Safety of old airbags?
02-17-2004, 05:03 PM
#1
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Safety of old airbags?
This recently came up in another post...how safe (or unsafe) are the 20 year old airbags in our cars? Is there any evidence that age causes them to either not go off when needed, or, to go off at random?
02-17-2004, 05:20 PM
#2
Race Director
Ive never heard of them going off, but...when something like that is 20 years old right in front of your face or your passengers face..I personally dont trust it anymore. And if I had airbags in my 944 I would have them removed. Im lucky that I have an 86..dont have em and have a nice non airbag dash 
02-17-2004, 05:24 PM
#3
Race Car
Aren't the airbags filled with some powder? And after 20 years or so, this powder mixes with moisture creating a sort of cement? Don't know where I heard that though...
02-17-2004, 05:54 PM
#4
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Good question. I looked on Google briefly and didn't find much. All I found was it looks like there's a few auto manufactures that say to replace the airbag after 10 or 15 years. However they just error on the side of safety. They can say to replace your airbags and respective electronics every ten years and they're off the hook if by chance they don't deploy.
Cars our age with air bags are few and far between, so there doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there. But what does exist says that we should all be fine.
I also found this...kinda interesting.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/airbag.htm
Cars our age with air bags are few and far between, so there doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there. But what does exist says that we should all be fine.
I also found this...kinda interesting.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/airbag.htm
02-17-2004, 06:01 PM
#5
Steve, that avatar is a really nice picture of you! Did you get any wallet sized to pass out to friends?
Regards,
Regards,
02-17-2004, 06:07 PM
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That cement bit is bull however I can provide you with this, I was and still am involved in body shops. It's a first gen system falsing is rare. That is them going off w/out reason. However as the wiring ages it begins to deteriorate which is bad this will introduce resistance into the already sensitive circuit. I have also seen them not go off when they are supposed to. 1st hand experience 87 951 in 1992. On my de car I removed them along with the abs. Also I don't know how much i trust them on the street. after xx number of yrs just my opinion.
02-17-2004, 06:07 PM
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That cement bit is bull however I can provide you with this, I was and still am involved in body shops. It's a first gen system falsing is rare. That is them going off w/out reason. However as the wiring ages it begins to deteriorate which is bad this will introduce resistance into the already sensitive circuit. I have also seen them not go off when they are supposed to. 1st hand experience 87 951 in 1992. On my de car I removed them along with the abs. Also I don't know how much i trust them on the street. after xx number of yrs just my opinion.
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02-17-2004, 06:11 PM
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Re: Safety of old airbags?
Originally posted by AndyK
This recently came up in another post...how safe (or unsafe) are the 20 year old airbags in our cars? Is there any evidence that age causes them to either not go off when needed, or, to go off at random?
This recently came up in another post...how safe (or unsafe) are the 20 year old airbags in our cars? Is there any evidence that age causes them to either not go off when needed, or, to go off at random?
02-17-2004, 08:11 PM
#12
Three Wheelin'
This site seems to think that airbags can be safe and reliable after 20 years. The propellant is sodium azide (solid rocket fuel), which is apparently very stable. The powder in the airbags is either corn starch or talc, which is used as a lubricant.
I don't know about the wiring of the trigger system, though. If it is anything like the rest of the wiring in our cars, we probably have no fears of them ever going off.
I don't know about the wiring of the trigger system, though. If it is anything like the rest of the wiring in our cars, we probably have no fears of them ever going off.
02-17-2004, 08:43 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
I am interested in removing the air bags on my '87 951. when I replace the steering wheel is there any difference in the splines etc from a non airbag 944, 951, 968 if I choose to install a Sparco or similar aftermarket wheel.
If Rally Guy is out there he can have the first shot at my current wheel as I am now prepared to part with it.
If Rally Guy is out there he can have the first shot at my current wheel as I am now prepared to part with it.
02-17-2004, 09:54 PM
#14
Three Wheelin'
Oh man - I PM'd you about the wheel ages ago! You ever get the photos from Rutt Hutt that I sent you?
I can resend.
Let me know by PM what you want for the wheel - I'm interested!
RK
I can resend.
Let me know by PM what you want for the wheel - I'm interested!
RK
02-17-2004, 11:01 PM
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I think I remember reading about malfunction of the early first pre-real air bags when the tried them out in 71 or 72 Cadillac’s something they used in the propellant caused burns to skin if the bag ruptured. I also remember reading how long they tested what to use from 76-82 when Mercedes first tired them in the SL and set the standard for them. I think the main reason after the first trials failed were how to make them truly safe that and the lack of interest. You also have to remember by 1987(they were not a new concept just newly used on a wide market) the system had been heavily regulated so I doubt short of them not deploying you have much to worry about.