My car nightmare continues

I don't understand why any controller would need replacement.

At lest for my car, i can get airbags for it at a U-pull-it junkyard for 55.66

http://www.crazyraysautoparts.com/price.htm

Of course they won't have the part for your car though.

Personally I'd be OK without the air bags.

Shouldn't you wake up to go to work? Then the car nightmare would end.

Quote from zzyzzx : I don't understand why any controller would need replacement. At lest for my car, i can get airbags for it at a U-pull-it junkyard for 55.66 http://www.crazyraysautoparts.com/price.htm Of course they won't have the part for your car though. Personally I'd be OK without the air bags.

I have to get a new control module because the module is detecting that the airbags have been deployed, which means that it is not set to deploy the airbags in the case of another crash. The deployment code cannot be cleared, so the existing module is useless.

Quote from burninator : The dealership and the body shop have both told me there's no dating these codes. They're just in there. However, it's the control module that stores the codes and sends them to the computer, so if the airbag is ever replaced, then the control module has to be replaced, as well.

Quote from burninator : I have to get a new control module because the module is detecting that the airbags have been deployed, which means that it is not set to deploy the airbags in the case of another crash. The deployment code cannot be cleared, so the existing module is useless.

I haven't seen pictures of the damage but I would be wondering about the possibility that the module sent the signal to deploy the airbags in the accident that you had and they didn't go off for some reason. If there is no way to put a date and time on the code I don't see how they could rule that out.

The only thing that bothers me about it being a prior problem is that the air bag warning light on the dash should have been on if the module was already bad. As far as I know the only way to shut that light off is either to reset the airbag system when all repairs are made or to remove the bulb. If the bags were replaced but the module was still bad the system would not reset and the warning light would stay on. Make sure that the bulb in the warning light is good.

Another unlikely possibility is that the bags were replaced with what is used to be known as "dummy airbags". They are non-functioning airbags that have the electronics needed to fool the computer into thinking the airbags are replaced and ready to deploy. Amazingly it was (and may be still be) legal to install these at the owner's request. I believe they had to be clearly marked as non-functioning though and it had to be disclosed if the car was sold to someone else. This is not a very likely scenario though. Most shops refused to install them for liability reasons and I would be surprised if they are even still available.

Quote from Iaaaiws : I haven't seen pictures of the damage but I would be wondering about the possibility that the module sent the signal to deploy the airbags in the accident that you had and they didn't go off for some reason. If there is no way to put a date and time on the code I don't see how they could rule that out. The only thing that bothers me about it being a prior problem is that the air bag warning light on the dash should have been on if the module was already bad. As far as I know the only way to shut that light off is either to reset the airbag system when all repairs are made or to remove the bulb. If the bags were replaced but the module was still bad the system would not reset and the warning light would stay on. Make sure that the bulb in the warning light is good. Another unlikely possibility is that the bags were replaced with what is used to be known as "dummy airbags". They are non-functioning airbags that have the electronics needed to fool the computer into thinking the airbags are replaced and ready to deploy. Amazingly it was (and may be still be) legal to install these at the owner's request. I believe they had to be clearly marked as non-functioning though and it had to be disclosed if the car was sold to someone else. This is not a very likely scenario though. Most shops refused to install them for liability reasons and I would be surprised if they are even still available.

The airbag light is currently on, so the module is sending the message, and the indicator is working properly.

Your first scenario is what the Honda service tech proposed. He thought it was the most obvious explanation. The sensors were tripped (either during the wreck or sometime during towing or repair), but the airbag didn't deploy for some reason.

I've been in touch with the adjuster and the appraiser today, and they're going to meet me back at the dealership tomorrow to assess the additional repairs.