Suzuki GRAND VITARA 2008, Owner'S Manual

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2-41
BEFORE DRIVING
78KS0-37E
Side air bags and side curtain air bags
will not inflate
54G027
Side air bags and side curtain air bags
will probably not inflate
54G028
Side air bags and side curtain air bags are
not designed to inflate in frontal or rear col-
lisions, rollovers or minor side collisions,
since they would offer no protection in
those types of accidents. Only the side air
bag and side curtain air bag on the side of
the vehicle that is struck will inflate.
Remember, since an air bag deploys only
one time during an accident, seat belts are
needed to restrain occupants from further
movements during the accident.
Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute
for seat belts. To maximize your protection,
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be
aware that no system can prevent all pos-
sible injuries that may occur in an accident.
How the system works
In a frontal collision, the crash sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and send a signal
to the controller. If the controller judges
that the deceleration represents a severe
frontal crash, the controller will trigger the
inflators. If your vehicle is equipped with
side air bags and side curtain air bags,
crash sensors will detect a side collision,
and if the controller judges that the side
collision is severe enough, it will trigger the
side air bag and side curtain air bag infla-
tors.
The inflators inflate the appropriate air
bags with nitrogen or argon gas. The
inflated air bags provide a cushion for your
head (front air bags and side curtain air
bags only) and upper body. The air bag
inflates and deflates so quickly that you
may not even realize that it has activated.
The air bag will neither hinder your view
nor make it harder to exit the vehicle.
Air bags must inflate quickly and forcefully
in order to reduce the chance of serious or
fatal injuries. However, an unavoidable
consequence of the quick inflation is that
the air bag may irritate bare skin, such as
the facial area against a front air bag. Also,
upon inflation, a loud noise will occur and
some powder and smoke will be released.
These conditions are not harmful and do
not indicate a fire in the car. Be aware,
however, that some air bag components
may be hot for a while after inflation.
WARNING
An air bag supplements, or adds to,
the crash protection offered by seat
belts. The driver and all passengers
must be properly restrained by wear-
ing seat belts at all times, whether or
not an air bag is mounted at their
seating position, to minimize the risk
of severe injury or death in the event
of a crash.
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12