Pontiac 2004 Vibe - Manual (Page 61)

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
• Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
• Your vehicle is equipped with two electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Additionally, your vehicle has
two sensors which detect side impacts. These
sensors signal the appropriate side air bag to inflate.
Your vehicle is also equipped with a crash sensing
and diagnostic module, which records information
about the frontal air bag system. The module
records information about the readiness of the
system, system status and the driver’s and
passenger’s safety belt usage at deployment.
• Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver’s and right front
passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag module
and seatback for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
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 and disconnecting the battery
cables. Don’t let anyone start the vehicle under any
circumstances. See your dealer for service.
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