An airbag system is often the difference between life and death in serious road accidents. When the airbag in a car deploys, it acts as a cushion to help minimise injuries. Notably, car owners must take their vehicles to a garage for airbag reinstallation after an accident because deployed airbags cannot be reused. That said, technicians must observe a few safety precautions during airbag installation, particularly newbies. This post highlights safety guidelines to observe during airbag system installation.
Inspect Other Airbags -- Some airbags do not deploy during an accident. Sometimes, only one or two airbags deploy while the rest remain intact. In such cases, it is easy to ignore the undeployed airbags and focus on replacing the deployed ones. However, neglecting any undeployed airbag is a big mistake since you never know if the trigger components are working. Notably, the impact in most accidents should cause all airbags to deploy. Therefore, if some do not discharge, it could indicate that the trigger system or sensors have an issue. On the other hand, an undeployed airbag can accidentally deploy during installation and cause injuries. In this regard, technicians need to first inspect all airbags that have not been deployed. This helps them make an informed decision on whether to replace the entire airbag module.
Soft Side Up -- An airbag has two sides: the soft side and the trim cover. When installing a new airbag or removing an undeployed one, ensure the soft side is facing away from any hard surface. Newbie technicians might forget that an undeployed airbag can be a dangerous projectile when placed on the ground incorrectly. For example, suppose you place an airbag on the ground with the cover facing up. Accidental ignition might send the airbag flying in the air and cause severe injuries to anyone standing nearby. Therefore, always ensure that the soft side is facing up or away from walls to minimise the risk of injuries.
Always Reprogram the Airbag Control Module (ACM) -- The primary function of an airbag control module is to determine whether there is sufficient impact to warrant deployment. In most modern cars, the control module automatically reprograms once it detects newly installed airbags. However, that is not the case in some cars. If you are unsure whether to reprogram an airbag control module, do it manually with diagnostic tools in a garage. Alternatively, you can check the manufacturer's datasheet to help you make an informed decision concerning recalibrating an ACM.
