What to do if the airbags deploy in a car: what awaits the driver

Even people who are far from the car industry know that airbags instantly deploy in the event of an accident and save the lives of those in the car. But not even all experienced drivers know what to do after they have deployed. And this is on the good side because most have never been in a situation where they might need them. Nevertheless, it's worth knowing in advance what to do after the airbags have deployed in the car.

OBOZREVATEL has collected all the information on what to do in this case. Get ready for the fact that the process will not be quick and cheap.

What happens when airbags deploy?

If a car hits an obstacle at a speed of more than 20 km/h, the system immediately activates and throws several elastic bags into the cabin. They fill up with gas very quickly and create a soft barrier between people and the car's interior. The process takes place in a matter of fractions of a second, but the entire airbag system is exhausted and cannot be reused. Therefore, it will have to be replaced with a new one during car repairs. Also, the airbag ejection damages the car's interior parts.

What is involved in replacing airbags?

First of all, the airbag module – the gas generator pyro-patron, and sometimes the airbag bags themselves – will have to be replaced. Also, the torpedo, steering wheel, seat upholstery, and ceiling may be damaged and need to be replaced or repaired in places where the airbags have been triggered. Finally, the mechanic will have to connect the new parts of the rescue system to the car's electronic control units and turn off the switch that activated it.

As you can see, the amount of work is really considerable, which means it won't come cheap. Some drivers refuse to have their airbags repaired, believing that they won't need them again. But such confidence can be costly in the future.

How to repair the damaged interior

When the SRS Airbag system is triggered, the airbags literally break through the lining of the torpedo, seats, pillars, and roof, behind which they hide when they are not needed. Accordingly, this lining will have to be restored.

The steering wheel hub cover will have to be replaced. It will be necessary to install a new or used one in good condition. If the car design does not provide a separate cover for the cushion, the entire steering wheel can be replaced. If you want to save money, you can cover the damaged part of the steering wheel with a suitable upholstery material, but such a patch will be quite noticeable.

The torpedo will also have to be restored. In the best case scenario, it will only require replacing its upper cover. More complicated repairs will require disconnecting and reconnecting the complex electronics, which are very numerous under the torpedo. This will require the work of a qualified mechanic, which is not cheap and takes a long time. An option for self-corrective repair of the corresponding damage is to cover the broken plastic with putty or paint or cover it with upholstery.

Seat cushions are usually designed to tear through the upholstery seams. Such restoration is not a big problem. If you wish, you can re-stitch this element completely, but it will cost significantly more.

There are also non-standard damages. For example, a torpedo that breaks through the cushion can break the windshield. Also, the wiring plugs and wire insulation near the pyrotechnic that triggers the safety system can melt. Therefore, a mechanic must inspect not only the place where the airbag came from but also the surrounding areas of the car before starting the repair.

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