From: Jules Richardson on
On Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:20:08 -0400, Steve W. wrote:
> I would bet that they will tell you they won't even insure it unless you
> replace the bags. Plus if there is another "event" and the company
> decides that injuries/death could have been reduced/eliminated IF the
> bags had been in place and YOU chose not to repair them, They will
> likely not cover anything.

Yeah, good point on that last one - hadn't thought of that. I always play
it safe with insurance companies and tell them everything, but I suppose
they still have the right not to pay up in an accident if they choose to.

>> Looking around, it seems I can get a new front set of belts (driver +
>> passenger) for less than $100 (without the crash-tensioner stuff),
>> which isn't bad at all. Replacing the airbags would be around $1000
>> though (plus extras - crash sensor, dash / steering wheel covers,
>> clearing codes in the computer etc.)
>
> I take it you didn't have coverage for this? Keep in mind that if you
> don't repair it and then sell/trade the vehicle you can be required
> to replace the bags anyway.

No, it wasn't ours - the previous owners got hit from behind which put a
small hole in the back bumper; they were bringing it in to the body shop
to get that fixed when they hit a deer and trashed the front end. Their
insurance company were going to total it, but I bought it off them for
next to nothing - I figure I can either fix it or part it out.

The body panels and other front-end damage isn't a problem (there's no
frame damage, and it'll be about $800 in parts, assuming I don't source
some stuff from a junkyard) - but just about all my knowledge is with old
vehicles that don't have things like airbags and on-board computers and
seatbelts with explosives in them, so I'm on a bit of a learning
experience there :-)

cheers

Jules
From: hls on

"Steve W." <csr684(a)NOTyahoo.com> wrote in message

> Keep in mind that if you don't repair it and then sell/trade the vehicle
> you can be required to replace the bags anyway.

> Steve W.

Your comment is interesting. This is true in some states, if not all.
(I didnt think it was true here in Texas, but I will have to check it)

In some states, anyway, you cannot sell a car- even "as is" -that has
certain faults like this, or if it cannot be registered to drive.



From: Steve W. on
Jules Richardson wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:20:08 -0400, Steve W. wrote:
>> I would bet that they will tell you they won't even insure it unless you
>> replace the bags. Plus if there is another "event" and the company
>> decides that injuries/death could have been reduced/eliminated IF the
>> bags had been in place and YOU chose not to repair them, They will
>> likely not cover anything.
>
> Yeah, good point on that last one - hadn't thought of that. I always play
> it safe with insurance companies and tell them everything, but I suppose
> they still have the right not to pay up in an accident if they choose to.
>
>>> Looking around, it seems I can get a new front set of belts (driver +
>>> passenger) for less than $100 (without the crash-tensioner stuff),
>>> which isn't bad at all. Replacing the airbags would be around $1000
>>> though (plus extras - crash sensor, dash / steering wheel covers,
>>> clearing codes in the computer etc.)
>> I take it you didn't have coverage for this? Keep in mind that if you
>> don't repair it and then sell/trade the vehicle you can be required
>> to replace the bags anyway.
>
> No, it wasn't ours - the previous owners got hit from behind which put a
> small hole in the back bumper; they were bringing it in to the body shop
> to get that fixed when they hit a deer and trashed the front end. Their
> insurance company were going to total it, but I bought it off them for
> next to nothing - I figure I can either fix it or part it out.
>
> The body panels and other front-end damage isn't a problem (there's no
> frame damage, and it'll be about $800 in parts, assuming I don't source
> some stuff from a junkyard) - but just about all my knowledge is with old
> vehicles that don't have things like airbags and on-board computers and
> seatbelts with explosives in them, so I'm on a bit of a learning
> experience there :-)
>
> cheers
>
> Jules

Bags are not real hard to work with. The cardinal rule with them is to
disconnect the battery, then replace the bad parts connect the bags up
as close to last as you can. Then connect the battery. The system will
run a self test and IF all the faults are gone the light will go off and
your all set. If the light stays on then there is still a problem.

The seat belts will likely be worse. The bolts LOVE to rust under the
body and not come out.

Most of the electronics are not real difficult, they are just a PIA when
they start failing....

--
Steve W.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
From: Jules Richardson on
On Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:46:04 +0000, Jules Richardson wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:20:08 -0400, Steve W. wrote:
>> I would bet that they will tell you they won't even insure it unless
>> you replace the bags. Plus if there is another "event" and the company
>> decides that injuries/death could have been reduced/eliminated IF the
>> bags had been in place and YOU chose not to repair them, They will
>> likely not cover anything.
>
> Yeah, good point on that last one - hadn't thought of that. I always
> play it safe with insurance companies and tell them everything

Just a follow-up on that - we put basic liability on it without any
problem. Told them about the bags and the other damage which meant we
wouldn't be driving it right away anyway, and they just said that they'd
need to inspect it after we'd done the work if we wanted to change the
policy to full cover. As we normally run our vehicles with just basic
liability anyway, so it would seem that there's no problem...

re. belt bolts rusting as you mentioned in another post - been there,
done that! As this van's only a couple of years old though it's all rot-
free, so I don't think there'll be any problem.

cheers

Jules