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Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 23:22:53 -0500
From: "Chris Thurrott" <scullynopsamltranet.comnospam>
Subject: Re: Who said Bentley was so good?


Justin: Forgive my ignorance. I guess we're both half right about power (capacitors could fire the bag, but they are charged by the 12 V battery). The Saturn (I think) has a similar system. I'm more worried about somehow accidentally shorting across the sensor, thus triggering the airbag. Unlikely I grant you, but possible. My physique definitely is not impressive enough to trigger an airbag on its own (although I seem to have blown a little hot air on this subject). Best regards, Chris This message was sent by either: Chris Thurrott _or_ Kris D'Anci scully at ma dot ultranet dot com remove "nospam" from our e-mail address to send a reply ---------- In article <363ECAE1.56CEnopsamnet>, Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> wrote: >Chris Thurrott wrote: >> >> Justin: >> >> Have you considered that some wise Swedish engineers may have included a >> separate power source for the airbag? In case that the battery cable gets >> severed in an accident? Just maybe? >> >> Your statement that if the bag isn't getting power it can't go off is >> correct, but I am fairly certain that the airbag is able to fire without >> power from the main 12V battery. My '93 Saturn certainly can. I think >> you've just been lucky not to trip the SRS sensor so far. >> >> This message was sent by either: >> Chris Thurrott _or_ Kris D'Anci >> scully at ma dot ultranet dot com >> remove "nospam" from our e-mail address to send a reply > > >No. I am fairly familiar with the electrical systems in Saabs, >and I know the airbag cannot detonate without the main 12v >power supply. At least they're not supposed to. That said, >I've been told by Ywan Mason that the capacitors in the air >bag ECU can store energy for *quite* some time after power >has been totally killed and thus it's wise to be careful. > >Furthermore, I don't know about Saturns, but in a Saab the >airbag will not deploy unless the car is "on" - hence my >warning to BE SURE the ignition is off and remains off >through the course of the operation. This info comes from >both Ywan Mason and my own mechanic, a 27-year Saab mechanic. > >Finally, I would go so far as to say that an airbag that >would spontaneously deploy due to handling would be a >PITIFULLY bad design. The airbag is designed to deploy >if and when the car contacts another solid object while >moving along at a certain minimal velocity (5 or 15 mph, >I cannot remember) - and only then. If handling it or >unplugging it was that great of a risk, driving over >choppy pavement or off a curb by accident could cause >the bag to deploy and that would be a serious hazard. I >think those wise Swedish engineers know better than that. > >The airbag unit is a very safe, very refined, and very >stable unit. Unplugging it and/or handling it cannot >and will not cause it to deploy, and I must say you'd have >to have a pretty impressive physique to trip an SRS sensor >by yourself... > >-Justin

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