Car airbags may only have one function – to keep you safe from harm during a car accident – but they are harder to replace than you might think. Airbag configuration and deployment vary not only from model to model, but from year to year. Manufacturers are always working to improve the safety in their cars and adjusting deployment sensitivity and force. So, can car airbags be replaced?
Can Car Airbags be Replaced?
The short answer about whether car airbags can be replaced is that it depends. Some vehicles have curtain or side airbags which further complicate the question. Some newer cars even have knee or rear airbags to reduce your chances of injury during a collision.
Airbag replacement, then, is a multi-layered question. While the component can be physically replaced, you’ll need to know whether or not the rest of the affected in addition to the installation makes the vehicle as safe to drive as it was prior to your car accident. After all, your airbag isn’t the only part that is damaged during a car accident. Damaged steering wheels, steering wheel covers, and other damage to the vehicle’s interior are just a few of the things to think about when your airbag has deployed during an accident. Your replacement airbag may also need to be reprogrammed depending on the year of your vehicle.
Add to all of this the complicated question of where the replacement airbag is coming from, and you’ve got even more variables to consider. If you have to purchase a replacement airbag, then make sure you’re buying a new component and not one from a salvage yard. Parts from used cars may not be in good condition and can be damaged during the removal process.
Whether your airbag can be safely replaced depends on a multitude of factors and should be considered on a case-by-case basis. T3 Atlanta recommends that you do not attempt to replace an airbag on your own, and that you should call a certified mechanic for your safety.
Do Car Airbags Expire?
The answer to whether car airbags expire or not is more complicated than it may seem. The short answer is yes: car airbags can expire. We discuss the longer answer below.
Car Airbags in Newer Vehicles
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.
Vehicles manufactured after 1998 and after are equipped with dual front airbags, which are different than dual-stage airbags.
- Dual front airbags: Two separate airbags for the driver and passenger.
- Dual-stage airbag: A single airbag that deploys in two separate stages, improving safety for the vehicle’s occupants.
Whether your car has front, side, rear, or any other type of airbag, the airbags in newer vehicles generally won’t need to be replaced for as long as you have the vehicle.
Car Airbags in Older Vehicles
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.
Standard recommendations at the time were to have the airbag inspected every few years to ensure that the component was still in good working order. Over time, manufacturers recommended that airbags be replaced every 10 – 15 years. Even this figure depends on the condition of the car, the type of airbag, and the components used during the manufacturing process.
Replacing airbags in older cars is tricky because replacement older airbags may have expired, been removed improperly from a salvage yard, or the component itself is faulty.
Car Airbag Repair at T3 Atlanta
If you have recently been in a car accident or have an older vehicle, you may be looking to have your airbag replaced. If you have a Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, or Infiniti, call T3 Atlanta! Your safety is our top priority. We’ll consult with you and advise the best course of action to replace an airbag for your specific situation.
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.
The engine oil is most likely the car fluid you will change most often. You’ll no doubt hear a lot of differing opinion about how often your car can or should go between oil changes.
Antifreeze, also known as coolant, is a fluid that is normally topped off throughout the year – especially right before summer and winter. This essential fluid keeps your car running cool and also prevents pipes and hoses from freezing.
The power steering fluid in your vehicle ensures that you can turn your wheel easily and with little effort. Over time, this fluid may become low or need changing altogether. The biggest telltale sign is when you turn the wheel and hear a creak. The next largest sign is that it’s getting harder to turn the wheel at all.
Maybe you’ve moved away and can no longer take your car to your trusted mechanic. Maybe you have recently purchased a brand that your mechanic does not service. Whatever the reason, you’re needing repairs and not sure about the quote you received. Perhaps it’s time to get a second opinion for car maintenance.
Listen to your instinct. If you aren’t getting a good feeling about what you’re hearing, then don’t hesitate; listen to that feeling! There’s a good chance that you have that feeling for a reason. Move on to another mechanic.
No one is looking forward to the next time they need to take their car into the mechanic for service. That said, when that time does arrive, you can be assured that the team at T3 Atlanta are comprised of award-winning experts who are prepared for any customer’s vehicle problem.
The reasons for car electrical problems can be many. Your vehicle might have a loose electrical connection. A blown fuse will cause problems. Sometimes, it’s that one part of the system is constantly drawing power, even when the engine is shut off, and it slowly drains the battery.
Blown fuses: When you constantly must replace blown fuses, this indicates something in the electrical system is sending too much current through those fuses.
Pop the hood and inspect the battery. If the terminals have any white gunk or other debris on them, clean them thoroughly with a wire brush. Corrosion can bring your car’s electrical system to its knees. If that isn’t the cause, wiggle the battery cables to see if they’re loose.
Knowing when your brakes need to be replaced is a great way to avoid problems. The only thing is, you might not know or recognize the early signs. If your brakes become too warn, they might do enough damage to make it a costly repair and maybe even require professional servicing.
New Brake Pads
