How to check airbags when buying a car
How to check airbags (AIRBAG) when buying a car
In a modern car, it is important to know how to check airbags (AIRBAG) when purchasing, their condition and the presence of a working impact sensor in the steering wheel, so that the driver driving the car is confident in its presence and is protected in the event of a collision. When buying a car, you need to check the sensors for functionality and serviceability with a tester, since sellers do not always provide reliable information regarding the condition of the airbags: whether they worked, whether they exist, which accordingly endangers people.
Types of airbags
Active protection means can be different, their quantity is influenced by the cost of the vehicle. There are the following types:
1. Frontal. They are located in the steering wheel niche, on top of the plastic trim of the front panel.
2. Lateral. Placed in the back of the front seats, behind the door cards.
3. Knees. Installed below the steering wheel and the glove compartment of the front panel.
4. Protective sheets. They are placed between the pillars of the car, hiding behind the ceiling covering.
5. In the central part of the car, the pillows are mounted in the armrests.
If the car belongs to the budget category, in most cases, front-type options are used.
To determine where there is an active human protection system in a car, you need to inspect the interior for the presence of the SRS or AIRBAG inscriptions. The manufacturer writes them on decorative panels, behind which the necessary pillows are placed. To see if it is there, you just need to remove the plug or a special cover, as is the case with the steering wheel.
Important! Some car owners use imitation plugs and dummies to mislead the buyer.
Detection of deployed airbags
Determining whether the airbags deployed or not will help not only understand the level of safety of a future purchase, but also determine whether the car has been in an accident. To do this, you should pay attention to the following signs:
- difference in the color of the plug from the tones used in the interior;
- presence of signs of replacement or repair of seats;
- windshield replaced;
- condition of the plugs (scratches, abrasions).
After removing the decorative panel, you need to look not only at the pillow, but also at the protection device. If there is visible damage to the components of the device responsible for activating the system, it indicates that the functionality of the system may be impaired.
How to check the operation of the shock sensor
One way to check that your airbags are working is by checking the warning light on your dashboard. The way it works can be an indication of the security management system. To look at the light bulb, you need to turn the key to ignition mode and turn your attention to the dashboard.
- the light stays on for a long time, but other indicators no longer light up; most likely, the shock sensor is not functioning;
- the airbag sensor is not detected - this may mean that the indication is disabled on purpose
If the car was involved in a serious accident, then the protective devices have already been triggered; the online service “AvtoVin” will help you figure this out. In 5 minutes you will have access to information about whether the car is on loan or pledged, stolen or seized, restrictions imposed, as well as cases of accidents, the number of owners and much more.
To generate a report, it is enough to indicate the VIN code or state license. car number. The traffic police, EAISTO, FNP, FCS, NBKI, RSA, FSSP and other authorities will provide information in an easy-to-view report.
We diagnose airbags with a tester
To determine whether the airbags have deployed, you can use a simple tester to measure the resistance of the squib. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Turn on the ignition, pull out the key;
- Remove the terminals from the battery;
- Open the niche for the pillow;
Next, you need to put the tester in ohmmeter mode and check the resistance at the connector in the protection itself. If there is a discrepancy in the required parameters, there is reason to think about it.
Important! Fraudsters have learned to install resistors with the required resistance so that this test method is not effective. Thus, if there is no necessary experience or knowledge in this area, then it is better to entrust the actions of checking the active protection in the car to specialists.
We diagnose airbags with a scanner
A multimeter, also called a diagnostic scanner, is a piece of equipment that is used to test almost all important devices and mechanisms in a car. This also applies to airbags. It is placed in the connector of the on-board computer. The necessary check is carried out in relation to the airbag control unit, it is determined whether the squibs worked or not, whether there was a change in the data in the program. When choosing this verification method, you additionally need to use a laptop with special software installed; certain knowledge will be required.
Checking a car
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How to check airbags? Checking the Airbag on a car in various ways
Hello. Many of you know what an “Airbag” is, even more people know what “Airbags” are, but only a few know how to check them correctly so that they do not fail at the right time.
In this article, I will talk about different ways to check airbags, you will learn how to check the airbags , as well as how to understand if they are not working.
Perhaps the first question that arises in the minds of most readers will be: “Why check them, these pillows?” The question is logical and perhaps I would even agree, provided that the car is new and just purchased from the office. dealer. In any other case, you cannot be sure of the serviceability of the pillows! Imagine a situation where you and your family are driving your favorite car in a good mood and suddenly at some point something goes wrong and an accident is simply inevitable. In such cases, you have to rely on the Lord God, seat belts and, of course, on airbags, which have saved more than one human life in their history.
Why might airbags not work?
The fact is that if the car is used, that is, not new with a decent mileage and a history unknown to you, then it is impossible to find out what condition all its systems are in. Yes, you can draw some conclusions about its condition based on the interior, body or engine, but assessing the condition of the airbags is very difficult, because 100% testing of their functionality occurs during an accident, well, you shouldn’t accelerate into the first wall you come across to check Airbag of your car. No, under no circumstances should you do this! In order to check airbags, there are other more effective ways, which we will talk about now.
Faulty airbags are a common occurrence, especially in high-mileage vehicles. They may not work for several reasons, for example, due to the expiration of the useful life of the pillows themselves, or due to the fact that they have already done their job. In the latter case, we are talking about the fact that the pillow or pillows have already worked, thereby saving someone's life. However, as a rule, after the airbags “shot” and the car was in an accident, they try to sell the car, and in the form in which it is. In this case, the car is either given some kind of “maraf”, or it is sold as is and the one who bought it, as a rule, carries out some repairs for subsequent resale. However, repairs for the purpose of resale most often do not involve the restoration of all vehicle systems, this is explained by the unprofitability of such repairs. Therefore, in most cases, expensive airbags are simply not installed, and the on-board computer, which checks the technical condition of these airbags, is “deceived” in various ways. In general, after a car without airbags is sold on the secondary market, its owner exposes himself and his loved ones to great risk in the event of an accident. Personally, I know of many such cases where the owner simply did not know about the inoperability of the car’s safety system and ended up in an accident and died precisely because the airbags either did not work or were simply absent from the car.
Briefly about the design of pillows and the principle of operation
The first airbags were located in the steering wheel, as well as in the front panel opposite the first row passenger, such airbags are called front airbags. Later, a huge number of different pillows appeared, which began to be located in the backs of the front seats, in the body pillars, etc.
Airbags are a set of systems and elements that work as one. The system called “Airbag” includes: a control system, pillows (elastic, dense nylon fabric), and a gas generator. The latter can be of two types - solid fuel and hybrid.
How it works?
After the sensors detect the impact, the signal from them goes to the control unit. Then the unit gives a command to the gas generators, after which the squib is “shot” and the solid fuel charge, which consists of silicon dioxide, potassium nitrate and sodium azide, is ignited. The resulting gas in the form of a cloud instantly fills the cavity of the pillow, turning them into a soft barrier, against which one or another part of the body hits. By the way, all the above actions occur in a matter of seconds.
Airbags that are fired cannot be repaired, they cannot be folded back like a parachute, so they are completely replaced.
Now directly about how to check airbags
- Finding airbags on your car is not so difficult; as a rule, all locations of the airbags are “signed” with the word “Airbag”, however, there are exceptions when one or another part of the interior is subject to change (reupholstery of the steering wheel, seats, dashboard).
- Next, you need to take a “tour” around the cabin, you should take a close look at the places where the pillows are located and at the interior itself as a whole; a car that has been in an accident, as a rule, reveals itself as various leaks and inaccuracies in the connections of various interior parts. All interior parts must be in the same color; if the same color is different in tone, we can assume that the part has been changed. Any dents or damage should give you pause. more about how to determine the condition of a car by looking at the interior in this article.
- If possible, try to get directly to the pillow; the process of removing the upper, protective parts will be different for everyone, so I will not describe it. Perform a visual inspection of the airbag, if there is one; if not, the airbag check process can be considered complete. Most likely, the car has already been in a car accident and further operation of such a vehicle is potentially dangerous to your health. If there is an airbag, take a closer look at it to see if there is any damage on its surface or signs of an airbag malfunction.
- Make sure that in the places where the airbags are located there are actually airbags, and not fakes or other types of plugs that simulate the presence and serviceability of the Airbag system.
- Self-diagnosis. The standard airbag system provides for self-diagnosis of airbag serviceability. This system scans all components of the Airbag system and in the event of a malfunction or incorrect operation of one or another “link”, the corresponding indicator on the instrument panel lights up and does not go out. For each car brand, this indicator may look different; for some it is a red circle with the inscription “airbag”; for others it is a pictogram in the form of a sitting person and a pillow. It is considered normal for the indicator to light up briefly when turning the key to the first position; after starting, this indicator, like most others, should go out; if this does not happen, the airbags will not work. Be sure to determine the cause of the malfunction and eliminate it, otherwise you risk paying with your life for your indifference. I would like to note that today on the “fake market” there are special electronic boards that simulate the functionality of the Airbag .
- If the airbag warning does not come on at all, this may indicate a malfunction of the light itself or that someone deliberately turned it off.
If self- diagnosis of airbag faults does not lead to anything, and you still cannot understand whether the Airbag works on your car or not, seek help from professionals in this field. At the service station, specialists using diagnostic equipment will tell you with 99% accuracy whether you have airbags or not.
That's all I have, I hope this helps!? Thank you for your attention and for mastering such a volume of information. See you again at Question Auto, take care of yourself and your car. Bye.
Ways to check airbags when buying a car
In recent years, airbags have become an integral accessory of cars, reliably ensuring the safety of not only drivers, but also every passenger. Therefore, car owners, as a rule, pay due attention to this modern protection system, whether we are talking about new brands of cars or used cars. This is also observed when purchasing them, when buyers often try to check the availability and condition of such accessories. However, not everyone knows how to check airbags when buying a car in practice.
Methods for checking airbags when buying a car.
Where are the airbags located?
Before you begin checking these unique security systems, it is necessary to clarify where exactly they are located. The airbags are checked taking into account the fact that they come in several different types, depending on the class and vehicle equipment, namely:
- frontal version (they are hidden by the steering wheel, the upper part of the dashboard);
- side option (location – doors, seat backs);
- knee version (the steering wheel and the so-called glove compartment are located above them);
- central (location – armrests, which are located between the seats);
- curtains protecting the head (location – between the car pillars, behind the trim).
It must be borne in mind that expensive brands of cars can be equipped with several or even all types of the protective devices just listed, while economical, budget models are most often equipped only with front-facing systems.
How to check for airbags
Many people are interested in how to check for airbags in a car. Such a check is not particularly difficult and is carried out in several successive stages. First, carefully inspect the car dealership visually. If there are airbags, this can be recognized by the presence of the Airbag or SRS inscriptions on the plugs in the places where they are supposed to be. To make sure that they are there, you need to remove one of these plugs and see if it is in the opened place. To check its presence in the steering wheel, you need to free the control wheel from the special pad, and also find out what is behind it.
Visual inspection of the vehicle interior
In recent years, unfortunately, many cases have been recorded when, when selling a car, its owners resort to deceiving buyers, replacing used devices in cars with dummies that are very similar to them, and old plugs with new ones. Everything is explained tritely. Thus, replacing deployed airbags with new ones is not a cheap task; sometimes their price reaches several tens of thousands of rubles. Therefore, the second stage of testing is inevitable - for operability, which involves a very careful visual inspection of the interior. The following signs may be evidence of deception confirming that the car is being sold after an accident and the airbags in it are “shabby”:
- the color of the plugs is not identical to the color of the overall color scheme of the interior upholstery;
- Judging by the scratches and other details, it can be assumed that the upholstery of the seats was restored after the device worked;
- the plugs have dents, abrasions, chips or scratches;
- It is clear that the windshield has been replaced.
In these and other suspicious cases, it is necessary to remove the plug, carefully examine the cushion shell and the gas generator (squib) responsible for its functioning. If scratches are noticed on them, we can assume with great confidence that the seller is trying to deceive the buyer by wishful thinking, that is, there is no working airbag in the car.
Functionality check
The presence of a pillow does not mean at all that it will pass the serviceability test and work normally if necessary. Therefore, to be completely sure, you should check the available pillow for its functionality, for which you should try several different methods: using a shock sensor, a tester, etc.
How to Test an Airbag Crash Sensor
A sensor called a shock sensor will help check the functionality of the airbag. To do this, you need to observe how the warning light located on the instrument panel behaves. You need to turn the ignition key. If the light on which the pillow is depicted does not go out, unlike other indicators, we can conclude that there is a high probability of a malfunction of the shock sensor. If the light does not light up at all, then, most likely, it was deliberately turned off by the owner of the car, that is, he is hiding something. Unfortunately, the art of counterfeiting has reached such a high level that sometimes, even if the indicator works perfectly, this is not a 100% guarantee that the device will work correctly.
How to check an airbag with a tester
You can also find out whether the airbags have deployed before by measuring the resistance of the squib with a conventional tester. To do this you need:
- turn off the ignition and remove the key;
- remove the terminals from the battery;
- disassemble the safety device.
Insert the test in ohmmeter mode and check the resistance level at the connector of the protective device. If there is a deviation from the norm, this is a signal that the airbag has most likely already deployed. Since scammers are trying to bypass this method of verification, it is advisable to hire an experienced technician as an assistant.
How to check an airbag with a multimeter
It is also possible to effectively check the pillow using a purchased multimeter. Its price ranges from 50 to 60 thousand rubles, the Chinese model costs an order of magnitude less. In any case, whether the buyer will use additional equipment or not, it is advisable to check whether the purchased car has ever been involved in an accident using the All-Russian Internet service “Autocode”: this will provide very important additional information.
How to check the serviceability of the SRS Airbag
When buying a car that is not new, a mandatory check point is whether the airbags deployed or not? Has the security system been restored or are there plugs and decoys?
We are looking for information about the number and locations of all airbags in the vehicle being tested. During the inspection, we inspect all the places where the pillows are or were. Such places are marked with special stickers, plates, emblems, stripes - AIRBAG.
- Pay special attention to the pillows that are built into the seats and doors. They are usually marked with stripes. When restoring a seat after an accident, the tags are cut off and the torn areas are simply sewn together. If the AIRBAG emblem is present, inspect the seams. Compare the seams on one side of the seat to the other. Feel the seats where the cushions are. If the cushion is in place, it should feel like something that is not uniform or similar on the other side of the seat.
- Inspect the openings of the airbags on the steering wheel, dashboard, and knees. The material in these places must completely match both in color and texture with the rest of the plastic or leather parts of the car panel. Press lightly and move your fingers over the area where the word AIRBAG is embossed: the restored panel may have noticeable waves, non-sizing of the material, dips and unevenness.
- Ask the seller to press the steering wheel and panel at the locations of the airbags with force. Rough and quick “airbag restorations” occur by sealing plastic and then applying putty. By pressing firmly, you can feel how the putty breaks or feel where it is and where the “real” panel goes.
Electronic deception of the presence of an airbag.
If there is the slightest sign of malfunction or lack of airbags, it is better to either refuse the purchase or contact specialists for a more thorough inspection of the car.
Video material - how to find out whether the airbag fired or not?
