Is it possible to drive without airbags?
Car enthusiasts often ask questions regarding the operation of the car if there are faulty (opened) airbags or a malfunction indicator has been activated.
If the icon lights up, it indicates that one of the sensors has failed. This means that the likelihood of the airbag not deploying in an accident is higher. The indicator also lights up when the device has already been activated and a “plug” is installed instead.
You are allowed to drive with such errors (the technical part of the car does not suffer). Another thing is that the level of security is falling. There remains a risk that the airbag will not fulfill its intended purpose.
How does an airbag deploy in an accident?
The airbag is deployed during a collision with another object or vehicle.
Depending on the location of the impact, the front or side airbags are activated. As soon as the impact force is above the limit level (set by software), the impact sensors send a command to the control unit.
The latter collects information, analyzes it and decides whether to deploy the airbags or not. The described actions occur in a fraction of a second.
Taking into account the analysis of the severity and type of accident, the whole or only part of the system works. Sometimes it is enough to activate only the seat belt tensioners or they work in conjunction with the airbags.
The control unit sends a command to turn on the gas generator of a specific airbag. In this case, the response time is 30-40 ms. During this period, the gas generator guarantees the expansion and filling of the pillow with gas.
As soon as the airbag touches the human body, it ruptures and deflates.
The front airbags are activated when a number of conditions are met:
- Car fire;
- Increasing the specified impact force in a frontal collision;
- Vehicle crash;
- A sharp collision with the wall of a hole, a curb or the edge of a sidewalk;
- Impact to the end of the car (oblique frontal collision);
- A hard fall on the wheels after a “jump”.
It is worth knowing that the front airbags do not deploy in the following cases - when the car rolls over, a side impact or contact from the rear.
It is built into the car program that before opening the airbag, the speed of deceleration of the car and movement at the moment of collision, the presence of connected seat belts, and so on are analyzed.
Safety benefits
The main problem that causes concern among car owners is the accidental deployment of the airbag while driving. Indeed, such a danger exists if people are in the cabin of an old car model. In modern cars, airbags are equipped with a special unit that monitors the state of the system. If the slightest problem occurs, the driver will be immediately notified about it.
Also, diagnostic units, thanks to additional devices, guarantee proper operation of the security system even if the battery is damaged due to an emergency.
Accidental activation is frightening, first of all, due to the force of the blow that a person sitting in the car receives. And if in an emergency situation a broken nose is the lesser of two evils, then in a calm environment it is unlikely that anyone will like such a gift. Taking into account this feature of the operation of airbags, engineers from many automobile companies have tried to eliminate the problem using special technology that ensures gradual deployment of the airbag.
Removing the driver's airbag Grants
The Lada Granta airbag is dismantled to remove the steering wheel from the car, also in case of replacing the airbag contact ring and the sound signal.
Tools needed: 2 rods with a diameter of about 5mm, a flat-head screwdriver.
The airbag module must be removed with the power supply turned off, otherwise the airbag may deploy unexpectedly. Moreover, dismantling must begin after the activator capacitor has completely discharged. To discharge the capacitor, you must wait at least one minute after turning off the power supply. Disassembling the airbag module is prohibited.
Do not allow the airbag module to fall or be exposed to water, grease or oil. Do not expose the airbag module to temperatures above 95°C. When installing the module in the vehicle's steering wheel, stay outside the airbag deployment area. When you turn on the ignition for the first time after installing the airbag module while the vehicle is outside the vehicle, turn on the ignition switch by reaching under the steering column.
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
- Compress the spring clips that secure the airbag module while inserting the rods into the two special holes located on the sides of the steering wheel.
- At this time, the assistant must pull the airbag module towards himself with his hands and move it with the horn switch away from the steering wheel to the length of the connected wiring harnesses.
- The photo shows the location of the spring clamps for securing the airbag module.
- Squeeze the latch.
