I got in the car, turned the key on and the passenger air bag deployed. Sounded like a shotgun went off next to my ear. Luckily there was no one in the passenger seat.
Car was parked, not running, no collision, nothing. Woried now about the drivers side air bag.
I know the airbag is 21 years old, but I never thought it would just explode.
Anyone ever experience this.
I have a call into MB and local dealer.
Update: 11-15-12 The local MB dealer inspected the car. (First, let me state that the local dealer has been extremely cooperative, therefore I am not shooting the messenger). They state the car has signs of repair in the front passenger side. This damage would have had to happen 19years ago, as the previous owner (whom I have known for 28 years) has owned it since 1993 without any accidents. He bought it from the same local dealer, when it was two years old. (He was never told it had been in an accident)
They could find no signs of damage to the frame, tunnel cover, wiring, etc. Therefore they have no idea why the airbag deployed, just by turning on the key with the car in park and the engine off. Unfortunately, the old computer systems had rudimentary data and storage capability. The only code that came up stated the airbag deployed. Nothing else.
They said, the only way to determine the actual cause, would be to remove the whole dash and center console and send the SRS control module and both airbags, and potentially the wiring harness, to a forensic analyst. Therefore, MB will not replace the airbags. So I am back to square one!
Why did it go off? If it was from an accident, why did it not go off for 19 years? Why didn't the body shop replace the bag if the accident was deemed to be serious? Why did only the passenger airbag deploy, when the 91' control modules fired both bags together? Will the driver bag go off, even though the module is dead? Will it take more of these going off randomly before MB will address the issue?
Last edited by edge4; 11-15-2012 at 04:39 PM.
Reason: Update
Vehicle: 1996 SL500, 2013 Toyota Venza, 1991 Infiniti G20
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Posts: 1,272
Thankfully I have never experienced this and hope never to. Could you please keep us posted as to what MB says/does and cause of problem? Sorry I can't offer any assistance but hope to learn something.
Car has all original equipment. No aftermarket radio, alarm, etc.
Only 60k miles and garage kept.
No one was in passenger seat, not even a briefcase or bag to trigger the seat weight sensor.
I know they give the airbags a 15yr avg. life, but I would think the computer would disable the bag if there was a short or malfunction.
Worried now about driving it with the driver airbag staring at me.
Car has all original equipment. No aftermarket radio, alarm, etc.
Only 60k miles and garage kept.
No one was in passenger seat, not even a briefcase or bag to trigger the seat weight sensor.
I know they give the airbags a 15yr avg. life, but I would think the computer would disable the bag if there was a short or malfunction.
Worried now about driving it with the driver airbag staring at me.
This is a first, never heard of it, and as an electrical engineer, it sounds odd, and almost impossible, as air bag wiring is fail safe passive, meaning when it fails or shorts, it does not deploy when needed, vs deploying when not needed.
there is no weight sensor in a 1991, so it doesn't matter what/who was in the seat.
the circuitry in the airbag is switched on both ground and positive sides, so the chance of this happening is slim to none (statistically)
either someone is playing a practical joke on you, or you have the first Mercedes in the world to self deploy its airbag, or someone messed with your body harness, or someone watches Airplane movie too many times...
__________________
If you post to ask "is the car worth the repair?", get rid of your 129/140 and go buy a 2013 Corolla... Classic Benz is not an investment for you...
Mercedes-Benz, W140 S Class S320 (AKA 300SE)
Mercedes-Benz, R129 SL Class SL500 (AKA 500SL)
Mercedes-Benz, W163 ML Class ML430 (Designo Edition)
Triumph Daytona 955i - SSSA
Former Mercs: W140 S Class 500SEL (sold) - W140 S Class S500 (sold) - W140 S Class 500SEL (sold) - W201 190E 2.3 (sold)
I know its sounds bizzare. I also have an EE background and understand that logically, it shouldn't have occurred, but it did.
Although I have only owned the car for two weeks ( I was prepared for everything but this), I have known the original owner since it was purchased new. It was serviced regularly and babied by this older gentleman. No modifications. All stock. All OEM.
The only thing I have done that remotely could have affected the electrical was steam cleaning the engine compartment a week ago. Even then, I wrapped and covered all electrical boxes and connectors. This should not have caused a air bag deployment.
Since there was no wreck, no impact, not even the engine running, shouldn't the computer show that the airbag deployed without any event?
If I remember right there is a sticker on the door jamb telling us when they expire. I think that's an escape clause for MB ! I agree with the other guys. Makes no sense ! I dunno !
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