A very interesting point there about the multi stage airbags T, I always wondered what the exact differences and purposes of the stages were 
Technical Airbag light / Control Unit
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Technical Airbag light / Control Unit
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Thanks to JR and to Jnoiles for the previous postings. And I would agree in full ernest on getting an airbag light fixed asap. I was trying to put a bit of 'balance' on the discussion.
There are a number of youtubes on airbags and the way that they deploy. It would be advisable to sit well back from the steering wheel.
A few 'tasteful' ones...
Definitely. One of my coworkers had a head on accident a couple of years ago and went to press the horn (as you do when someone is about to hit you) and the airbog deployed and broke her arm.
A very interesting point there about the multi stage airbags T, I always wondered what the exact differences and purposes of the stages were
Airbag ECU makes a calculation on speed, seats occupied, direction of crash and deploys the airbag(s) accordingly and also whether to partially or fully inflate airbag. Another note is the multipla, this has a massive (75 litre from memory) passenger airbag as it also has to protect the passenger sitting in the middle front seat.
Indeed, was the reason for the two plugs on the airbag unit. I always thought that perhaps Fiat had dropped the idea after the Stilo as that has multi stage mentioned on the front driver and passenger airbag, where as the 500 and other models don't from memory, but I believe that most probably are multi stage but just not mentioned any more. I know the mk3 Pandas are only single stage.
Another wonder answered, always wondered if the multipla's passenger bag was designed to assist the person in the middle as well or not
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Serves her right for having safety systems made from ceramic toilet sanitary ware.
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There's a mention of it on the US A500...
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/2012-fiat-500-abarth-brings-accessible-italian-performance-to-am/
16 Nov 2011 – Advanced multi-stage air bags: Inflates with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact. In addition, the Fiat 500 Abarth's unique driver's air...
My OH has a quirk on the MiTo where the passenger airbag light goes on i.e. no airbag for the passenger. This has to be periodically re-enabled. I'm guessing that it might be causing from her carrying some bags containing files or even the groceries (which should be in the boot). I would have thought that 2 stages of either Partial or Full depending on speed would be best OR a hyper intelligent system. If the 'intelligence' isn't smart enough you could have a case of an airbag not going off at all...
http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/the-evolution-of-front-airbags.html
When the BMW E46 model came out in the late 90s replacing the E36 (which was a better driver's car) a key justification was the better safety features. 1997 comes up a key year with a softening of the pressure produced by the airbag. I wonder how safe the airbag on the '00 Marea is but at least it has one.
Friends of ours have switched from using an 10 year Astra to the 'good car' '08 Mazda 6 for the safety features for the school run (3 miles away). I can just imagine the safety rating given on the Astra.
Another technology advancement now is the twin chamber...
Twin chamber airbag better at dispersing the effect of the airbag all over the body and not in one area which couldd cause injury
and the seat belt airbag.
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It's not as bad as you might believe - we checked this before I sold my 52 plate Astra to my daughter. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it had a 4 star NCAP rating.
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/opel_vauxhall_astra_1999/44.aspx
Which interestingly is the same as an 08 Mazda 6.
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/mazda_6_2005/242.aspx
I suspect sometimes people assume a bigger car is safer perhaps??
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I checked the rating on my sister's Suzuki Grand Vitaria 2006 given her 'small stature' and it got 'knocked' for the airbag not having sufficient pressure to stop your head banging off the wheel. In her case a 'strong' airbag probably isn't needed.
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/suzuki_grand_vitara_2007/287.aspx
There was insufficient pressure in the driver's airbag to prevent the dummy's head from 'bottoming-out' the airbag onto thesteering wheel.
That safety rating was pretty good for a '52 plate' car but noticed that the passenger faired better than the driver. There was no explanation given for the average rating on the driver.
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I can only surmise that was down to the presence/proximity of the steering wheel, despite the airbag - supposition only though...
What I found interesting too was the Mazda 6 has side head and side body airbags but didn't seem to fare any better.
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Just checked the safety rating on the Mazda and it's poor for a '08 car getting only marginal ratings in the body area. My mate will be unhappy with that since it was very focused on the relatively low Co2 output.
Euro NCAP allowed Mazda to re-test with an improved front passenger restraint system. Spot-weld release at the base of the A-pillar and deformation of the sill indicated that the bodyshell was at the limit of its integrity and would have been incapable of withstanding a more severe impact. The car was penalised for this. Structures within the dashboard represented a potential hazard to the knees and femurs on the driver's side.
The 'up' side is that the 2 kids should be safer in the back and to drive it feels a lot safer than the 'old' Astra. The Safety rating doesn't seem to take account of those in the back so it not easy to see the differences.
This demonstrates that the 500 got a excellent rating when you compare it against others for those sitting in the front.
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Jason thanks for your post and pics, I am still driving about with the airbag light on. I have ordered a workshop manual on cd and this weekend my dad and I are gonna try and fix the problem, we are hoping for a loose or dirty connection. While I am under the car I may check out the exhaust as it was noted as being rusty on its m.o.t, If im brave I may even attempt to change my brake pads and discs.............who needs a mechanic lol
I went car shopping at the weekend and couldnt find any I liked as much as my 500, flaws in all.
Im gonna see how this weekend goes before I contact Fiat, another dealer quoted me £500 to fix it with a new ECU costing aprox. £320 for anyone who is interested.
I went car shopping at the weekend and couldnt find any I liked as much as my 500, flaws in all.
Im gonna see how this weekend goes before I contact Fiat, another dealer quoted me £500 to fix it with a new ECU costing aprox. £320 for anyone who is interested.
This is a very old thread; Lorna's not been on the forum since 2012.
Please can folks check the date of the last post before ressurecting a dead thread, particularly when there's another open thread on the same subject.
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