Air Bag Replacement

[Laurent]

2004 HYUNDAI XG350 AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED,  NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAYS FAULTY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS.

IS THIS POSSIBLE,  THEY JUST SIT THERE?  WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROXIMATE COST?

[pierrepont88]

Hello Phil:

Sorry about your car.  To address your question directly, the answer is 'yes'; airbags can just go bad, like any other part on your car.  One day it's fine and the next day it's not.

You don't identify whether it is a driver side 'front' airbag in the steering wheel, or the driver side 'side' airbag located int the seat, but the answer is basically the same.  

With all that said, the situation is not always as grim as it may seem.

The code they pulled from the scan they did only identifies the faulty circuit, not necessarily the faulty part itself.  The cause of the fault could be as simple as a loose connection in that circuit, or a pop can wedged up against and rubbing through a harness.  To correct the problem, a technician needs to inspect the circuit in question from the airbag control unit to the airbag itself, including all the harnesses and connections between.  Only after that is done and it is determined that the airbag itself is at fault, can he plug in an airbag simulator connection tool and verify that the airbag itself needs replacement.  Once the failed component or connection is identified, you can then decide how to repair it.

Depending on what state you live in, used components may be a money saving option if you trust they came from a good vehicle and have not been subject to the weather for 5 years(Ebay is another option).  I don't recommend them personally or professionally, but they are an option for some people.

I hope this helps you.  Please visit my company website to understand much more about airbags and diagnosis...www.airbagsolutions.com

Good luck

Doug