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Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do?

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#41 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (DuckyGTI)

GAMEDAY:::: Last summer i was driving with my girlfriend in sc and we hit a trailer that was on the opposite side of a hill (the trailer which was heavy duty and could haul a car was from should to shoulder perpendiular across the road) and to make a long story short it was dark out and there were no lights on his trailer so there was no avoiding the accident....now i had never been in accident before and i wasnt driving we came over the hill and out of nowhere going 70 bam we t boned the trailer and slowed from 70 to zero in nothing it was apretty hard impact but due to the way we hit the trailer at a slight angle and due to the fact the trailer wasnot loaded and quick reaction by my girlfriend the airbags didnt go off as a result of the oddness of the wreck but it did a lot of cosmetic damage to my car and scared the sh!!!!!!!!!!t out of me. we walked away from the accident with only a few scratches form broken glass but let me tell you the hood on the car rolled back so quick it caused the windshield to cave in almost to the steering wheel and the most odd thing about the wreck is that i had just woken up and my girlfriend wasnt wearing her seat belt which is stupid and i told her to put it on five mins before the wreck happened----there are no exagerations to this story but things like that make you think about how easy it is to potentially lose your life and how safe a vw is that it can get into a 70 mph accident and have cosmetic only damage and allow the driver and passenger to walk away without harm. i will never own anything but a vw or audi as long as i can afford it they are amazing cars in every aspect!!!! your daughter is as safe as she can be in that car i can attest for that.


[Modified by 00boravr6, 2:45 PM 4-10-2002]
 
#42 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (GameDay)

Just for the record, this is a fairly common problem. My sister got in a head-on collision with a BMW 328i in her 2001 Jetta --- both cars were going about 45mph at the time of impact, and no airbags. THen, recently, my sister hit a stopsign going 40 mph on the ice. Keep in mind that was her secondw 2001 Jetta seeing as she totalled the first one. Neither one had the airbags go off. I've heard many times that VW's airbags don't always deploy like thy should....however, the car is still a tank.
 
#43 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (VarLordahl)

Crash Sensors are the devices that work with the control module to discriminate between crash and non-crash events. These sensors measure the severity of the impact. They are set up so that sudden "negative acceleration" will cause the contacts to close, sending a signal to the control module which checks for a signal from the rear sensor which must arrive first to activate the Airbag(s). Note that at least 2 of these sensors must signal a crash before airbag deployment.

By function, there are 2 types. Impact sensors and Safing sensors. The forward sensors are located in various locations forward of the passenger compartment. Some are located inside the fenders, some are on the cowl, some are attached to the core support in front of the radiator. They are generally comprised of a cylinder which has a magnet on one end and a contact on the other with a metal ball in between. Beyond a pre-determined deceleration, the ball is separated from the magnet and strikes the contact triggering airbag deployment. Passenger compartment intrusion doesn't factor into the "go/no-go" decision of passenger or driver side front supplemental restraint systems.
Rear sensors are also known as safing sensors as their function is to determine that a crash has occurred. Rear safing sensors are located in various locations in the passenger compartment depending on the manufacturer. Some are intergrated with the Control/Diagnostic Module.
The rear safing sensor must close before the forward sensors to avoid airbag deployment in cases where the impact is not severe enough to cause deployment.
 
Discussion starter · #44 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (GameDay)

Thanks again for all the feedback...great to hear that they engineered them so well that most people have only minor scratches in 'serious' accidents! A little disconcerting that the airbags didn't deploy in some of them, but at the same time, it seems, 'who needs'em when everyone turns out safe.'
Now, 1 question I have is, are the 'newer' airbags less violent and more sensitive to driver's/passenger's weight so they don't break jaws anymore?
Here's one thing that always freaked me out when I get on this kick, imagine that your airbag could accidentally deploy because of some quirky defect, and it's gonna smack you so hard in the face, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. Repeat this in your head a couple of times in a row, while glancing at your steering wheel as you drive. Now brace, now think, now brace...c'mon everyone...all together now!
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Now go enjoy your vw's fellas!
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Just kidding...I hate when I think like that...kerrrrPOW!
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GameDay
 
#45 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (GameDay)

yes there are several types of 'toned down' airbags.
Some just are reduced force and that's it. Some more advanced ones have multiple sensors in the seat and determin what type of passanger is in the car and then has some change on the force of the charge. I'm not sure on the specifics though. I believe my 2002 Golf has the next generation airbags.
Yes a randomly going off airbag is VERY bad. But with the high manurfacture quaility of these. It's going to be very far and few inbetween. Just like older MB's and Volvo's with airbags that are > 10yrs old are supposed to get them inspected and possibly replaced b/c nobody knows how hell a 10yr airbag will work.
Personally I'm happy that I have as many airbags as I do. I'd rather have a busted jaw then a cracked forhead (done that once when I was little and have a nastey scar) because a jaw is easier to fix
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. Seriously though if you drive properly they WILL save your life if you use them properly.
 
#47 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (negoo)

Generally there are multiple sensors, more than one has to sense direct deceleration. In addition some systems use a sensor (accelerometer) under the drivers seat. When enough info comes to the controller there is in fact a sufficent event occuring, the airbag will deploy. Keep in mind that an airbag will explode (deploy) AND deflate in less time than it takes to blink. They are for that first major dissipation of force and do not protect you in the secondary impacts that often occur in major accidents as it is deflated.
 
#48 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (GameDay)

I have one question.
Was she injured in any of the accidents?
If not... then the airbags didn't need to deploy.
I think people are safety crazy, and think that without a bunch of pillows deploying all over their car, they are going to die. Unless they really need to... I don't want my bags deploying.
 
#49 ·
Re: Killed Deer, Airbags didn't deploy....what to do? (GameDay)

If the airbags didn't deploy and she's around to tell you about it THEN THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY.
THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY FOR EVERY COLLISION!
Your airbags are fine.
Hitting a deer isn't exactly the kind of force you get when you hit another car.
Sorry, but too many people just don't understand how the airbags are SUPPOSED to work. If you were not majorly injured, and you're here to tell us about it, then they weren't SUPPOSED to deploy!
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Additional:
Car vs. Deer...
How much does your car weigh.. how much does a deer weigh.. even if its standing still? My god people. Its not the sudden stopping that happens when you collide with a solid or another heavy object (like another car). It's a DEER.
The further I read down this post the more I find people who think that this is something wrong. This is showing how our airbags are SUPPOSED to work. They ARE NOT defective!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The airbags aren't supposed to deploy just because you're going 45mph. Its more complicated than that. It really depends on that sudden force when you hit something.
SHEESH.
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[Modified by Jason_R, 7:38 AM 4-11-2002]


[Modified by Jason_R, 7:41 AM 4-11-2002]
 
#50 ·
quote:[HR][/HR]I think people are safety crazy, and think that without a bunch of pillows deploying all over their car, they are going to die.[HR][/HR]​
Well people want to be safe... I certainly do. The problem is people think air bags are like a bunch of fluffy pillows to pad your impact. People don't realize they are inflated with a blasting cap, they throw a bunch of powder in your face, and the impact is more like hitting a rock then a pillow.
quote:[HR][/HR]Here's one thing that always freaked me out when I get on this kick, imagine that your airbag could accidentally deploy because of some quirky defect, and it's gonna smack you so hard in the face, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.[HR][/HR]​
Ahhhhh, thanks... now I'm gonna spaz when I'm driving just waiting for the steering wheel to explode in my face.
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Glad your daughter is safe. You might look into getting some better lighting for her car since the stock jetta headlights suck. I do a lot of driving at night on I66 where there's LOTS of animals running all over the place, so I'm installing driving lights and planning to upgrade to e-code jetta headlights after that. Just a suggestion.
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