Airbags provide extra safety for passengers in the case of a collision. Road accident injuries have decreased in part because of this incredible technology. The purpose of the airbags is to slow down the passenger's forward motion and lessen the impact by providing a cushion after the airbag sensors are activated.
The operation of an automobile airbag is rather straightforward, however, the bags cannot return to their compartment on their own. Before you get back behind the wheel, make sure your deflated automobile airbags are replaced. In the event of another accident, failure to do so will not ensure the same degree of protection.
How to Fix Airbags After An Accident?
You put yourself and your loved ones in a vulnerable position in the event of an accident if you fail to have your car's airbags fixed promptly. We'll explain how to get a car airbag fixed after an accident.
It is advisable to replace airbags with professional assistance. Make sure the airbags are placed correctly by testing the vehicle before obtaining it. In contrast to other visual automotive flaws, installing an airbag correctly is crucial. Furthermore, if you have never fixed a deflated airbag before, do not try doing it yourself.
When fixing automobile airbags following an accident, certain procedures are followed.
Firstly, Unplug the Battery Cable
Since the airbag is connected via electrical connections, any interference with a car that is plugged in has the potential to cause significant harm or electrocution. Thus, before reinstalling the deflated airbag, the battery wire must be unplugged.
The battery just needs an hour or so to rest when the battery wire is unplugged. By doing this, you may make sure that the car doesn't receive any backup power and avoid needless accidents.
Depending on the make and model of the car, airbag locations vary. User manuals can be used to confirm the location of an airbag. The places listed below are some typical locations for airbags.
Steering wheel: In certain cases, deflated airbags may necessitate replacing the steering column or wheel. The rear of the steering wheel's base has bolts that can be used to remove it.
Passenger glove compartment: To access the airbag beneath it, remove the glove compartment. Bolts on the interior of the compartment provide access to the airbag.
Side doors: For increased safety, several versions have airbags inside the doors.
Above curtains: Airbags are also installed in the roof paneling. To gain access to them, the door framework must be removed.
Seat belts: Newer kinds of seat belts come equipped with airbags, which are intended to provide additional protection for all occupants of the vehicle.
Seats: Airbags positioned on the side of the seat shield occupants from impact. This improves the safety of automobile seats. Usually, the sitting material tears these bags open, necessitating a total replacement.
Removing the appropriate bolts and panels that hold the airbags underneath will allow the serviceman to correctly repair the airbag.
Replacing the Wiring of Airbags
An airbag's wiring is extremely delicate and should be handled carefully. The airbag connections on the driver's side are designed slightly differently by different automakers.
To avoid damaging other components, the connectors are carefully removed using tiny tools. The deflated airbag's wires are carefully removed so they can be replaced. It will be challenging to attach the new device if the wire connectors break.
Taking Out Deflated Air Bags
The deflated airbag is taken out when the wires are disconnected. The non-deployed airbags in an accident also need to be displaced because they had to be malfunctioning for them to have failed to deploy.
It is important to handle the undeployed airbags with caution and not discard them in the garbage. For the safe disposal of the device and its reactive material, such airbags must be delivered to recycling facilities. On the other hand, deflated airbags don't require any particular disposal instructions.
The deflated airbag was removed and replaced similarly with fresh ones. The replacement airbags need to match the originals exactly and come from the same manufacturer. In this manner, there will be no difficulties when installing the new airbags correctly.
Before being fastened, airbags are positioned correctly and in the right direction. To ensure proper deployment, the airbag must be installed precisely as the original one was.
Adhering Wires And Screws Again
The cables are cautiously reattached to the airbag after the deflated airbags are swapped out for new ones. The panel and screws are fastened to their initial positions following airbag replacement.
When activated, the airbag can have trouble breaking through if the parts are not put back where they were. As a result, enough paneling is crucial for both future airbag deployment and the overall appearance of the vehicle.
Resetting the Sensors for Airbags
To cause airbag deployment, the airbag sensors must be properly reset. When an automobile collides with an object outside of it, the impact activates the airbag sensors. When these sensors are involved in an accident, they stop working.
Once the car battery is recharged, the sensors are reset upon airbag replacement. An indicator on the display pointing to an inspection will flash if the airbag sensors have not been changed correctly. The repaired airbags won't be able to deploy in a crash and save lives until the airbag sensors are replaced, which can happen occasionally.
FAQs
Can I have my car fixed if my airbags are deployed?
A frequent misperception is that when an airbag deploys, an automobile is deemed destroyed. It may indicate the effect of a severe collision, but it does not imply that your car cannot be fixed.
When the airbags deploy, can you continue to drive a vehicle?
Although it's not advised, you are not legally prohibited from operating a vehicle after the airbags have been deployed. Before you drive, it's critical to have your automobile inspected for damage and have your airbags replaced by a qualified mechanic for your safety.
How quickly do airbags go into action?
When an unbelted occupant collides with a rigid wall at a speed of 10 to 12 mph, their front airbag will usually activate. Most airbags for passengers wearing belts will activate at a higher threshold, or roughly 16 mph since the belts by themselves should be sufficient to protect passengers up to these mild speeds.
When the airbags deploy, does the engine stop?
In certain cars, the engine turns off on its own when the airbag deploys. This is to stop any potential gasoline leaks from starting fires. Switch off the engine if your car doesn't kill itself. It is not recommended to drive the car after the airbags have been deployed.
