H2

Anyone know of a relatively recent wreck of the 928 in which the air bags worked or didn't work? Just wondering if they can still be depended on. I know there are those who say "no" but I wonder what the real record is?

Harvey

Nicole

Saw a 90 GT a few months ago where the airbags had deployed. Both of them.

heinrich

They work fine.

JPTL

IIRC in '91, Porsche put replacement of both bags on the maintenance list after 10 years. I'm guessing that since the bags' lifespan and the r&d was in its infancy in '91, Porsche didn't want to take any chances.
My attitude is either they'll work or they won't. We can only keep the sensor circuitry working correctly, but as far as proper deployment, there's not much us bag-equipped drivers can do about it... even if we knew the answer. I shudder to think of the cost of Porsche installing new bags & whatever other components that should be replaced after 15 years.
I hope the hell I never find out the answer to your question first hand....

IcemanG17

I wonder how much the dealer would charge for that!

RyanPerrella

OT

If you really want to know you can do what the charachter Tracy Jordan does in the NBC show 30 Rock. When he was bored waiting around he came up with this idea, "I know, lets crash my car and see if the airbags work!"

JHowell37

Airbag systems are so simple, I find it hard to imagine them ever needing replacement unless they were deployed.

Andre Hedrick

Yes this forum is very active

danglerb

I've heard the air bags do all kinds of damage when they deploy, wreck the dash, blow out windshields. I know they help even with seatbelts on, but i am not so sure I want them to deploy unless I was really going to smack hard.

The mental worst case video I get isn't too pretty, 928 does that amazing brakes stuff, just barely taps into something and KABLAM.

Airbags are supposed to be replaced after so many years in all cars, but so far I haven't heard anything about anybody actually doing it.

morganabowen

The damn things better work, I just paid $500 to replace one of sensors that was lighting up my digital dash

JPTL

After dealing with that nagging Airbag Fault light for years, I decided to fix it once and for all. After DR gave me a fault code w/his Hammer, I was ready to replace my PS sensor, but decided to do a little contact cleaning as a first step. Thanks to invaluable advice from DocMirror & Ed Scherer, I found the sensor connectors, did the cleaning & it did the trick. No need for a new sensor, and no faults for a year now.

H2

I turned one of the world's two largest air bag systems manufacturers last summer (they also make them for Porsche, Bently, Rolls, Chevy, etc.) and I was told that TODAY's bag deployment systems will never go bad for the life of the car (don't know how to define that). At any rate, the triggering system is totally sealed and protected and the propellant has an indefinite life). However, the danger (apparently) is that the bag material is protected from sticking together by a powder. I'm guessing that if it got damp it might not work properly? At any rate, the person I talked with could not say that the early air bag systems would be as reliable as today's. It would seem that, if the bag system hasn't been subjected to harsh environment, and all components still have integrity, they certainly should work. However, if relays are involved....and moisture somehow go to it.....that could be another 928 possible gremlin.

Harvey

H2

In previous email "toured..." not "turned." Spell check works...brain doesn't.

H2

ROG100

I feel pretty confident mine will work.
If there is any problem with the circuit or system the hammer would tell you.

Jim R.

Only one real way to find out if they work though. Old airbags, sensors, and the damage inflicted to the car on deployment made it an easy choice for me to go with an '89. A 15 mph hit could total an average S4 if the airbags deploy, take out the windshield and whatever sheetmetal/nose damage. I feel pretty safe with a properly adjusted seatbelt without the high velocity "pillows" as a backup.

Just my unsolicited opinion.

Jim