Recalls

[ZfrkS62]

i've never had a vehicle new enough to have a recall

but i've performed a few

[nthfinity]

I wonder what mechanism they use to disable? Does the turn of the key take away the supply voltage from the airbag or what? Would be nice to know.

i dont think so, since even a static charge can set off an airbag.

usually its gold connectors that arm/disarm the airbag... so turning the key might be separating two gold conductors.... or perhaps a transistor where its either on (connected) or off... i dono

[ZfrkS62]

all the switch does is create a ground signal in the the passenger side airbag sensor circuit telling the unit that the airbag is not to be triggered in the event of a crash.

BMW and Mercedes both have Occupancy Detection Mats in the passenger seats that map the weight distribution of the passenger. If the values are below a certain threshold, it is interpreted that the passenger is too small, in a baby seat, or a pet and deactivates the passenger side airbags.

I'm sure there are other companies using this system as well, but i don't know who.

[T-Bird]

Originally Posted by ZfrkS62 all the switch does is create a ground signal in the the passenger side airbag sensor circuit telling the unit that the airbag is not to be triggered in the event of a crash. BMW and Mercedes both have Occupancy Detection Mats in the passenger seats that map the weight distribution of the passenger. If the values are below a certain threshold, it is interpreted that the passenger is too small, in a baby seat, or a pet and deactivates the passenger side airbags. I'm sure there are other companies using this system as well, but i don't know who.

We've got the same thing at Acura. they even turn off for some smaller adults mainly women.

[RC45]

Originally Posted by T-Bird Originally Posted by ZfrkS62 all the switch does is create a ground signal in the the passenger side airbag sensor circuit telling the unit that the airbag is not to be triggered in the event of a crash. BMW and Mercedes both have Occupancy Detection Mats in the passenger seats that map the weight distribution of the passenger. If the values are below a certain threshold, it is interpreted that the passenger is too small, in a baby seat, or a pet and deactivates the passenger side airbags. I'm sure there are other companies using this system as well, but i don't know who. We've got the same thing at Acura. they even turn off for some smaller adults mainly women.

Which demonstrates that the "airbag" is a load of crap and gives a false sense of security and should be removed completely.

Period.

The day racing cars come with airbags, is the day they become valid as safety devices in my mind.

I say again - any device that slams into your face at close to superconic speed is not good.. and is there to protect the manufacturer, not the operator.

It would be a different story if airbags were used in conjuciton with say helmets, shoulder harnesses, rollcages and fire suits... but they are not.

Airbags as a concept are as dumb as using a neck brace and spinal protector instead of a parachute while skydiving.

[c0wb0y007]

In the USA these airbags pop out with even a higher velocity than here in Europe, reason being; That in the US people don't tend to wear seatbelts, so the airbag has to be more powerful to stop an entire body instead of a head only

I have heard that because of that fact lots of small children who are sitting on the passenger seat break their neck when they "collide" with the airbag.


Cheers

[RC45]

Originally Posted by c0wb0y007 In the USA these airbags pop out with even a higher velocity than here in Europe, reason being; That in the US people don't tend to wear seatbelts,

Of course you are joking right?

Originally Posted by c0wb0y007 so the airbag has to be more powerful to stop an entire body instead of a head only

You have to be joking... right?

Originally Posted by c0wb0y007 I have heard that because of that fact lots of small children who are sitting on the passenger seat break their neck when they "collide" with the airbag. Cheers

Uhm - this is not exactly a US only phenomena.. otherwise mojo wouldn't be holding a recall notice... yah?

[nthfinity]

c0wb0y007 wrote: In the USA these airbags pop out with even a higher velocity than here in Europe, reason being; That in the US people don't tend to wear seatbelts, Of course you are joking right? c0wb0y007 wrote: so the airbag has to be more powerful to stop an entire body instead of a head only You have to be joking... right?

whoa, so it's not law to wear seatbelts? all these click it or ticket campaigns are for nought?

[RC45]

Originally Posted by mrmojo77 I think airbags have proved themself as a functional protection, but for sure they are not just a gentle slap in the face. I still prefer a bag full or air before a steering wheel.

I tend to disagree.

Airbags have only seemed 'proved funcitonal' protection when not wearing seatbelts.

Functioning seatbelts will prevent your face from hitting the steering wheel.

Have you seen the eye injuries airbags can deliver to glasses wearers?

Why do you think they have been toning down the deployment force over the years - because the injury the bag delivers is worse than when you don't have the bag.

For me that is sufficient proof bags do not need to be there.

They haven't loosened seat belst over the years to minimize "seat belt injuries" - which means seat belts injure you less than the alternatiuve - which is no seat belt.

Airbags on the other hand are a problem - how much of a problem? They can kill you if you neck is misaligned or bent forward - they can kill you if you are a"woman or small built man or child"..

So - there we have it - NOT having airbags is less dangerous than having airbags.

Why do I say so?

Simple.

If you are a small woman or child in the seat - they TURN OFF THE AIRBAG!!!!!! -- This means they have confidence the seat belt will be sufficient to NOT kill you.

Therefore, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that airbags are MORE dangerous tahn the alternative - which is NO airbags..

[sentra_dude]

I agree with RC on this one, airbags are really just a subsitute for people who are too stupid to wear a seatbelt. Airbags may help in some cases, but they kill in others... I'm not sure if this is correct, but how I understand it is, car makers adopted airbags to get around having to fit those horrid automatic seatbelts we had in the late 80s/early 90s. Airbags apparently serve the same purpose...the driver of the car has to do NOTHING to be protected in a crash.

I can't believe we need laws for people to put seatbelts on in this country...how stupid can you be to not want to wear a seatbelt? Ok, enough ranting lol.

[c0wb0y007]

RC45,

I'm not joking, not really. I have seen a documentary on the telly some time ago. It was about the evolution of the car and it's safety systems. The speaker said that the percentage of seatbelt-wearing people in the US is significant lower than in Europe I do find that a funny statement and it sounds logic that that is the reason why there's a difference in the strength of the airbag. Anyway, for as far as I know I don't know whether that's the truth or not. It sounds reasonable to me I don't tend to give these statements and quotes much of a thought. I don't care whether it's the truth or not.
The thing was that the documentary in general was cool. Lots of funny things appeared in it.
For example; back in the 70ties a certain model by Ford had a flashy alloy strip mounted on the dash, the thing was that with a head-on collision nine out of ten the strip popped off of the dash and became a razorsharp cutting object. Lots of kids who sat in the passenger seat got decapited by these.

Further on, I don't say I disagree with the statements which have been made earlier on by all.
I'm convinced of the fact that all these systems give people a false feeling of safety. Especially with ABS, you would be amazed how many peeps think that it reduces your braking distance.
Personaly, I think that we should get a better driving education than we get now. They should tell people more technical things in a way, it doesn't have to be that difficult though. Because it isn't.
I took a one week course, then I took the theoretic test ... it was a joke ... might be the reason why I'm a crap ass driver
Please tell me if I'm wrong, but according to me that on itself takes 6 months in Germany.

Speaking of Germany, tomorrow morning around 5 o'clock I will set sail to Germania 8) I need a shot of "Nurburgring" straight into my veins.


Cheers