Replace Airbags After Accident - Save Money!

Hey everyone,
I have a question: If I buy a car that has been in an accident, and my painter/body shop repairs it, but two airbags (driver's side and passenger's side) deployed during the crash, who is allowed to replace them, and what does it specifically cost? Does the airbag control unit need to be replaced, or can it be reset?
...the vehicle is a 2002 Ibiza 6L TDI.
Regards,
Monchi.

Only individuals with training in pyrotechnics are authorized to replace airbags.
the automotive mechanics at Volkswagen.
Even if it gets expensive, my safety is worth it! I would never work on the airbag system myself...


I don't know if the control unit needs to be replaced; I can imagine either scenario being possible.


These 'self-help' books, and others like them, also explain how to do it.


Best regards,
Ingo

'Personally, I would never do anything like that myself! I just thought there might be other specialized workshops besides VW/Seat that could handle it!'
I'll probably have to call Volkswagen/Seat and ask how much it will cost to replace the two front airbags and reset/replace the control unit.
Regards,
Monchi.

If your car has seat belt pretensioners, I believe they also need to be replaced.

Normally, an independent repair shop should also be able to perform work on the airbag system.

To the best of my knowledge, the control unit also needs to be replaced!

Hello,

VAG stipulates that the airbag control unit must be replaced after deployment.

Quote:

Only people with training in pyrotechnics are allowed to replace the airbags. the automotive mechanics at Volkswagen. Even if it becomes expensive, that would be worth it to me for my safety!

"Among the VAG mechanics I know, I would definitely do it myself."
Many people here already have experience working with airbags (for example, when installing the GRA system, which often involves the steering column switch).

Among the VAG mechanics I know, I would definitely do it myself.
Many people here already have experience working with airbags (for example, when installing the GRA system, which often involves the steering column switch).

'It's interesting. Can anyone tell me the price of the parts I need so I can get an idea of how much extra I would have to add on top of the purchase price of a damaged car?'
.....specifically, I am interested in this car http://www.mobile.de/SID9oEuGGVsrDKwNMHB1zHYXg-t-vaNexlCsAsK%F3P%F3R~BmSB10LsearchPublicJ1066907207A1LsearchPublicCCarW-t-vctpLtt~BmPA1A1B20A6%7F-t-vMoPOSm_xetpordsO~BSRA6Iibiza%FF%A0tdiC110HIBIZATDIA0A2B86D2002A0/cgi-bin/da.pl?bereich=pkw&id=11111111127463513&top=1&.
According to the owner's statement, the vehicle entered from a slightly left angle and pushed the front left wheel backward. The shock absorber, suspension arm, etc., were replaced by the workshop, and the alignment was redone so that the car is now in perfect working order. There is still some minor body damage on the left side to be repaired...and of course, the front airbags!
What do you think?
Regards,
Monchi.

Just a question: Is a car with a deployed airbag generally considered a total loss, simply because of the "work" involved in repairing it at a workshop?

Here's a tip regarding mobile links:
mobile.de always stores the session ID and other information in the URL. Therefore, you can easily shorten these links by removing the middle part.
http://www.mobile.de/cgi-bin/da.pl?bereich=pkw&id=11111111127463513&top=1&

I haven't yet dared to install the GRA (presumably a specific aftermarket device) on the airbag system. But, after disconnecting the connections and removing/installing the airbags, couldn't you simply take it to a qualified mechanic and have them test the electronics? If something isn't working correctly afterward, wouldn't that be stored in the error memory?

Hello!

Grundsätzlich ist der Tausch von Airbags und dem Steuergerät, welches unbedingt mit getauscht werden muss, überhaupt kein Problem. Es sind ein paar grundsätzliche Regeln zu beachten. Keine Kleidung die sich leicht statisch auflädt, bevor man die Airbagpatrone berührt immer erst die Karosserie berühren und im stromlosen Zustand montieren. Wenn Airbags einmal ausgelöst haben, schmilzt durch die Hitze auch der Stecker, der im Airbag eingesteckt ist. Also müssen die beiden Kabel auch mit eingerechnet werden (Spiralkabel am Lenkstock und Kabel für den Beifahrerairbag). Habe schon einige Unfallautos hergerichtet und Airbags erneuert, aber ein Auto, bei dem die Airbags ausgelöst haben, kann nur durch Austausch der Achsschenkel alleine niemals passen. Da ist sicher der Längsträger gestaucht oder der Stoßdämpferdom verschoben, das klingt alles sehr eigenartig. Wenn nicht der Vorbau seitlich verschoben ist. Sind die Spaltmaße der Türen überall gleich??? Schließen alle Türen richtig, ohne ungewöhnlich Krafteinwirkung und Nebengeräuschen?? Bei Unfallautos wird so viel gepfuscht, da wird die kaputte Kiste einmal schnell so auf Pi mal Daumen auf schön gerade gezogen und gut ist. Reklamation fast unmöglich, man hat ja schließlich ein Unfallauto gekauft. Wieso verkauft einer so ein Auto, wenn es so leicht zu reparieren wäre??? Das It all sounds very strange.

Good luck, Peter.

Oh dear.

It looks like the entire dashboard needs to be replaced due to the passenger airbag. That's not going to be cheap.
My Passat was a total loss when I bought it, but not because it was so badly damaged, but because the parts were all priced extremely high.
The control unit and seatbelt pretensioner also need to be replaced!
Back then, just those parts (airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, control unit) would have cost around 3500 German Marks.
In addition, as a private individual, you cannot purchase such items from Volkswagen.
I then did everything myself using used parts, which cost around 800 German Marks.
The passenger airbag is a module, which means the dashboard is fine.
Generally speaking, the switch is not a problem.
You don't necessarily have to get into the car when you connect the battery for the first time .
For me, everything worked again without any errors!

Best regards,
Albrecht.

'Why does someone want to get rid of the car? I think like mc_givertechnik: quickly put it together and get it out there. Most buyers won't even notice the flaws. And then you're stuck with a bad conscience.'

I'm not talking about the airbags. Those shouldn't be a problem to replace. I mean general bodywork and chassis repairs.

Sure...

Colliding with another car at 15 km/h will definitely not trigger the airbags!
The impact must have been harder and occurred at an angle of approximately +/-30 degrees on the front of the vehicle. The more angled the impact, the harder it needs to be in order to trigger the airbags. An airbag should deploy 'in the event of significant deformation of the front of the vehicle.'

Okay, if you're going to buy it, then take it to a bodywork specialist or a reputable TÜV (technical inspection agency) and have it inspected. If the owner refuses, then just walk away.

CU Gremlin.

Hi,

My old Golf was also a car that had been in an accident – the front end was crushed almost all the way to the windshield.
My painter/body shop technician replaced the airbags and completely repaired the car, and he has the appropriate training certificates to prove it. He had to replace the control unit (ECU) and have it programmed by Volkswagen – meanwhile, he can do that himself now.

My wife's Lupo had a flat tire - same problem. The airbags were also replaced and now it's fixed - by the same company.

WARNING: In some VAG vehicles, if the passenger airbag is deployed, the entire dashboard needs to be replaced --- this is the case with the LUPO , for example... and that's not cheap.

Okay, I would also be cautious about this. First of all, there's no photo showing the accident. Then, the car is being sold on behalf of someone else, and on top of that, the front airbag deployed due to what is supposedly a near-side impact... everything seems very strange.
Let's talk about the dashboard; it needs to be replaced in this Seat!
I once had an accident with a Polo 6n, and it was quite severe; the airbag deployed. The problem was that it was located in the glove compartment, so it could theoretically be replaced (which I didn't do; I sold the car instead).
Take a look at the dashboard of the Seat; it has a flat surface with pre-weakened areas on the inside. Even after installing the new airbag, you'll still have the problem of cracks in the dashboard...

"And generally speaking, if a new car doesn't have comprehensive insurance... I would be very cautious. Why doesn't he just get it repaired, completely? You're going to get your insurance rate increased anyway, whether it's by €100 or €10,000."