocity of the impact is above the designed threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level for most GM vehicles is between 9 and 14 mph (14 and 23 km/h). However, this velocity threshold depends on the vehicle design and may be several miles perhour hster or slower. In addition, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes an object such as a parked car which will move and deform on impact. The air bag is also not designed to inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or rear impacts where the inflation would provide no occupant protection benefit.
In any particular crash, the determination of whether the air bag should have inflated cannot be based solely on the level of damage on the vehicle( s) . Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and the vehicle’s deceleration, of which vehicle damage is only one indication. Repair cost is not a good indicator of whether an air bag should have deployed.
Servicing Bur Oldsmobile with the Air Bag System
Please tell or remind anyone who works on your Oldsmobile that ihas the air bag system. There are parts of the air bag system in several places around your vehicle. You don't want the system to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. The air bag system does not need regular maintenance. Your Oldsmobile dealer and the 1993 Eighty Eight Service Manual have information about the air bag system, including repair or disposal.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will hsten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt.
Replacing Safi?ty Belts After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will have to have sakty belt parts, like the retractor, replaced or anchorage locations repaired-even if the belt wasn’t being used athe time of the collision. If your seat adjuster won’t work after a crash, the special part of the safety belt that goes through the seat to the adjuster may need to be replaced.
Convenience Net
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it just inside the back wall of the trunk. Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net to help keep them from falling over during sharp turns or quick starts and stops. The net isn’t for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the trunk as far forward as you can. You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when you’re not using it.