When it comes to the safety features of your car, one of the most crucial of these features is your airbag. This is why when it is essential that you have your car checked if the airbag light suddenly turns on. When your car’s airbag light turns on without any reason, it is a good idea to keep a watchful eye on them.
The ABS lights on your dashboards serve as warning lights. If they suddenly flash or turn on, this may be a sign of something happening in the inner workings of your car that should not be. When your airbags are working as they should, the lights should be off and show no indication on your dashboard. So what should you do if yours flash on without warning?
Resetting Your Airbag Lights (With or Without a Scanner)
If you suddenly notice your airbag lights turn on, it may be a good idea to try resetting your airbags to make the light shut off. Here are a few need-to-know facts about your airbags that you may want to know before you get started on trying to do a DIY fix and check on your airbags.
How Do Airbags Work?
Having working airbags can be the difference between life or death if your car hits another speeding car on the road. When your car is hit, a mechanism will force an explosion to occur inside your airbags, releasing harmless gas and inflating the airbags. This will act as a cushion to your face and head during the collision. If your airbags are not able to deploy, you risk having your head collide with your steering wheel and causing serious damage.
How to Reset Your Airbag Light with a Scanner
The first thing you need to do is check if your car has an on/off airbag switch, which is usually found inside the glove box. If there is no switch or if it does not return to normal, you may have to fix the problem yourself. Look into the trouble codes with an OBD2 scanner to see where to start your troubleshooting. Read the information and continue with your diagnostics. If you discover that your airbag needs replacing, it may be a good idea to contact a professional to help you.
If you do not have a scanner…
It may be impossible to repair or even run diagnostics on your car’s airbag problem without a scanner. Although, for older car models, you may be able to reset the airbag light by removing the car battery terminals. However, keep in mind that even if the airbag light does turn off, there may be a lingering problem that needs to be attended to.
Bringing your car to an airbag specialist is always a good idea. Airbag lights indicate a problem, and it’s smart to have a professional examine all possibilities prior to taking your vehicle out on the road once again.
Conclusion
When your car’s dashboard lights flash or turn on, there is something that your car is trying to tell you. It may be easy to ignore these warnings; however, keep in mind that these lights are there for a reason. If your airbag lights turn on, it is best to try and look into fixing the problem yourself or getting your car checked by a trained mechanic to ensure that the issue gets fixed before you take your car out for a drive.
Make sure your car has all its safety features and that they are all functioning properly! If you need a skilled mechanic or seatbelt and airbag expert, contact Seat Belt Restore. We provide custom color seat belts, seat belt repair after accidents and SRS airbag module reset in Westfield. Get the help of a professional and fix your airbag light today!