What will
you
see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates,
so
quickly that
some
people may not even realize the
air bag inflated. Some components of the
air
bag
module
--
the steering wheel hub for the driver’s air
bag, or the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s bag
--
will be hot for a short time. The
parts
of
the bag that come
into
contact with you may
be warm, but not too hot to touch. There
will
be some
smoke and dust coming from vents
in
the deflated air
bags. Air
bag
inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from
seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does
it
stop people
from
leaving the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with
a
history
of
asthma
or
other
breathing trouble.
To
avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as
soon
as it is safe to
do
so.
If
you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
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 they
inflate, 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.
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