Airbags 101: What Happens to Your Airbag Module After an Accident
Millions of people get into car accidents every single year. Driving on the road has many risks, and it’s essential to prioritize your safety at all times. Thankfully, developments in technology and local laws have made two crucial safety features mandatory for car manufacturers: seat belts and airbags. These safety systems help keep drivers and passengers avoid severe injury or death in the event of collisions and accidents.
The Introduction of Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
Every vehicle’s primary restraint system is the seat belt. The first patented seat belt was created in the 1880s, and for decades, vehicles only had lap belts to keep drivers and passengers safe. Airbags weren’t invented until the 1950s and were not required in cars until 1998.
Airbags are every vehicle’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) that serves as protection from severe frontal collisions. They significantly reduce the amount of force experienced by a person’s upper body as it flings forward. It also keeps drivers and passengers from being thrown out of a vehicle after a strong collision. Airbags save thousands of lives every year, and it’s crucial to keep them in optimum condition for everyone’s safety.
The Deployment Process of Airbags During an Accident
In the event of a strong frontal collision, sensors in the vehicle activate the 3-point seat belt system to restrain the drivers and passengers in the vehicle. The sensors also trigger an electric circuit that ignites sodium azide, creating nitrogen gas that inflates the airbags in a fraction of a second.
When older airbag models were deployed, vehicle owners could just simply stuff airbags back into their compartments. This brought about a tremendous risk because improper reinstallation of the bag means it could not deploy properly in a future accident.
Modern airbag systems have entirely eliminated that risk by opting for a single-use mechanic. Once an airbag has been deployed, the chemicals necessary for proper inflation are unusable. Vehicle owners have to get their airbag modules reset for future protection. Today, car manufacturers require airbag module replacements to ensure that every airbag module contains the correct amounts of chemicals to trigger proper deployment in the event of another collision.
The Importance of Resetting Airbag Modules
If you have been in an accident, it will take some time to set your car to rights, even if its exterior was only slightly damaged. You need to bring it in for a complete resetting of its airbag module.
The process begins with a thorough check of your airbag sensors and resetting your airbag lights. Technicians will ensure that the electrical system is functioning correctly, and there is no risk for failed deployment in the future. Your seat belts will be checked thoroughly as well, to make sure that you are safe at all times when you’re on the road. In some instances, your seat belt webbing may have been pulled beyond its capacity, so it will need to be replaced as well.
Conclusion
Airbags are an effective component of supplemental restraint systems that saves thousands of drivers and passengers from serious injury or death each year. Its intricate electrical system ensures proper deployment of the airbag after a frontal collision. If your airbag deploys or your airbag light is on for some reason, professional SRS technicians can help reset your airbag module.
More than 200,000 customers entrust Seat Belt Restore with their airbag module reset, seat belt repair, and seat belt webbing replacement services each year. We offer a 24-hour turnaround on all reset services. Contact us today for all your airbag and seat belt needs!