- What is the best method of airbag deactivation?
- How safe is it?
- What about the new Hybrid vehicles?
- What causes an accidental airbag deployment?
- How can individuals protect themselves from personal harm caused by accidental deployments?
These are the critical questions on the minds of technicians, first-responders and car buffs as they work around vehicles with airbags. New cars can have as many as twelve airbags…now, there’s an accidental deployment waiting to happen!!
Take a look at this video showing how powerful and dangerous these ‘safety devices’ can be when they deploy inadvertently.
(Click on photo -- link to video)
There are many reasons why these systems malfunction, but for the most part, it’s human error and common misconceptions that cause the problem.
Let's explore the questions we posed earlier:
What is the best method of airbag deactivation?
Airbag deactivation:
Disconnect the battery and walk away for for 10-20 minutes.
All airbag systems have a backup power supply. This is primarily designed to allow the airbag system to deploy if the battery or power supply is damaged during the accident, but prior to any impact hat may harm the occupants. These power supplies can remain ‘hot’ for up to 20 minutes after the primary power supply is disconnected.
How safe is it?
For the most part, this procedure will disarm the system, HOWEVER, there are new problems that have arisen that are not the responsibility of the manufacturer. These problems arise when owners, technicians or other individuals begin installing aftermarket components, like cell phone adapters and cradles, i-pod/i-phone docking stations or auto computer / radio memory-savers.
These units are power supplies themselves and will back-feed power into the vehicle rearming airbags even with the main battery disconnected. To clarify this point, no matter how long you unplug the battery of a vehicle, if cell phones, i-pods or memory savers are plugged in or in use, the AIRBAGS ARE STILL LIVE!
What about the new Hybrid vehicles?
3) The new Hybrid and electric cars are a world to themselves.
As this technology develops, each manufacturer's guidelines must be followed for proper and safe deactivation of the power systems.
What causes accidental airbag deployment?
(Click on photo -- link to video)
1) Airbag systems are designed to deploy specific airbags under very specific impact, inertia and gravitational (g-force) conditions. Accidental deployment typically occurs during one of 3 conditions:
a. Manufacturer defects. If you want to check to see if your vehicle has been the subject of an airbag defect, recall or investigation, simply click on this link to enter your vehicle data.
b. Environmental conditions. We have found that moisture, rust, salt residue and other natural occurring elements and conditions can trigger the airbag firing mechanisms, causing an accidental airbag deployment. (see previous blog),
c. Human involvement. Many times though, it’s human intervention that causes an airbag to deploy without proper cause. Installations of aftermarket products, like radios, DVD players or custom interior dash lights are the most frequent culprits. A misplaced screw driven through a wiring harness, a pinched or shorted wire or a probe from a powered test light can all send power to the wrong circuit and cause the airbag to deploy instantly.
How can individuals protect themselves from personal harm caused by accidental deployment?
- Never work on or around an airbag with a “LIVE” battery or power source connected.
- Never tamper with, remove or service an airbag system without first knowing the dangers, precautions and procedures for proper removal, service or installation.
- Follow the manufacturer guidelines for deactivation. Every manufacturer is different and has procedures available in their repair manuals and shop service manuals.
- Use new, sealed, factory parts. Aftermarket, used and reconditioned parts do not always conform to the same strict safety guidelines required by law and may have been damaged, altered or tampered with affecting their dependability and safety. In addition, each state has its own regulations governing the sale and installation of used airbags.
- Contact a professional in the business.
Airbag safety is nothing to ignore. Too many professionals, technicians and 'first responders' have already seen the cost of accidental deployment. Airbag systems are designed to be powerful and effective. They deploy with the same powerful forces regardless of whether it's during a collision or as a consequence of an accidental deployment. Keeping a safe distance, working with knowledge of each vehicle's system and respecting the dangers involved will keep you safe when working around airbags.
For additional information on the best methods of safe deactivation, we always recommend obtaining vehicle specific manufacturer instructions.
Some of the photos and videos used in this blog are courtesy of extrication and accident scene safety rescue experts, Lee Junkins: Midsouth Rescue Technologies and Todd Hoffman: www.sceneoftheaccident.org