Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 23:50:02 -0600 From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.com> Subject: Re: Airbags tested on 9000
Individual states may have different requirements, but in general there is no requirement to replace or otherwise maintain air bag systems when they reach the age of 10 years. Even the annual replacement of the seat belts is just a manufacturers recommendation. Not being in the UK, I don't know exactly how the MOT works. But I find it unlikely that they would require replacement of and air bag system that could otherwise be assumed to be working. To replace the air bag system as preventative maintenance would also require replacing 3 or 4 crash sensors that have gold plated contacts and are positioned in various places (not cheap from a parts or labor standpoint) along with other air bag system components. There really isn't any point in doing this unless the Air Bag malfunction indicator is illuminated. On the other hand, if any of safety system is made non-functional due to an accident, and your car is covered by insurance for repairs (either your own or someone else's, if they are at fault) then you can get the insurance company to pay for the repairs. If they don't and you later become injured in another accident, they are subject to litigation for negligence. Unfortunately, this also makes it more likely for insurance companies to declare a car to be a total loss. Walt Kienzle 1991 9000T with 10 year old driver's air bag. "Johannes H Andersen" <johsnopsamanytime.co.uk> wrote in message news:1ec6845d.0111231620.32360730nopsaming.google.com... > "Joachim Baptist" <joachim.baptistnopsamacom.net> wrote in message news:<3bfe9fa5$0$186$ba620e4cnopsam.skynet.be>... > > I crashed my car ;-( into a wall yesterday. It wasn't at high speed and no > > one was hurt. I can now say that airbags do work. Damage i have is the > > following. Broken front glass (probably due to a glitch that was there > > allready). > > One lamp broken. > > both side signals got broken at there fixing points. > > front bumper of course and the grill. > > Also the 2 airbags exploded. > > It's a 9000 cde from 94. I went to the garage and they say that it will set > > me back something around 10.000 $ The high cost is because of the exploded > > air bags. > > Problem is that i was going to sell the car because of a big journey next > > year. Only thing i can do is try to sell it to the highest bidder and maybe > > get back some 2.000 $ max. Even if i get it fixed i will never get the money > > back out of it. > > > > Anyone an idea to what would be the best option? Can you get it fixed and > > leave the airbags out? I have been told that some do it but it is illegal > > over here in Belgium. > > > > Anything would be greatly appreciated. > > > > My 93 9000 CSE has no airbags! I'm not arguing one way or the other, > that's just the way it is, take it or leave it. Most new cars come with > at least drivers air bag, but I'm not sure if it is mandatory on new > cars in the UK. When those cars become 10 years old, chances are that > the annual MOT will require new airbags to be fitted, making cars of > that age useless? Naturally, the airbags can't be tested, so their > lifetime coincide exactly with the manufacturers assurances. The US has > had airbags for much longer, what is the requirement for replacement? > > Johannes
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