Side curtain airbags deployed. Can I sell my truck without them?

[ishunko]

Hello all,

Up until last weekend I had a solid GX that took me places. However, during the storm I lost traction, went sideways and hit a snow bank. Both curtain side airbags deployed -- nothing else suffered, it drives the same way as before.
I am not sure if I can spend all the time needed to fix it -- it was my only vehicle. I am thinking about selling it and getting a new truck.

Does anybody know if selling makes sense and if I even can sell a vehicle without airbags? I would hate to trade it in for a very low price -- it is 2005 with only 155K miles on it, has sliders, brand new OME suspension.

Thanks for any advise!

 

[Jstawgn]

You can but the price would reflect it.
Normally dealer are legally NOT allowed to sell to retail customer with non working safety device.
No insurance? It would cost more than your deductible to get it fixed.

Glad you are OK and there are no other damage.

 

[ishunko]

You can but the price would reflect it.
Normally dealer are legally allowed to sell to retail customer with non working safety device.
No insurance? It would cost more than your deductible to get it fixed.

Glad you are OK and there are no other damage.

Yes, it costs more than my deductible ))) And it is several weeks in repair. Possibly a good project for someone who has other vehicles.

Thanks, I am ok, just a bruise on the shoulder from the airbag hit.

 

[Rednexus]

You'll need to check you state laws to verify, but it probably is no issue to sell as long as you disclose that the side airbags are blown and need replacement.

 

[bigredmachine]

Normally dealer are legally NOT allowed to sell to retail customer with non working safety device.

depending on the state they may be allowed to as long at its a parts only bill of sale, some states will not allow a vehicle to be retitled after a parts only sale.



why not just pull the airbags out and drive as is for the time being if nothing else was damaged, you could try to find the airbags at a junk yard

 

[ishunko]

depending on the state they may be allowed to as long at its a parts only bill of sale, some states will not allow a vehicle to be retitled after a parts only sale.



why not just pull the airbags out and drive as is for the time being if nothing else was damaged, you could try to find the airbags at a junk yard

I don’t think I want to drive without airbags though. Not very safe.

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

Yes, you can sell it as long as you disclose it. It will probably be worth 50% of the regular market price, but the market is nuts right now so hopefully you won't take a huge bath on it. So *IF* local comps are actually selling for $20k, expect to get $10k for it.

I also agree that driving it now is unsafe - with any airbags deployed, the system may or may not work properly right now so it may or may not deploy the remaining airbags in an accident. It needs, at minimum, the curtain bags replaced, the SRS Control Module replaced, the crash sensors replaced, and then a full scan with legit Techstream to determine if the system will re-arm and stay armed.

 

[lawrence1]

I think you need to slow down a bit and don't rush into trading the car in. Which side airbags deployed? Only the curtains? How about your seatbelts? have they deployed as well (you can tell they did if they're stuck in their accident position and won't extend or retract)?

Parts for these cars are cheap so you can source a headliner and used curtain airbags from a dismantler or ebay, and have it put back together in no time. You will need to send your SRS module out to get it reset. There are several companies that provide the SRS module reset service for $50 to $100. Unless every seatbelt in the car deployed, you could probably fix everything for about $500-$600. Make sure you disconnect the battery before working on the SRS system and only reconnect it once everything is installed and connected.

 

[ishunko]

Thanks. The seatbelts are ok. I agree, I probably can sell for half the price. The shop’s quote to fix it way more than $600 )(
I will probably go the selling route to someone who is willing to spend time and effort rebuilding it.

 

[Eurocopter555]

ALERT! SORRY I didn't see this before...
Do not report to insurance or you will be forced to have a rebuilt or salvage title...
Like pulling teeth to change it...
Youtube videos helped me.. considered welding new seat bracket on seat with seat out on work bench. I could not ascertain whether or not stray voltage would set off seat side bolster airbag...
Found another way.
All seat functions work correctly and my seat goes back 4.5 extra inches... I'm 6.5....