I have heard that it is possible to be driving a car where the air bags don’t work even though no air bag warning light comes on. Is it true that the air bag light could be disabled and there is no way of testing the air bag without deployment?
Yes, it is true that the air bag might not work even though there is no warning light lit! However there is a way to test if the air bag will work without deployment! There are two primary ways for air bag systems to be compromised . First you buy a used car without having the car’s safety systems checked as part of your pre-purchase procedure. Another way is as simple as taking your car to an unknown body shop. Airbags are expensive and when anything is expensive crooks will find a way to cheat you on purchasing the item or outright steal it. These crooks often called curbstoners, frequently buy cars that have been in an accident that caused the air bags to deploy. They fix the body of the car with bubble gum and body filler then set about “fixing” the airbags. Because the high price of replacement airbags was a major reason why the car was totaled, the curbstoners fix is not to replace the air bags but to make them look like they have been replaced.
They do this by buying what is called “fake airbag covers” and stuffing them with rags and folded newspapers. The result is an airbag that looks new but has nothing inside it and no ability to protect anyone in an accident. They finish by disabling the SRS warning light.
To avoid this when you buy a used car get a Carfax Vehicle History Report. But more importantly have a technician perform what is called an airbag computer diagnostic scan.
They do this by buying what is called “fake airbag covers” and stuffing them with rags and folded newspapers. The result is an airbag that looks new but has nothing inside it and no ability to protect anyone in an accident. They finish by disabling the SRS warning light.
To avoid this when you buy a used car get a Carfax Vehicle History Report. But more importantly have a technician perform what is called an airbag computer diagnostic scan.
