Cadillac 2010 STS Owner's Manual

Also see for 2010 STS: Brochure Owner's manual

What Makes an Airbag Inflate?In a deployment event, the sensing system sends anelectrical signal triggering a release of gas from theinflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing thebag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator,the airbag, and related hardware are all part of theairbag module.Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steeringwheel and instrument panel. For vehicles withseat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbagmodules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to thedoor. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbagmodules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the sidewindows that have occupant seating positions.How Does an Airbag Restrain?In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,even belted occupants can contact the steering wheelor the instrument panel. In moderate to severe sidecollisions, even belted occupants can contact the insideof the vehicle.Airbags supplement the protection provided by safetybelts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impactmore evenly over the occupant's upper body, stoppingthe occupant more gradually. Seat-mounted side impactand roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impactmore evenly over the occupant's upper body.But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,primarily because the occupant's motion is not towardthose airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? onpage 2‑57 for more information.Airbags should never be regarded as anything morethan a supplement to safety belts.What Will You See After anAirbag Inflates?After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impactairbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly thatsome people may not even realize an airbag inflated.Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated forsome time after they deploy. Some components of theairbag module may be hot for several minutes. Forlocation of the airbag modules, see What Makes anAirbag Inflate? on page 2‑59.2-59