(T) Airbag expiration?

While looking at the glove box i noticed my airbags expire in 2 years in that case what do i have to do? replace all 6? i doubt that will come out cheap?

Is it not just the gas that needs replacing?? I thought it just needed re-gasing so to speak, i dont think its as drastic as replacing all the units, unless anyone knows better??

You can not replace the gas. Is that air conditioning you are thinking of?

Yes, every manufacturer recommends replacing airbags ( after 7-10 years is normal)

In practise no one bothers and it will not impact on the safety of your car at all.

If you really want to replace them, you are looking at the £1500 - £2000 range and seatbelts need to be done too.

a 7 year old stilo won't be worth that so might as well just buy a new car, LOL

Cars with airbags fitted do not contain any gas cylinders. They work on an instant chemical reaction to create a gas from 2 components mounted in a 'tablet' behind the deployment area. Traditionally they are triggered by a small explosive capsule which mix the components (nitrogen gas and sodium azide) in an instant thereby creating the gas that inflates the airbag. The tiny amount of nitrogen gas in the 'tablet' is the only component that is not in solid form. Now days the theory remains the same, but with more complex issues involved such as speed/timing of deployment etc. This variable usually governed by the weight of the individual in the seat (by means of a mat situated just above the seating cushion) will determine when the airbags are deployed in a given accident. Other sensors will contribute to this factor including the direction of impact, speed etc. The whole lot is calculated and deployed using an electronic brain.

To sum up, airbags do not contain any remote gas cylinders but do inflate at a speed up 200mph. It is recommended that drivers do not sit any closer than 10" or 26cm from the steering wheel as you wouldn't want to take a leathery balloon in the face at 200mph.

Ok, lesson over. Thanks for listening...

Thanx Lobster, quite intresting. Didn't know that chemical reaction is the way they work.

I may have been a little off with the nitrogen gas (very early technology). Modern 'tablets' use potassium nitrate to create the nitrogen gas. So we are talking totally solid form. So no gas at all in the tablet.

An interesting fact is that during WW2, airbags were experimented with to protect a pilot in the event of a crash. You can see why it was never implemented. A car crash and a plane crash are totally different ball games.

I have just discovered an article that indicates longevity of airbags. Apparently, in 1991, a 1973 Chevvy with an airbag was located. They connected the device to a battery and triggered it. It performed perfectly. So 18 years isn't bad for an airbag. I rekon they put best before dated on these to get more aftersales revenue.