Airbag Deployment Question
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 144
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Airbag Deployment Question
I bought a 95 fixer upper. The previous owner failed to tell me that the passenger side airbag had deployed. Scumbag.
Anyway I will replace the airbag after some discussion on another thread. Now I do not know why the bag was deployed. The car was not supposed to be wreaked. And I have been all over it and see no evidence of a collision. If it was wreaked they did a very good job of repairing it. Seems like they would have replaced the bag. The driver side bag is intact.
I have found a replacement airbag. Will I need to replace any of the sensors or other pieces of the SIR system? I don't know why the bag has blown. So I hate to start replacing parts that may be good. I went through the FSM and all I could find is reference that said if SIR system is activated replace sensors. Is there a way to test the sensors in the SIR system? Can I put in the new (used) airbag and see if the SIR light goes out and the system is normal? Or will a bad sensor cause my airbag to blow when I put things together and turn on the key? I'm not sure if the sensors are like a switch that once it is switched is always on. Or if it will reset to open.
Anyway I will replace the airbag after some discussion on another thread. Now I do not know why the bag was deployed. The car was not supposed to be wreaked. And I have been all over it and see no evidence of a collision. If it was wreaked they did a very good job of repairing it. Seems like they would have replaced the bag. The driver side bag is intact.
I have found a replacement airbag. Will I need to replace any of the sensors or other pieces of the SIR system? I don't know why the bag has blown. So I hate to start replacing parts that may be good. I went through the FSM and all I could find is reference that said if SIR system is activated replace sensors. Is there a way to test the sensors in the SIR system? Can I put in the new (used) airbag and see if the SIR light goes out and the system is normal? Or will a bad sensor cause my airbag to blow when I put things together and turn on the key? I'm not sure if the sensors are like a switch that once it is switched is always on. Or if it will reset to open.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It sounds like the driver's side bag got replaced and not the passenger side. Bags are pricey (even used) so if the prior owner wrecked the car and it was his fault, he may not have wanted to buy the passenger side bag or couldn't afford it. But assuming he had collision insurance, the repairs should have covered the costs for both bags.
I would go ahead and replace the sensors anyway. They are not hard to get to and shouldn't cost a lot of money. That way you will know you have new sensors. Sometimes it doesn't take much of a hit to deploy the bags. The damage could have been relatively minor (i.e. no frame or suspension damage) and it would be hard to see any damage repairs.
The sensor for the driver's side bag was either replaced or the original one is still working properly as that bag has not deployed again.
I would go ahead and replace the sensors anyway. They are not hard to get to and shouldn't cost a lot of money. That way you will know you have new sensors. Sometimes it doesn't take much of a hit to deploy the bags. The damage could have been relatively minor (i.e. no frame or suspension damage) and it would be hard to see any damage repairs.
The sensor for the driver's side bag was either replaced or the original one is still working properly as that bag has not deployed again.
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 2
From: Gaithersburg MD A member since 2007 but then the computer crashed and then the car crash loss of memory X 2
It sounds like the driver's side bag got replaced and not the passenger side. Bags are pricey (even used) so if the prior owner wrecked the car and it was his fault, he may not have wanted to buy the passenger side bag or couldn't afford it. But assuming he had collision insurance, the repairs should have covered the costs for both bags.
I would go ahead and replace the sensors anyway. They are not hard to get to and shouldn't cost a lot of money. That way you will know you have new sensors. Sometimes it doesn't take much of a hit to deploy the bags. The damage could have been relatively minor (i.e. no frame or suspension damage) and it would be hard to see any damage repairs.
The sensor for the driver's side bag was either replaced or the original one is still working properly as that bag has not deployed again.
I would go ahead and replace the sensors anyway. They are not hard to get to and shouldn't cost a lot of money. That way you will know you have new sensors. Sometimes it doesn't take much of a hit to deploy the bags. The damage could have been relatively minor (i.e. no frame or suspension damage) and it would be hard to see any damage repairs.
The sensor for the driver's side bag was either replaced or the original one is still working properly as that bag has not deployed again.
I was watching some idiot woman trying to park her Accord yesterday across the street from MY Five Guys. It was as if she was tacking her way parallel to the curb she moved back and forth, back and forth probably a dozen times to inch closer to the curb. As "sure as God made little green apples" she rammed into the back of, guess what, another Accord and she smacked it so hard she set off her airbag.
After she got herself somewhat together, she walked across the street and came into Five Guys. Her face was all red, covered with powder from the airbag. Her cheapie sunglasses had 1 lens missing and was almost at a 45 degree angle to her eyes. Wish I took pics, sorry. I had to restrain myself from laughing.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest North Carolina
ok i have a similar deal i bought a 94 .I know it was hit in the rear not bad but all fixed .I just put two new air bags in. I get 7 flashes and the air bag light stays on.
i dont know if the impact sensors have been replaced when the car was fixed probably not
but thankyfully my new bags didnt go off
i dont know if the impact sensors have been replaced when the car was fixed probably not
but thankyfully my new bags didnt go off
