Common Scenarios & Discussions

There's Something In The Air

Douglas Gan — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:16:04 GMT

"I thought my car was on fire after my accident. My airbag went off with such a noise and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by smoke. I just knew I had to get out of there!"

Whenever an airbag deploys, the occupants are subjected to an array of chemicals and substances foreign to most people. New information regarding these combustibles is now available. We have learned of potentially harmful side effects as airbags continue to evolve.

(photo courtesy of National Science Foundation)

At Airbagsolutions.com, we keep you informed so you and your customers will have the most recent and practical data. We continually monitor and research new information from all the manufacturers as well as independent studies to stay on top of our field.

These are the results of the information available today regarding chemicals and dangers in airbags.

Before a Deployment
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This is the most dangerous time to handle an airbag! The air bag inflator cartridges contain an explosive chemical, sodium azide. This is the same chemical used in making solid rocket propellants.

(photo courtesy of www.swicofil.com)

If the airbag has not been deployed, this material can be dangerous to handle. It can explode, it can cause burns if it gets on unprotected skin, and it can severely irritate the lungs if inhaled. These units are sealed from the factory and should never be opened, or tampered with. They are a "replacement only" item.

Driver's Airbag w/ Inflator Seat Airbag w/ Inflator

The danger is amplified if sodium azide comes in contact with heavy metals in the car, such as lead and copper, because these may react to form a volatile explosive.

NaN₃ + H₂O ---> HN₃ + NaOH.

But most importantly, when sodium azide (NaNO₃) is mixed with water (sweat or tears) it forms hydrazoic acid (HN₃). This new chemical is highly toxic, becomes airborne easily and is potentially explosive. The other byproduct is Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and this is the one that hurts!!!

Here is a list of the medical information available regarding

Sodium Hydroxide

Potential Health Effects
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Inhalation:
Severe irritant. Effects from inhalation of dust or mist vary from mild irritation to serious damage of the upper respiratory tract, depending on severity of exposure. Symptoms may include sneezing, sore throat or runny nose. Severe pneumonitis may occur.
Ingestion:
Corrosive! Swallowing may cause severe burns of mouth, throat, and stomach. Severe scarring of tissue and death may result. Symptoms may include bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, fall in blood pressure. Damage may appear days after exposure.
Skin Contact:
Corrosive! Contact with skin can cause irritation or severe burns and scarring with greater exposures.
Eye Contact:
Corrosive! Causes irritation of eyes, and with greater exposures it can cause burns that may result in permanent impairment of vision, even blindness.
Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged contact with dilute solutions or dust has a destructive effect upon tissue.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
Persons with pre-existing skin disorders or eye problems or impaired respiratory function may be more susceptible to the effects of the substance.

(source..Material Safety Data Sheet )

During a Deployment
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Airbags use cornstarch or some other powder to help lubricate them. The powder floats around in a cloud for a few minutes after the airbag is deployed, and that looks like smoke. Although the airbag cloud is usually harmless and is not a fire or fire hazard, there have been reported cases of the airbag itself catching fire during a deployment. The smoky cloud may cause mild respiratory distress. If you have trouble breathing, you should step away from the cloud to get to fresh air.

There are also serious and physical dangers reported by hundreds of accident victims. Scrapes from the abrasive material and burns from the high heat during deployment are among the most common complaints and concerns.

After a Deployment
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After the air bags have been deployed, handling and disposing of the airbag is no longer dangerous, and you will not have to take special handling precautions, however latex gloves and breathing filters are both recommended by the manufacturers.

(photo courtesy of Stolen & Recovered)

If the vehicle is going to a salvage yard, laws in most states require the airbags to be manually deployed.

Why is my Airbag light on?..What should I do?

Douglas Gan — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:37:33 GMT

    Airbag warning lights are exactly that...a warning that the airbag system is not operating properly. When they illuminate, the system is inactive. That means the airbags will not deploy if you are in an accident. Very often, owners will tape over the dash or actually remove the bulb to avoid looking at it. Some states have laws against tampering with the bulb, and most newer vehicle have dash circuits that do not allow access (sealed printed circuits).

    When the warning light comes on, it is indicating a fault in the system and a scanner is usually required to diagnose the problem. The scanner for an airbag system is a different scanner than the one used to diagnose engine problem or reset the 'check engine' lights. (although some scanners will do both). Vehicles have different computers for each system
As the airbag systems are now covering more and more components, front airbags, side airbags, curtain, seat belt pretensioners, knee airbags (and coming) seat belt airbags, it is important to get the right answer before you start working to get the light out.

    There are sensors throughout the vehicle, under the hood, in the pillars, under the console, and in the seat tracks. There are now sensors in the seats detecting occupant classification (OCS) There is wiring in the steering column (clockspring) and on-off switches in the dash. The wiring and components of this safety system are an integral part of the vehicle and should not / cannot be removed completely.

    So when the airbag light comes on, get the system tested by either the dealer or a competent technician, find out what has failed and then make an educated decision on how to and whether or not to fix it.

Now they've done it!!

Douglas Gan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:19:13 GMT

A new car was unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show this week. Toyota introduced the new 2009 IQ, an ultra compact that seats 4 adults and now has a REAR airbag. It measures less than 118 inches long but includes a panoramic sunroof and 17 inch wheels and rear passenger protection. During a recent interview with News.com.au, the iQ’s chief designers Hiroki Nakajima revealed that the car features a new rear-impact airbag. “It is for rear-seat people. But there are some issues with certification. It is still secret,” Nakajima explained. (read article)
So finally they have created a vehicle that surrounds us with airbag protection. Designed in the south of France, this one rivals VW, Hyundai and Renault. Toyota compares this car to a manta ray with new design concepts in the interior that include a three dimensional display that projects the gauges and readouts. The navigation and audio are on the steering wheel
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Supplements, supplements, supplements...

Douglas Gan — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:08:40 GMT

Why is it that almost every vehicle repaired now requires a supplement? Is it just me or does it seem that way to you too? Estimating systems are costing thousands of dollars instead of hundreds, appraisers have supervisors and desk reviews...at least 4 people look over every claim BEFORE it's even started and yet we still have to ask for a supplemental claim before we can complete the repair.

Last week alone we had 6 jobs that required a return trip to the shops for additional parts needed to replace the airbag system to it's original state and reset the light. Airbag systems have been in use for over 20 years now and still the appraisers and writers don't have all the information they need in their estimating systems.

Obviously we're a little biased when it comes to which system we use (Airbagsolutions.com), but the information is available if only the appraisers and writers would use it. Everyone is in such a hurry to complete the estimate, and insurance companies are so intent on saving money that everyone loses.

Let's get it right the first time. Let's use the tools that are out there. Let's fix 'em right the first time!

Why Didn't My Airbag Deploy

Douglas Gan — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:43:11 GMT

Week after week, month after month I am asked ”Why didn’t my airbag go off? I was hit hard enough, the frame rail is bent, the engine mount was broken but the airbag never went off.”

These situations are far too common and even more commonly misunderstood. The airbag systems are designed for specific impacts, using very specific criteria to determine the severity of the crash as well as the degree of danger to the occupants of the vehicle. The earlier models used multiple sensors placed strategically in the front end of vehicles, while many of the newer cars and trucks simply use one central Sensing and Diagnostic Module and one remote sensor to determine deployment.

With the addition of head airbags, knee bag, side curtains, and seat airbags, again multiple sensors are in play, however each sensor is designated to a specific airbag. One for frontal, one for side airbag, one fur curtain, etc... But let me get back to the question at hand. The answer is …the airbags will deploy when they need to, based on the parameters designed into the computer. The diagram below will illustrate exactly which one will deploy and which one will not.

Vehicle 2 is impacted at approximately 45 degrees from center, hitting the left front corner of the vehicle. The impact to this vehicle does not qualify for an airbag deployment because it is outside the zone designed for either a frontal or side impact deployment.

Vehicle 1 is impacted at an almost straight ahead direction and will cause the frontal airbags to deploy. All of the inertia is focused on forward movement and thus the driver and/or passenger are both subject to much more risk of personal injury form this impact that those in vehicle 2.

Airbags are basically designed to prevent the occupant from going through the windshield (or side window) as a result of an impact. If the impact is not severe enough, fast enough, or at the correct angle to risk that much personal injury, then in many cases the airbag will NOT deploy. In addition, a 'soft' impact, such as hitting a deer (or person), will also NOT transmit enough energy through the frame of the vehicle to activate a deployment. Once in a while we see virtually no damage to a vehicle and both frontal bags deployed. Upon closer inspection we discover a direct hit to the sensor or the frame rail right next to the sensor. It is with these close proximity hits to the sensing equipment that the airbags deploy when no one was in fact in danger. And on the other hand, we sometimes find a 'total loss' vehicle without a single airbag deployed. These vehicles are often hit at exactly the wrong angle for any bag to deploy.

So when airbags deploy, multiple criteria have to be met. But in general for an airbag to deploy, the speed needs to be over 30 mph, the angle of impact needs to be within 15 degrees of direct frontal or side impact, and now, with occupant sensors, someone needs to be in the seat of the occupant at risk.

What airbag parts do I replace?

Douglas Gan — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:20:13 GMT

Today I received a call from a body shop that was unsure of the components to replace after a deployment. They were working on a 2006 Nissan Maxima. Only the driver’s airbag deployed and they, along with the insurance appraiser, were confused as to why this happened and what parts were actually needed. The front harness was cut from the accident as well. The estimate allowed them the driver’s airbag and the replacement of the front harness only.

Looking it up in our database as well as the factory database, this vehicle calls for all deployed components along with the control unit to be replaced after deployment. I directed them to check the seat belts (which were overlooked originally), for operation. These pretensioners deploy milliseconds prior to the airbag deployment. We discussed how many occupants were in the car (only the driver was). I explained to them that beginning as early as 2002 manufacturers have been installing occupant sensors and “smart bags”. These systems determine who is at risk and what level of deployment the airbag system should implement. If no one is sitting in the passenger seat (or it is a small child), the airbag will not go off on that side.

Upon closer examination of the car, they found that this vehicle needed the following components:

• Driver’s airbag

• Clockspring …it was melted and discovered only after the airbag was removed. (this component only comes as part of the multi-function switch.)

• Both front seat belt pretensioners (neither one worked properly, they had both deployed)

• Front sensor (required)

• Airbag control unit (required)

• Front wiring harness

After installing all of these components, the system will have been repaired to Nissan standards and give the repair shop the confidence that the customer’s safety and protection has been restored to the original level of reliability.

These are the types if questions Airbagsolutions.com answers completely and effectively. Knowing what you need gives you the advantage of understanding these systems better and repairing them according to the manufacturer’s requirements.