If you’ve driven a car or any other kind of automobile vehicle for a significant amount of time, then you probably already know what airbags are. Airbags protect a car’s occupants from injuries by inflating extremely quickly during a collision, absorbing the energy released by the impact.
These implements save people’s lives. According to an article published by the Health Science Journal, airbags can reduce mortality rates of high-speed collisions by 50% when used with seatbelts. As such, it’s vital to ensure that your airbags are always in good condition to ensure that it will deploy when you need it!
Why is my airbag light on?
Your car contains a built-in warning system that tells you if any of your car’s components are experiencing issues through light-up icons on your dashboard. When starting up your vehicle, most of these lights will light up momentarily on your dashboard as your car’s computer goes through all of them.
Every car is a little different, but cars usually have icons for engine oil, temperature, anti-lock brake systems, and door locks. If everything is in order, all of these lights should go down when the system finishes booting up. However, if any of these lights, including your airbag light, remains on, then it’s a good indication that your vehicle needs checking!
Here are four possible reasons why your airbag light is on, each of which will require different approaches to resolve it.
- Faulty components
Different airbag components can sometimes fail, especially if you’ve been using the car for quite some time. Some errors could also be a production issue, which means that a faulty airbag was installed on your vehicle. This is especially true if your car is less than a year old and has never been in an accident.
If your car was bought brand new recently, then contact your dealer immediately. If not, it’s best to have it checked with a garage for safety!
- Seatbelt not engaged
Sometimes, car manufacturers use one icon to indicate seatbelt engagement and airbag deployment. Check your seatbelt and ensure that it snaps securely into the buckle and stays in place. If that doesn’t solve your problem, it’s also possible that the issue lies with the seat belt buckle’s sensors.
- Water damage
Corrosion doesn’t just damage the exterior of your car; it can also wreak havoc with your internal warning systems. Water damage due to flooding can cause corrosion on your crash sensors, which will impede its ability to function correctly. This, in turn, can also cause your airbag light to light up.
- Deactivated airbag due to prior accidents
Airbags are designed to deploy in collisions involving minimum speeds of anywhere from 8 mph to 14 mph. This means that even minor collisions, such as a small fender bender, can cause the airbags to deploy.
Fortunately, airbags can be replaced at your local garage. If your airbag light continues to light up even after a replacement, it means that whoever replaced your airbag missed one vital step. To turn that airbag light off, you will need to get an airbag module reset.
Conclusion
Airbags are a crucial safety feature that you should not take for granted. A fully-functional airbag that deploys right on time may help you and your passengers survive an accident in the event of a collision. If your airbag light is on, you must take it to your dealer or a garage and have it serviced immediately!
Safety Restore is here to ensure that your car is safe to drive even after surviving an accident. Our service includes airbag module resets, seat belt repairs, webbing replacements, and more. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
