Quote:
Originally Posted by gl1674
For each airbag there are two pairs of acceleration sensors:
- 2 sensors in the control module
- 2 sensors on the perimeter (quarter panels)
In order for an airbag to deploy at least 1 sensor of each pair has to signal.
This is done intentionally - two are used to avoid false triggering if one of the sensors gives a false signal, and to trigger in an accident if one of the sensors malfunctions and does not signal at all.
The sensors are effectively weights on a spring. They are cylindrical objects rolled in a spring roll. If acceleration is above the threshold, the spring unrolls.
They are one-shot; the spring is not designed to return back to the original position. It means that after an airbag fired, all sensors and the airbag control unit have to be replaced ($$$).
Whether the forward airbags will still work after a lateral one has deployed - they may not and you don't want them to.
The control unit will fail self-check at power up and may go into failure lockout (to prevent accidental firing). In any case the remaining sensors may have partially unwound and be very close to triggering the front airbags on a small bump.
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Excellent info, thank you very much. I'm not exactly concerned about the expense, because the kid's insurance company is taking care of it all. It was his fault.
Looking at the estimate, the airbag parts are expensive, and I noticed they are replacing the controller and all sensors.
It looks like we'll have a two-week wait for the shop that we want to do the work. I think they're worth that wait, and in the meantime the kid's insurance company will pay for a rental while we wait. We're going to have that rental for at least six weeks - the shop estimated 18 days for repair, but of course it'll take longer. That's too long of an estimate to be very precise.