Back to school maintenance: Why is the airbag warning light on?
Pencils? Check. Notebook? Check. Airbag warning light on? Check. Wait…
If you’re getting ready to go back to school, one thing you don’t need is a warning light on your car’s dashboard. To keep you safe on the road this school year, it’s important you understand why your airbag warning light might be on and how to turn it off.
Let’s go over how airbags work along with some common causes for the airbag warning light to come on.
How airbags work
Airbags, like many other parts of your car, are designed to keep you safe. Since the 1980s, airbags have become a standard feature to protect passengers from colliding with hard or sharp surfaces in the event of a collision.
Airbags are deployed in three steps: detection, inflation, and deflation. First, a sensor detects a sudden change in velocity or deceleration. The inflator then releases a burst of nitrogen gas to fill the airbag, expanding it within milliseconds to protect the passengers. Once the airbag is fully inflated, it slowly deflates, allowing the passengers to safely leave the vehicle.
If there’s something wrong with this feature, your car may let you know by illuminating the airbag warning light on your dashboard. This light is typically orange or red and looks like the outline of a person seated with a large circle (representing the airbag) in front of them. In some vehicles, the word “AIRBAG” or the letters “SRS” may appear instead.
What triggers the airbag warning light
The airbag warning light will typically come on when you first start your car. This is part of your car’s automatic diagnostic check and should disappear after a few seconds. If the light stays on or begins to flash, there may be a problem to address.
The airbag warning light is usually a sign that the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) isn’t working properly. It won’t impede your car’s drivability nor is it illegal to drive with any warning lights on, but it does put your safety at risk, so it shouldn’t be ignored.
(Note: A failed airbag deployment may invalidate your car insurance. You may also be found liable if you were driving while knowing about a potential issue.)
Potential causes
Several things can cause your airbag warning light to stay illuminated on your dashboard.
- Faulty crash sensor: If you’ve recently been in a collision that didn’t require airbag deployment, the sensor may need to be reset or replaced.
- Electrical problems: A loose wire or another electrical-related problem may be keeping the light on.
- Broken seatbelt pretensioners: Your seatbelt tightens in a crash to keep you safe. If the pretensioner device is broken, the airbag warning light may come on.
Fixing airbag problems
If your airbag warning light is on, have your vehicle assessed by a professional as soon as possible. Regardless of the cause, this feature should be left to an expert to solve. These problems often require special tools and knowledge to diagnose and repair.
It never hurts to have your airbag system inspected, but unless you’ve been in a crash or the warning light is on, this feature doesn’t require any specific maintenance.
You can have your airbag system (and any other part of your car) assessed by an experienced technician at your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre.
Photo: iStock-973673906