Airbag servicing

[GTRS]

I know this has been mentioned several times on the forum (often sparked by airbag warning light coming on at start of journey for first minute or so). Interesting article on subject below:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/new ... acing.html

21 Oct

Thousands of motorists with "out of date" airbags in their cars have been told not to worry – they are in no danger.
When airbags were introduced en masse in the 1990s, manufacturers were still unclear about whether the safety devices would need to be serviced – or even replaced – after several years.

As a precaution, the handbooks of cars built at that time carried notices informing the keeper that the airbags would require servicing within 10 years.
Observant motorists have recently begun asking dealers what they should do.
However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has told Telegraph Motoring that the service requirement had been "totally phased out" because airbags had stood the test of time, and were intended to last the lifetime of a car, unless damaged, without the need for servicing.
No record of the total number of cars fitted with airbags has been kept, but the best industry estimates say that about two and a half million vehicles may have warning notices about servicing the devices in their owner manuals.
"When airbags were introduced, extensive testing was carried out on them by their manufacturers but no one was sure how long they would last and whether they would continue to perform satisfactorily," said AA technical specialist Vanessa Guyll. "It was wondered whether damp might get into them or other factors that might affect their performance.
"But that has not happened, testing has shown. They are still performing satisfactorily 10 years later. Motorists do not have to take any action."
One survey recently revealed that the number of airbags listed online for second-hand sale had more than doubled in the past 12 months. But, the Carsite.co.uk report said, while used devices came at a lower cost than new manufacturer units, the risk of a defective airbag was many times greater. It said it was dangerous for anyone not qualified to tamper with an airbag.