Rock sets off 430 airbag

ROCK ON! redefined.....





sorry....

 

Well, not the first, but close. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136917

I saw Jason's scars, pretty nasty. I hope you're ok Steve.

 

Way to go redd
Hope you are ok,

 

Pretty wild.. can't wait to see the pics.

 

I can't believe the airbags went off. Props to him for just getting back in and driving.

 

Yeah, I think everyone was fine, except for that nasty bruise. Here are a few pics. Hope everyone is well.
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Wow thats pretty crazy!! Props to the owner for going on even with the damage.

 

No problem. When you get the chance check your email, there are a few shots you would like.

 

WOW....

First of all, glad to hear Steve & Jason are alright!!!!!

The other thing that immediately comes to mind was some many months ago when another F-Chatter was telling me he was having his air-bags disengaged and I thought he was insane. He explained that they cause more problems then they are worth and all sorts of other issues. I totally blew him off as nuts....but this makes me re-think the whole situation!!

What has me puzzled is why the air-bags fired. These things are controlled by a series of sensors in the front of the car...they should only deploy when the ECU gets all that input. HOW COULD A ROCK CHIP DO THIS????

I've never heard of an air-bag deploying like this......I'm sure more will come to light as the story develops. I'm sure the car was moving when it happened too, and maybe at higher speeds going through Malibu canyon, nasty! Glad nobody was badly hurt.

 

I believe he ran over a large rock which rattled the under carriage. Still it doesn't seem like this shoot set off the bags? I think the windshield was from debris that flew up after running over the rocks?

It really makes you think about putting your kid in the front seat of one of these. Jason's lacerations were pretty nasty.

 

As I understand, the airbag sensors are deep within the car sitting behind the front bumper. In order for them to "fire" the front bumper needs to be significantly compressed. By significant, they should not go off if you strike a wall at less then 15mph!

The bottom of the car has a big plate for aerodynamics, to my knowledge (and as logic follows) there are no sensors there. Same for the windshield.

This makes no sense...none at all. For the airbags to have deployed the front-end should have been pretty well smashed in as if they rear-ended a truck at 40mph or something significantly impacting.

Sorry to hear that Jason got cut-up pretty bad, I've heard of airbags doing that.

 

Did this happen while in Motion? I can't imagine trying to steer after deployment.

 

hope you all are ok! WOW! could have been worse.....jason, steve...glad you guys are ok!!!!!!!

 

First off glad Steve and Jason are ok.
As for the air bags going of, depending on the size of the rock and where it hit, it is perfectly feasible for the air bags to deploy. Anything hitting the body of he car can cause the kind of shock waves within the chassis which the control unit interprets as an accident, and depending on force can cause cause the bags to deploy in one of the stages.
The sensors behind the bumpers are crash sensors, but cannot deploy the bags on there own, they are placed there to give the SRS control unit advanced warning of an impending colision and give the unit a few milli seconds advantage in reacting.
I have seen air bags deploy because people bang of curbs and hit the body, hit parking stops, or on frt engine rear dive cars, a drive line problem which causes contact with the body making the sensors again think they are in a colision.
I did not see what happened, but sounds like the rock was just in he right place at the right time.
Just glad no one was seriously hurt.

 

Hi everyone.

Here's what happened:

I was driving along Mulholland with my passenger, Jason (Luv2detail). We were at normal speeds. All of a sudden and for no apparant reason, the airbags deployed, filled the car with what seemed like smoke (I actually thought the car was on fire). We couldn't see a thing! The airbag smashed the right passenger windshield. It looks like a big "spyder-web". I managed to pull the car to the side of the road and we both quickly got out. Jason got a bit roughed up and a little shocked.

At first we thought that it was a rock, but we hit no rocks! No nicks! No scratches. No evidence of any impact to the car whatsoever! The bottom of the car is fine. I am in total mystery as to why this would happen.

I wish to thank everyone of you on the drive for your help and concern. You are all a great group.

 

Thanks for the icewater comment.

We checked the car thoroughly and there is no gouge. Strangest thing.

 

Thanks for dropping in on this thread...I was going to call you to see what you thought. I figured you'd seen/heard/experienced more about this sort of thing and, along with your background, could explain it better.

Super-Scary to think airbags could just go off that easily. I used to worry about that, especially when the technology first came out...but I was assured they were made super-reliable and would never deploy erroneously.

I'm sure we'll hear more as this develops and details are determined. The computer, like a black-box, should indicate which sensor went-off.

Again; great control & finesse Steve, glad you are both okay!

 

It's good to know that Steve and Jason will ride again! But a most unfortunate way for them both, and the 430, to start the new year!

 

Glad that you are OK. Steve, having just returned from your house and looking at your car, I thought I would post too:

I did not see ANY sign of front-end impact on your car. No dent, scratch, gouge or even a paint chip. Keep us all posted as you figure out what caused your air-bags to deploy.

But hey, another new nickname "ICEMAN"

 

Iceman - that has a nice ring to it.

 

Yeah, it's better than 'air-bag man'