Air Bags

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 GMC Sierra, 2010 GMC Cab & Chassis Sierra, 2010 Chevrolet Silverado, and 2010 Chevrolet Cab & Chassis Silverado. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

This vehicle contains 6 air bags. The 6 air bags are located in the steering wheel (dual air bags), instrument panel (passenger side) (dual air bags), driver side (seat), passenger side (seat), left roof rail, right roof rail. To view the locations of the air bags refer to SIR Identification Views . Air bags contain a housing, inflatable air bag, two initiating devices (if dual air bags), canister of gas generating material and, in some cases, stored compressed gas. The deployment loops supply current to deploy the air bags. The steering wheel and passenger instrument panel air bags have two stages of deployment, which varies the amount of restraint to the occupant according to the collision severity. For moderate frontal collisions the air bags deploy at less than full deployment which consists of stage 1 of the air bag. For more severe frontal collisions a full deployment is initiated which consists of stage 1 and stage 2 of the air bag. The current passing through the air bags ignite the material in the canister producing a rapid generation of gas and is some cases, the release of compressed gas. The gas produced from this reaction rapidly inflates the air bag. Once the air bag is inflated it quickly deflates through the air bag vent holes and/or the bag fabric. Each air bag is equipped with a shorting bar located in the connector. The shorting bar shorts the deployment loop circuitry to prevent unwanted deployment of the air bag when it is disconnected.