Nobody wants to have their car breaking down in the middle of the road. While being unsure about the condition of our cars can be acceptable for older cars, modern cars are equipped with a myriad of lights and warnings that tell the car owner if something is wrong.
The idea is pretty simple. When the low fuel light goes on, it means you need to top off as soon as possible if you want to keep your car running. But what if something so random light up? Like let’s say, your airbag warning light. What should you do and what does it mean? We will be discussing what the airbag warning light is for, why it lights up, and what you can do to solve this problem.
Understanding the Airbag Warning Light
When your airbag warning light is on for more than 10 seconds – there’s no mistaking it. Something is wrong with the airbag mechanism. While it may not be quite clear why it’s on, you can assume that it may not work properly when you need it to.
Depending on your car, the airbag light is the SRS (supplemental restraint system) light. Normally, the SRS light along with other dashboard lights light up for around 5 seconds when you start the car. This is some sort of “self-checking” diagnostic to make sure everything is working fine. However, if the light stays on for more than 10 seconds and persists as you drive then it might have failed the self-test and is showing an error.
There are two main reasons why the srs/airbag warning light stays on: a worn-out airbag clock spring, or a faulty module. Let’s discuss each and find out how we can address the issues.
Worn Out Airbag Spring
The airbag mechanism inside your car is made up of the airbag, a module, electrical wiring, and a clock spring. Somewhere between the electrical wiring and clock spring are circuit bands that get damaged over time. This damage can send an “error” to the module which ends up in the airbag warning light lighting up.
Faulty Control Module
Underneath the seat of your car, you can find the control module for the SRS. When this module gets exposed to water, it gets faulty and may send an error code to the central ECU.
Why and How To Fix Your Airbag Warning Light
When you have your airbag warning light one, you might not be automatically worried about anything. However, knowing that either the coil spring or module is damaged will make you realize one very important thing. That when an accident happens, your SRS/airbag may not work as intended. As we all know, the airbag/SRS exists to lessen any damage you might suffer in the event of an accident. When your module is faulty, the airbag might not deploy in time.
If the airbag warning light on your car lights up even after the self-test and you feel like something is wrong, go and visit your trusted mechanic right away. Most of the time, the cost of fixing problems like these are nothing to the damage a faulty airbag/SRS system will cause.
If your car has similar problems in Atlanta, go and visit T3 Atlanta right away. T3 Atlanta services all Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, and Infinity cars. Our mechanics can do a thorough check of your car to eliminate any issues that can cause problems in the future.
We always tell our clients that the suspension system in your car works similarly to the joints and to a certain extent your bones. It’s what keeps you upright and helps cushion your every step. Have you ever seen somebody with joint problems? It’s just like in cars. If your suspension has problems it becomes harder to move properly.
3. A Rough Drive
7. Difficulty in Steering
Located in Northern Georgia, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is a must-see destination for sightseers, bird watchers, hikers, and fall foliage photographers alike.
No fall foliage list is complete without mentioning the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic road starts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and winds 469 miles all the way to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Is the shop clean and tidy, or is it messy and disorganized?
What certifications/training do your mechanics have? (And, is their training up-to-date?)
Newer vehicles are equipped with airbags that do not expire, or at least, not quite. The airbags are designed to last for the life of the vehicle.
Older vehicles generally feature airbags that work on a different system – if they have airbags at all. The first airbags appeared in the 1970’s. With the technology being so new, manufacturers at the time were uncertain how long airbags could last and still be effective.
Buying a car is an investment, so it’s important that you do your research before you buy. The more informed you are, the better equipped you are to spot problems with candidates.
In addition to these more general research points, you should also take an in-depth look at the specific vehicle you plan to purchase. A car that has a lot of repairs, especially if they appear to be for the same thing, is at an increased chance at being a potential lemon.
While you may not be able to identify mechanical problems on your own, a visual inspection can still tell you a lot about the car. Check the inside and outside of the car to look for engine, structural, and water damage that can cause long-term problems. Of these, water damage is by far the worst from a long-term cost standpoint. After all, water and mechanical parts don’t mix!
After-market accessories like mufflers, electronics, speakers, or other electrical system add-ons might sound attractive, but there are a lot of hidden dangers with these neat extras.
There’s nothing like the excitement of new car ownership crashing to a stop because of an unexpected repair bill. T3 Atlanta recommends that you have any vehicle that you are strongly considering inspected before you buy. If the dealer you’re planning to shop with refuses to let the vehicle be inspected by an independent mechanic, that’s a red flag you should not ignore.
It’s possible that an overly enthusiastic pull on your parking brake can cause it to become stuck. In this case, the parking brake has become clamped against the brake shoes too hard and may actually require a professional to unstick.
Ice can actually freeze your parking brake in place. While this isn’t a common problem in the Atlanta area, it’s a possibility to keep in mind if you’re traveling out of town during cold weather.
There are a lot of fluids in your car at a given time: transmission fluid, oil, brake fluid, and coolant, to name a few. Transmission fluid often appears dark, slick, and shiny like oil, but unlike oil, it usually has a burnt smell. Leaking transmission fluid generally appears around the front or middle of where your car is parked.
Gear slippage refers to a few different possible symptoms. These directly impact how your car performs. In turn, they can lead to safety issues if your engine performance means you cannot respond promptly to changes in traffic.
The exhaust system filters emissions that are produced by the engine, but it also helps dampen the noise produced by the engine itself. If your engine is making a considerable amount of noise, or if your muffler doesn’t seem to be dampening noise like it used to, your exhaust system may be suspect.
When working properly, your exhaust system should prevent against a noticeable amount of exhaust smells.
The exhaust system is constantly exposed to the road, making it vulnerable to external damage from rain, snow, potholes, debris, and salt corrosion. Unless you happen to have a car lift in your garage, it’s not always easy to detect when damage has happened to the bottom of your vehicle.
Automotive oil reservoirs are designed to hold a bit of extra oil to compensate for fluid expansion in warm conditions, and to help prevent damage to the engine in case excessive oil is added to the engine. As a result, half a quart may not cause any damage to your engine, but much more than that could lead to engine damage.
The most important thing to do when your car has been overfilled with oil is to drain the excess amount in the reservoir before you drive the vehicle again.
