One of the most critical safety features in any car is the airbag system. Whether it is a sudden break or a collision, airbags are there to cushion the impact to minimize the risk of serious injuries or death.
If you are reading this, we can safely assume that your vehicle’s airbag light is blinking. Not sure what it means? A flashing airbag light might mean that something is wrong with your airbag system, which can hinder its ability to work correctly when an emergency or an accident happens.
To fix a flashing airbag light, you will need to find out what the problem the airbag system is facing. Here is the list of possible causes of a problematic airbag system and what you can do to fix it.
- The airbag’s control module is corroded
In most cars, the airbag’s control module is located under the driver or front passenger’s seat. The reason the control module has corroded is likely because of water seeping into the module. If it does not look corroded, the water may have caused the internals to short out. Either way, when the system detects that the control module has been damaged, the airbag light will flash. To fix this problem, you will need to replace the airbag control module as soon as possible.
- The airbag’s clock spring is damaged
Inside your car’s steering wheel is a clock spring. This spring’s job is to ensure that the connection from the steering wheel to the vehicle’s electrical systems, such as the airbags, remains intact. Over time, this clock spring can become damaged, resulting in a flashing airbag light.
This is a hard problem to catch since it is hidden away out of sight. To identify whether the flashing light is caused by the clock spring, you will need to send the vehicle to the repair shop. There, the technicians will analyze the possible problems that are causing the flashing light. If it is the clock spring that is causing the issue, they will fix it immediately.
- The airbag’s battery is dead
Your airbag has a backup battery to keep the system powered at all times. However, this battery does not last forever, and after some time, it is going to deplete and die. While this does not happen too often, it is generally caused by the draining of the car’s main battery. To fix this problem, all you need to do is fully recharge your car. If the problem persists, you need a scan tool to correct the error inside the code itself.
Conclusion
If you are unsure how you can fix your airbag lights or check what the problem is, do not hesitate to send your vehicle to a repair shop. The earlier you fix the problem, the faster you can get rid of that annoying flashing light, and the safer you will be when driving on the road.
Remember, your airbag system needs to be in perfect condition to save you from injury or worse, and the last thing you want to end up with is an airbag that fails to deploy because of a problem you have ignored.
Also, if your airbag has already deployed, having it replaced immediately is a must! They are a one-time-use device, and ensuring that they are replaced will help you enjoy safety when driving.
Safety Restore is your one-stop-shop for post-accident restorations, offering services such as seat belt repairs and airbag replacements. If you need professionals in Westfield to service your airbags, contact us today
