2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Replacing airbags after crash

[FFSchooley]

I am in the process of fixing my truck after an accident. I got hit in the front passenger side tire and both airbags deployed. I found replacement airbags from an autowrecker, and have a new clockspring on the way. Is there anything else that I need to do to restore the airbag system?

 

[Fordiesel69]

Not sure if 98. 5 had seat belt pretensioners, but on a 03 caravan it was plug and play and simply pull battery cable and put back on and the codes were gone. The dealer does not have to do anything to the airbag computer.

 

[TBurow]

i believe the crash sensors need to be replaced, at least the one that caused the deployment.

 

[FFSchooley]

From what I understand, there are no sensors, its all in the ECU. Either way, the collision was to the front tire so no sensors involved if there are any.

 

[JR2]

I think the sensors he is talking about is the airbag control sensors, they are down on the transmission hump inside the truck. Its that little box that is covered by the nice plastic piece.

 

[Bob4x4]

I think the sensors he is talking about is the airbag control sensors, they are down on the transmission hump inside the truck. Its that little box that is covered by the nice plastic piece.

That is the controller not sensor.



Bob

 

[JR2]

I was told there are no sensors on a dodge pickup, that the box on the trany hump is all there is. It must have some type of shock or G force sensors in it. . don't know if they need to be replaced or not.

 

[FFSchooley]

So if I replace the bags and clockspring, I should be ok. And if there are any problems, I should see the airbag light come on and there should be some codes???

 

[Bob4x4]

I was told there are no sensors on a dodge pickup, that the box on the trany hump is all there is. It must have some type of shock or G force sensors in it. . don't know if they need to be replaced or not.

That depends on the year. There are 2 basic types of controllers that Dodge uses for g sensing. 1 uses a spring loaded roller(that should be replaced if the bags have deployed),and the other has an actual G sensor which should be ok I just don't remember off hand which one you have.



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

The svc manual is not very clear. It does have a warning about trashing it (Controller) if it has been dropped.

NEVER STRIKE OR KICK THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE, AS IT CAN DAMAGE THE IMPACT SENSOR OR AFFECT ITS CALIBRATION. IF AN AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IS ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED DURING SERVICE, THE MODULE MUST BE SCRAPPED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT.



Only one impact sensor is used in this airbag system. The impact sensor is an accelerometer that senses the rate of vehicle deceleration, which provides verification of the direction and severity of an impact. The impact sensor is calibrated for the specific vehicle, and is only serviced as a unit with the ACM.



The ACM also contains an energy-storage capacitor. This capacitor stores enough electrical energy to deploy the airbags for up to one second following a battery disconnect or failure during an impact. The purpose of the capacitor is to provide airbag system protection in a severe secondary impact, if the initial impact has damaged or disconnected the battery, but was not severe enough to deploy the airbags.



Club cab and quad cab models of this vehicle are equipped with a structural seat belt control system. The structural seat belt control system includes a Seatbelt Control Timer Module (SCTM) The SCTM has a hard wired input to the ACM. If the ACM detects a fault input from the SCTM, or if the ACM does not detect an input from the SCTM, it sends messages to the instrument cluster on the CCD data bus to turn on the seat belt reminder lamp. See Structural Seat Belt Control System in this group for more information.







Bob

 

[wcjp]

I've heard it's recommended to replace the seat belts after a vehicle crash.

 

[Bob4x4]

If it is an extended cab the seat belts are electronicly controlled, no pretensioners,so they should be fine. The pretensioners basicly have an explosive charge that yank on the belt to make sure they are snug when the bags deploy.



Bob

 

[BSMcCauley]

I was told there are no sensors on a dodge pickup, that the box on the trany hump is all there is. It must have some type of shock or G force sensors in it. . don't know if they need to be replaced or not.

Pretty sure my '96 has a shock sensors for the airbag system mounted to the engine compartment side of both front fenders below the batteries/behind both headlights.

 

[FFSchooley]

My truck does not have seat belt pre-tensioners. The question I have is do I need to replace the control module?

 

[Uncle Dim]

Replace the belts.

As an airbag and safety engineer I recommend you replace the seatbelts if they were worn during the crash. The seat belts have load limiters that release tension at a pre determined level. It is basically a torsion bar that yields under loading. As for the sensors they should be fine. If they are not you will get the SRS or air bag dummy light. Make sure that the replacement airbags are from the same model year or are the same part number. Just because the will install does't mean they are tuned for you truck. Good luck and keep the battery disconnected when installing them.

 

[FFSchooley]

What about the airbag control module? The airbag light is on currently, but I figured that might have something to do with the airbags being deployed.

 

[Bob4x4]

As an airbag and safety engineer I recommend you replace the seatbelts if they were worn during the crash. The seat belts have load limiters that release tension at a pre determined level. It is basically a torsion bar that yields under loading. As for the sensors they should be fine. If they are not you will get the SRS or air bag dummy light. Make sure that the replacement airbags are from the same model year or are the same part number. Just because the will install does't mean they are tuned for you truck. Good luck and keep the battery disconnected when installing them.

The belts that have electric locks in the seat back release tension??



Bob

 

[Uncle Dim]

Seat Belts and Airbags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Dim

As an airbag and safety engineer I recommend you replace the seatbelts if they were worn during the crash. The seat belts have load limiters that release tension at a pre determined level. It is basically a torsion bar that yields under loading. As for the sensors they should be fine. If they are not you will get the SRS or air bag dummy light. Make sure that the replacement airbags are from the same model year or are the same part number. Just because the will install does't mean they are tuned for you truck. Good luck and keep the battery disconnected when installing them.



The belts that have electric locks in the seat back release tension??



Bob

Yes Bob, they are called load limiters they limit the loading on the chest and let the occupant ride into the airbag. That is why airbags are supplemental restraint systems (SRS). Most load limiters are just locked bars that allow the seatbelt to unwind at predetermined load.



As for the the airbag light being on. It should turn off as soon as the new airbags are installed. If it doesn't then there is something wrong with the ECM or the sensors. The ECM is looking for certain electrical characteristics in the airbags during startup.

 

[Loren]

FFSchooley,



You may be doing a lot of work for nothing. Check your insurance policy. My policy says:

"If an airbag in your covered auto deploys for any reason, we will pay without deductible to replace it. "



Your policy may have the same provision. Mine's with USAA.



Good luck,

Loren

 

[charlessmith]

From what I understand, there are no sensors, its all in the ECU. Either way, the collision was to the front tire so no sensors involved if there are any.

At least through '97, there is an airbag sensor on each front frame member. Look on the passenger's side, down on the frame in front of the battery and you will see a black gizmo, a triangle about 2" on a side, with wires plugged into it. That's the airbag sensor. There is also one on the driver's side but it's down under the cruise control and real difficult to see - let alone reach.