Under normal conditions, these belts operate in the same way as conventional belts. When the ignition is on and the vehicle stops suddenly or when passengers move forward too quickly, the inertia seat belt tensioner is locked. In the event of a severe frontal collision, when the airbag system is deployed, the belt grips the driver and passenger more tightly.
When the seat belt pretensioner is activated, a loud bang is heard and smoke is released. This smoke is practically safe for humans, but it should not be inhaled, as it can cause difficulty breathing and coughing. The seat belt pretensioner is activated by any strong impact to the front of the vehicle, even when the seat belt is not fastened.
Seat belt pretensioners may not deploy in certain frontal collisions, even if the vehicle is severely damaged. This failure to deploy does not indicate a malfunction of the SRS system, but is caused by the fact that the collision forces were not great enough to activate the SRS system.
A seat belt with a pre-tensioner mechanism cannot be used once it has been activated and must be replaced together with the belt tensioner.
Warning: Do not disassemble, repair or make unauthorized modifications to the components or electrical system of the seat belt pretensioner. This should prevent the seat belt pre-tensioner from being accidentally activated or from causing it to malfunction. This work must be carried out by an Opel dealer.
Visitor comments