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You aren't really gonna try to repair the airbag, are you?

By Tony, BAT Auto Technical

So, you're thinking about working on a vehicle with airbags. Let's talk about some of the dangers involved in it. Fitting accessories or working on a car with an airbag can be dangerous, because in some vehicles there is the potential for the airbag to deploy unintentionally.

If the airbag deploys because of something you have done unintentionally, while you are leaning across the steering wheel to splice wires for a stereo or some dash work, the result could be a serious injury. An airbag, when activated, explodes out of the steering wheel at around 200 mph, give or take.

An airbag is, for all intents and purposes, an explosive. It is categorized as an explosive, it is shipped as an explosive and it is most certainly handled as an explosive. A small explosive charge actually inflates the airbag instantaneously.

Now, if you happen to be working on the dash and do something you shouldn't, the airbag would literally smash you into the seat or through it.If a person is probing the wrong wire while installing an aftermarket accessory in your vehicle, there is an extreme danger of setting off the airbag. A trained technician is cautioned and educated in disabling the airbag system prior to any dash work whatsoever and they are very well aware of the dangers involved in working on SRS systems.

Any work on the electrical systems of newer cars, whether it be installing a stereo, an alarm system or doing repairs, the airbag system has the ability to deploy unintentionally.

Any time the air bag or SRS light comes on, the system should be checked out by a trained mechanic. Under NO circumstances should anyone who is not trained in the SRS systems attempt to do repairs on the airbag system.

Recently, EMTs and Emergency personnel have been having to be trained in the dangers of airbag deployment. Several emergency personnel have had curtain and side impact deployments during extrication. In the advent of these deployments, rescue personnel have had to be trained in extricating people without deploying the airbags.

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