Spontaneous Airbag Deployment!!

I wonder who sources the airbag module in 355's?

http://cbs2chicago.com/investigations/local_story_038190628.html

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1559101

 

It happened in my wife's brand new Volvo (98 model, I think). Total P.O.S. Sold the car a few months later and never looked back.

 

Either Becker-TRW or just plain TRW.

 

I have never heard of a deployment outside of what I refer to as "an act of human intervention", in other words, a screw up. That is what I would expect to find in this case. A misguided attempt at disconnection or a poor modification of the cars electronics.

 

That is very scary.

 

I wonder if this is going to become a more common problem as air bag systems age in the 1st and 2nd generation cars so equipped...

 

I heard a story once that an airbag went off while a guy was driving and pinned his hands to the roof or something, then he crashed straight after. It was in some type of Holden Commendore.

 

This is exactly why I have had my air bags defeated.

I do not want any surprises such as this or to have my sight or reflexes disabled by deploying air bags if there is an incident.

This is also another very good reason to ensure that when one sells his vehicle that he has a competent bill of sale executed!

 

Actually after rereading the orig post Ferrari is probably off the hook too because the air bags are scheduled for replacement at 10 years.

 

So where do we buy the early 1995 Euro 355 glovebox that fits in where the expired airbag used to go?


JM

 

Sorry to get off subject, but you had your attorney draft the bill of sale?

What is this world coming to....can't one just say on blank date car with VIN was sold for x to y as is, no recourse... and both parties sign?

 

ME TOO! Brand new 1993 top of the line no customer support so I sold it ans will never buy another one. Volvo worst car on the market mine could not make it out of warranty.

 

Of course you can but there is more to a proper B of S than just the wording you mentioned and what you mentioned may not suffice!

And the incompletness of this wording can cause the buyer and the seller a whole host of problems.

What's the world coming to? Absolutely nothing.

A proper B of S is a prudent tool.

 

Her's was a S70 Wagon I think. It sure seemed like a nice car the day we bought it. From there.... all downhill.


When the airbag blew, I was sitting in the driveway. I had just sat down in the drivers seat, door was open, and heard this shotgun blast. I was so scared that I dove from the car and onto the driveway... thinking that I was being shot at. Once I cleaned my pants, I looked at the car to see what happened. The side impact bags had fired, but the bags didn't deploy! There was a white residue on everything and the plastic fasica on the B-pillar that housed the airbag was blown off completely. (I guess this was before Volvo devided to put the bags into the seats themselves?) The interior of the car literally smelled like a skeet range -- a gunpowder like smell for sure.

With the "airbag" light now glowing on the dash board, I took it back to the dealer and said, "WTF mates?". They said, "Oh, your warranty covers that... so we'll just install new ones".

UM, DUDE, it's not about the warranty!! I could have been killed if this happend while the car was in motion!

Anyway, sold the POS and bought a terrific E39 wagon.

 

Daniel,

What you were smelling was perchlorate.

That's what is used in rocket fuel, and it's carcinogenic. Can you believe that!

So, for all of you who feel your government is protecting you by requiring air bags, consider what Daniel said as well as others who have received the wrath of air bags deploying. And consider the children that have been killed by air bags!

Remember, your government authorized the perchlorate as the explosive accelerant, because it's used in their rockets!

Disable those air bags.

Daniel, remember that your BMW has air bags, too!

 

Good news? I sold the big 7 series a few weeks ago. I loved the car, but it made me crazy. I washed it, waxed it, babied it.... but never drove it! In the last 12 months, I put less than 1500 miles on it. It went to a very very good home.

To be honest, my crappy little Saturn SL has been better than $50,000 of psychotherapy. I leave it outside. I put cheap gas in it. I never wash it. I let the dog ride with me. It's a rolling crap-pile. I never change the oil, etc. etc. I bought the car from a fellow Fchatter as a joke for $1000 over a year ago. It runs like a champ and gets 38mpg. Quite honestly, this little Saturn has made me realize what a nut-case I'd become during the last 25 years of cars.


Bad news? The Saturn has a single airbag. BUT, the mouse-driven seat belts work GREAT!

 

I was on the phone with a client several years ago when the call just went dead (like on a dropped call). I got in touch with the client two days later. He was not paying attention, ran a red light, and t-boned a car going about 50 mph. The child in the back seat of the other car was in pretty bad condition. My client's arm was broken by the airbag deploying. Luckily both got better. My client now refuses to ride in a car with the driver on a cell phone. I would say you should feel good that your bags deployed while the car was stationary, Dan. My mom had an old 240 wagon that was like a tank (pre-airbags). Too bad the brand has gone down hill.
BT

 

Daniel.................I don't think that what you were "SMELLING" was perchlorate...............EHEHEHEHEHEHEH.............Cognitive distortion...........EHEHE
.

 

I once wrecked a car because I was dailing a cellphone and driving at the same time. Cured me--I turn off my cell phone when I get in the car. I have spent a lot of time in Germany where the traffic laws are very strict--and in my view appropriate. If I had been driving per German law I would not have wrecked!

 

I disable the airbags on all my cars. I know it's supposed to be safer having them. But I can't get over having a rocket motor pointed at my face while driving.