Advice please: Side Airbag Replacement?

[wsudu]

Hey everyone, I have a 2013 LX 570, 120K miles. Last night I swerved to avoid some dog looking animal thing going about 40 or so and should've been able to correct it but the VSA or whatever just took over and I was along for the ride. Anyway, she went into the ditch, which is fine, but then the side airbags popped. There was no other damage, I was fine, and I cut a hole in the bags and drove home. With $1000 deductible, it seems like I could get away with just replacing the bags, headliner, seatbelt, tensioner, possibly sensors and an SRSCU? What would you do in this situation?

 

[KLF]

Are you thinking you can replace all that busted stuff for less than $1000? I think you're gonna be shocked when you find out how much those air bag modules cost, even if you find a way to get them (don't think dealers can sell them to customers). It's more than just plugging in the new bags, there's a "reset" that has to be done.

Generally when air bags get deployed, it's tough to NOT have the car totaled by insurance.

 

[wsudu]

Are you thinking you can replace all that busted stuff for less than $1000? I think you're gonna be shocked when you find out how much those air bag modules cost, even if you find a way to get them (don't think dealers can sell them to customers). It's more than just plugging in the new bags, there's a "reset" that has to be done.

Generally when air bags get deployed, it's tough to NOT have the car totaled by insurance.

Oh no, I certainly don't think it'll cost me about $1000. Each module is about $450 but, if it's even under $2000, I think it may be worth it just to do it myself and I won't have to deal with the insurance and the buyback and I think it possibly could cost me less in the long term.

 

[doru]

Yes, you are right, you do not want to risk it going to the insurance first.

Techstream is your friend here. How to use it for this is described in FSM (VehicleInterior PDF). In Techstream is under Body Electrical / SRS Airbag. Anyway that is the place to look for trouble codes, and I expect that after a deployment there are trouble codes stored. It might be helpful to read them to see what other systems were affected by the incident so you know what needs to be replaced instead of just replacing all the stuff you listed. Techstream also has a lot of tests for the system described in the FSM so you can run them before tacking anything apart. A lot to read but necessary.

In FSM strat with SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: AIRBAG SYSTEM: SYSTEM DESCRIPTION; 2013 MY LX570 that describes the system and the deployment condition.
The diagnose is above all that.
The curtain is under SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG ASSEMBLY: COMPONENTS; 2013 MY LX570.

Seatbelts are also in this manual.

There is a crash detection sensor built into the center airbag sensor (looks like this is your SRSCU but I don't think it needs replacement unless the tests say so). All the other sensors plug into it (lots of them).

Keep in mind that you have to wait min 90sec after battery disconnect before working on airbags/SRS! Looks like these systems have some kind of backup power (probably capacitive storage).

From FSM:
Be sure to perform the initialization of the occupant classification ECU if any of the following conditions occur. If the initialization is not performed, the SRS
may not operate properly.
a. The occupant classification ECU is replaced.
b. Accessories (seatback tray, seat cover, etc.) are installed onto the vehicle.
c. The passenger seat is removed from the vehicle, and then reinstalled or replaced.
d. The passenger airbag ON/OFF indicator light (OFF) comes on when the passenger seat is not occupied.
e. The vehicle is brought to a workshop for repair due to an accident or collision.

For a professional opinion you can go to an airbag repair shop and see what the estimate is - you'll see what they want to replace. Use that to investigate further on parts, etc.

Keep us posted how you fix it. I bet it can help others that went just too inclined off road and triggered the sidecurtains.

 

[wsudu]

Yes, you are right, you do not want to risk it going to the insurance first.

Techstream is your friend here. How to use it for this is described in FSM (VehicleInterior PDF). In Techstream is under Body Electrical / SRS Airbag. Anyway that is the place to look for trouble codes, and I expect that after a deployment there are trouble codes stored. It might be helpful to read them to see what other systems were affected by the incident so you know what needs to be replaced instead of just replacing all the stuff you listed. Techstream also has a lot of tests for the system described in the FSM so you can run them before tacking anything apart. A lot to read but necessary.

In FSM strat with SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: AIRBAG SYSTEM: SYSTEM DESCRIPTION; 2013 MY LX570 that describes the system and the deployment condition.
The diagnose is above all that.
The curtain is under SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG ASSEMBLY: COMPONENTS; 2013 MY LX570.

Seatbelts are also in this manual.

There is a crash detection sensor built into the center airbag sensor (looks like this is your SRSCU but I don't think it needs replacement unless the tests say so). All the other sensors plug into it (lots of them).

Keep in mind that you have to wait min 90sec after battery disconnect before working on airbags/SRS! Looks like these systems have some kind of backup power (probably capacitive storage).

From FSM:
Be sure to perform the initialization of the occupant classification ECU if any of the following conditions occur. If the initialization is not performed, the SRS
may not operate properly.
a. The occupant classification ECU is replaced.
b. Accessories (seatback tray, seat cover, etc.) are installed onto the vehicle.
c. The passenger seat is removed from the vehicle, and then reinstalled or replaced.
d. The passenger airbag ON/OFF indicator light (OFF) comes on when the passenger seat is not occupied.
e. The vehicle is brought to a workshop for repair due to an accident or collision.

For a professional opinion you can go to an airbag repair shop and see what the estimate is - you'll see what they want to replace. Use that to investigate further on parts, etc.

Keep us posted how you fix it. I bet it can help others that went just too inclined off road and triggered the sidecurtains.

Yes, thank you for this, I'm going to reach out to the local chapter as well and see if there's someone here that has better knowledge of those systems. I have Tech stream, use it often and am familiar with it.

 

[KLF]

Uh huh.

Now imagine you trade that truck in, and the next owner finds out you were in there as an untrained guy, mucking about with the safety systems, perhaps leaving them partially functioning. I could see that new owner being pretty pissed, and might be inclined to sue you.

Or maybe not.

 

[doru]

Sue? On what legal base? The truck is sold "as is" in a private sell. You can also write up a contract that buyer signs at the bank w/ witness. This is what I had to do.

Then, I don't think OP wants to sell it in the first place, and secondly, I don't think OP wants to drive an unsafe truck either.