Air bag check
#1
09-27-07, 11:45 AM
Air bag check
Looking for a way to check air bags to see if they would deploy properly in an accident. (Other than running it into a tree at 5+ mph)
The car is a 2001 Nissan Altima. It has been in a couple of minor accidents and I just finished the body work on it. The bags didn't inflate in either of the accidents. But the accidents didn't involve a hard crash with the front bumper.
The kids drive that car and I wanted to be sure.
Thanks a lot
The car is a 2001 Nissan Altima. It has been in a couple of minor accidents and I just finished the body work on it. The bags didn't inflate in either of the accidents. But the accidents didn't involve a hard crash with the front bumper.
The kids drive that car and I wanted to be sure.
Thanks a lot
#2
09-27-07, 12:55 PM
Group Moderator
As far as I know there is no 100% test other than what you already thought of. When you turn the key on the system does a self test which essentially checks everything except actually deploying the bag. A system fault should light the warning light on the instrument panel. Even in some fairly hard collisions bags won't blow unless the proper parameters are met. And sometimes they blow in a collison that you wouldn't expect them to - big surprise when that happens and a fairly inexpensive fender-bender turns expensive in a hurry.
You wouldn't really run it into a tree to test it right?
You wouldn't really run it into a tree to test it right?
#3
09-27-07, 02:40 PM
The only way to check air bag system is with a proper scanner, I agree that your airbag light would probably flash if it had an electrical concern with obd2, If you are worried it is a system that should be checked by the dealer, with the right tools..
#4
09-27-07, 06:12 PM
Thanks for the responses.
I thought the electronics of it would be subject to scanning, but I didn't know if the inflation source needed to be renewed periodically or if the scanning of it was conclusive.
Now that I think about it TG, if I did use the tree test, I may not have to work on this thing anymore. What's that auto salvage website?
Thanks again,
Bob
I thought the electronics of it would be subject to scanning, but I didn't know if the inflation source needed to be renewed periodically or if the scanning of it was conclusive.
Now that I think about it TG, if I did use the tree test, I may not have to work on this thing anymore. What's that auto salvage website?
Thanks again,
Bob
#5
09-28-07, 03:09 AM
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 425
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
that I think about it TG, if I did use the tree test, I may not have to work on this thing anymore. What's that auto salvage website?
.Seriously. What TowGuy stated above about the light and the bag is true. If there's no "airbag/SRS" light remain on after initial key on(bulb check) engine started, the system is ok. (just pray for it to works when needed
).
#7
09-28-07, 02:59 PM
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 425
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
This's just for fun and giggle.
I've been followed lots of the airbag systems deployed (or not) on Nissan vehicles and all I can say is it's depending on speed, braking force(G sensor and yaw rate sensor) and most of all an angle of the impact even though it's consider frontal impact, some of them weren't deployed, I've seen more than one that hit directly to the front impact sensor on the high way speed but they were not direct frontal hit and the bag remain intact, I've also seen some consider minor accident but both side of airbags were deployed. We did some test on various models and came to the conclusion which I can't post it due to legality/liability/ responsibility/lawyer.... or whatever the heck they call.
In today vehicles, there are better airbag system (smart airbag ect..) that are proven more reliable than the old system but then again, hope you will never have to find out.
I've been followed lots of the airbag systems deployed (or not) on Nissan vehicles and all I can say is it's depending on speed, braking force(G sensor and yaw rate sensor) and most of all an angle of the impact even though it's consider frontal impact, some of them weren't deployed, I've seen more than one that hit directly to the front impact sensor on the high way speed but they were not direct frontal hit and the bag remain intact, I've also seen some consider minor accident but both side of airbags were deployed. We did some test on various models and came to the conclusion which I can't post it due to legality/liability/ responsibility/lawyer.... or whatever the heck they call.
In today vehicles, there are better airbag system (smart airbag ect..) that are proven more reliable than the old system but then again, hope you will never have to find out.
