Replacing an airbag after it is deployed in an accident is incredibly important before attempting to drive your vehicle again. This will ensure that the airbag will work properly if another accident occurs. We will look at the best ways to fix an airbag after an accident so you can safely return to the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Why Airbags Cannot Be Reused After an Accident<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\nTechnology in older cars allowed you to reuse airbags but place them back into their compartments. This could be incredibly dangerous and not redeployed properly when another accident occurs. To avoid these dangers, almost all newer cars will require an airbag to be replaced entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The technology used in today\u2019s airbags is the primary reason they cannot be reused after an accident. It\u2019s important to understand how an airbag works to explain this principle. Airbags are condensed into small compartments in the car and are released by the triggering of sensors based on collision force. The bags inflate quickly through a chemical reaction<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSodium azide and potassium nitrate react to form nitrogen gas, which is responsible for inflating the airbags quickly. Because these compounds are all used up after the airbag deploys, you can\u2019t reuse the same bags. You will need to get new ones that have these chemicals ready to react when triggered in a future accident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Car manufacturers do this intentionally so that you have to replace the bags to ensure the highest safety standards. Even if bags could be reused, there are risks associated with being reset improperly or a lack of sensor triggering. If the entire mechanism needs to be replaced, you don\u2019t run into as many safety risks, knowing the new airbag will do its job if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DKyNUH3xI5E<\/a>![\"machanic](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/machanic-airbag.jpg\" "\\"machanic")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIt is recommended that a vehicle is taken to a body shop or auto repair immediately after an accident occurs. You will want to have your airbags replaced before you drive your car again to ensure you are prepared for any future collisions. An auto repair will be able to give you an estimate on the cost of the repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are unsatisfied with the quote, you can get a quote from multiple auto repairs. Look for companies that have good reviews so you know that the work they will be doing is of high quality. Unlike cosmetic issues with a car, replacing the airbags safely and correctly is absolutely necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attempting to replace an airbag yourself can be very dangerous, especially if you do not have any prior experience doing so. Airbags have successfully saved thousands of lives, and those are all due to proper installation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/a> encourages car owners to only work with authorized service centers to fix airbags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDetach Battery Cable <\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"battery](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/car-1564300_640.jpg\" "\\"battery")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBefore any attempts at removing the airbag occur, it is necessary to unplug the negative terminal on the car battery. The airbag is connected through electrical wiring, and any interference with a car plugged in could result in injury or electrocution. By detaching the negative battery cable, power is no longer flowing through the car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After unplugging, the battery needs to train (rest) for at least one hour. This will ensure that there is no backup power that could still be surging through the vehicle. It is best to wait a couple of hours to avoid any unnecessary accidents with unwanted battery power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nRemove Bolts and Paneling <\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe type and locations of bolts that hold your airbag will vary on the make and model of the car. User manuals will contain this information, and service centers will be familiar with this replacement knowledge. Airbags are required to be located in the front of all car models made after 1999. Airbags<\/a> can be found in a wide variety of locations, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Steering wheel<\/strong>: In some airbag deployments, you may need to replace the entire steering wheel or column. This will require more detailed installments, often best completed by a professional. Bolts are located on the backside of the steering wheel base. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Passenger glove compartment<\/strong>: Removal of the glove compartment is needed to access the airbag underneath. These will deploy to protect the front seat passenger. Access to the bag is found inside the compartment with screws. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Side doors<\/strong>: While not always required, many manufacturers are putting in side airbags for extra support and protection. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Upper curtains<\/strong>: These are found on the roof paneling, where the rubberized door framing will need to be removed for access. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Seat belts<\/strong>: Newer car models are experimenting with small airbags that deploy from the seatbelt, providing protection for all passengers throughout the car. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Seats<\/strong>: Airbags will also deploy from the side of the seats to protect collisions coming from the side and to prevent passengers from colliding with one another. These bags often break through the seating material and will need to be completely replaced. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For the driver-side airbag, the keys will need to be placed in the ignition with the steering wheel turned so you can access the bolts behind. This will allow the front of the steering wheel to pop off and reveal the airbag underneath. Passenger airbags are found behind the glove compartment, which will need to be removed with the screws found inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The side airbags and those located in the roofing area will also have screws and bolts to remove the fabric or paneling that covers these interiors. Knowing where all these bolts are located is important for access as well as to not damage the panels upon removal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Removing these bolts and screws gives the repair person access to the airbag connectors so they can remove the airbag safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDisconnect Airbag Wiring <\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe wiring that is connected to the airbag is very fragile and must be carefully removed for replacement. There are two connections on the driver\u2019s side; you will need to carefully remove<\/a> them, being aware that different car manufacturers will design these slightly differently. It is necessary to understand the specific model\u2019s connector system before interfering. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThese connectors are taken off with small tools or gently removed by pressing small teeth. Wiggling the connectors is not recommended, as this can damage the small pieces. Instead, the connectors should be removed by pulling away in a straight motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wires need to be safely removed from the old airbag in order to replace it with a new one. If the wire connectors are damaged in the process, it will not be possible to safely reconnect a new unit. Both the teeth on the connector and the outlets on the airbag itself are made of fragile parts. Ensuring that these components are not damaged is incredibly important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wires will be kept out of the way so as not to interfere with them as the used airbag is being removed from the vehicle. Removing the connectors from the airbag must be done with extreme caution, especially if the airbag is never deployed. You should treat the device as a bomb that could easily explode or deploy if you are not very careful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nTake Out Used Airbag<\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"used](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/crash-test-1620608_640.jpg\" "\\"crash-test-1620608_640\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nOnce the wires have been disconnected, the old airbag will be taken out of the vehicle. After an accident, it may also be required to remove airbags that were not deployed because they were faulty or did not engage as they should have. You have to be increasingly cautious in working with these airbags as they still have the possibility of deploying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remove all airbags carefully, separating those that have been deployed from those that have not. Follow these precautions<\/a> when working with an undeployed airbag: <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Keep head and body away: <\/strong>If you can, try not to be in the direct line of contact with the airbag so that if it does deploy, you will avoid head and bodily injury.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Face trim covering away from you:<\/strong> When carrying the airbag, make sure the trim cushion or covering is not facing you so it will deploy away from your body. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Avoid high temperatures:<\/strong> Keep the airbag out of direct heat, which may trigger combustion. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These undeployed airbags cannot be disposed of as trash and must be handled carefully. When they are disposed of, they could explode or expose others to chemicals that are dangerous in isolation. Deployed airbags do not have any special instructions for disposal as they are harmless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sodium azide and potassium nitrate react to form nitrogen gas, which is responsible for inflating the airbags quickly. Because these compounds are all used up after the airbag deploys, you can\u2019t reuse the same bags. You will need to get new ones that have these chemicals ready to react when triggered in a future accident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Car manufacturers do this intentionally so that you have to replace the bags to ensure the highest safety standards. Even if bags could be reused, there are risks associated with being reset improperly or a lack of sensor triggering. If the entire mechanism needs to be replaced, you don\u2019t run into as many safety risks, knowing the new airbag will do its job if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is recommended that a vehicle is taken to a body shop or auto repair immediately after an accident occurs. You will want to have your airbags replaced before you drive your car again to ensure you are prepared for any future collisions. An auto repair will be able to give you an estimate on the cost of the repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are unsatisfied with the quote, you can get a quote from multiple auto repairs. Look for companies that have good reviews so you know that the work they will be doing is of high quality. Unlike cosmetic issues with a car, replacing the airbags safely and correctly is absolutely necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Attempting to replace an airbag yourself can be very dangerous, especially if you do not have any prior experience doing so. Airbags have successfully saved thousands of lives, and those are all due to proper installation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/a> encourages car owners to only work with authorized service centers to fix airbags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before any attempts at removing the airbag occur, it is necessary to unplug the negative terminal on the car battery. The airbag is connected through electrical wiring, and any interference with a car plugged in could result in injury or electrocution. By detaching the negative battery cable, power is no longer flowing through the car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After unplugging, the battery needs to train (rest) for at least one hour. This will ensure that there is no backup power that could still be surging through the vehicle. It is best to wait a couple of hours to avoid any unnecessary accidents with unwanted battery power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The type and locations of bolts that hold your airbag will vary on the make and model of the car. User manuals will contain this information, and service centers will be familiar with this replacement knowledge. Airbags are required to be located in the front of all car models made after 1999. Airbags<\/a> can be found in a wide variety of locations, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the driver-side airbag, the keys will need to be placed in the ignition with the steering wheel turned so you can access the bolts behind. This will allow the front of the steering wheel to pop off and reveal the airbag underneath. Passenger airbags are found behind the glove compartment, which will need to be removed with the screws found inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The side airbags and those located in the roofing area will also have screws and bolts to remove the fabric or paneling that covers these interiors. Knowing where all these bolts are located is important for access as well as to not damage the panels upon removal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Removing these bolts and screws gives the repair person access to the airbag connectors so they can remove the airbag safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wiring that is connected to the airbag is very fragile and must be carefully removed for replacement. There are two connections on the driver\u2019s side; you will need to carefully remove<\/a> them, being aware that different car manufacturers will design these slightly differently. It is necessary to understand the specific model\u2019s connector system before interfering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These connectors are taken off with small tools or gently removed by pressing small teeth. Wiggling the connectors is not recommended, as this can damage the small pieces. Instead, the connectors should be removed by pulling away in a straight motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wires need to be safely removed from the old airbag in order to replace it with a new one. If the wire connectors are damaged in the process, it will not be possible to safely reconnect a new unit. Both the teeth on the connector and the outlets on the airbag itself are made of fragile parts. Ensuring that these components are not damaged is incredibly important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wires will be kept out of the way so as not to interfere with them as the used airbag is being removed from the vehicle. Removing the connectors from the airbag must be done with extreme caution, especially if the airbag is never deployed. You should treat the device as a bomb that could easily explode or deploy if you are not very careful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the wires have been disconnected, the old airbag will be taken out of the vehicle. After an accident, it may also be required to remove airbags that were not deployed because they were faulty or did not engage as they should have. You have to be increasingly cautious in working with these airbags as they still have the possibility of deploying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove all airbags carefully, separating those that have been deployed from those that have not. Follow these precautions<\/a> when working with an undeployed airbag: <\/p>\n\n\n\n These undeployed airbags cannot be disposed of as trash and must be handled carefully. When they are disposed of, they could explode or expose others to chemicals that are dangerous in isolation. Deployed airbags do not have any special instructions for disposal as they are harmless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDetach Battery Cable <\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nRemove Bolts and Paneling <\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nDisconnect Airbag Wiring <\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nTake Out Used Airbag<\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n
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