If your car’s airbag light comes on, it could be one of these four issues

The illumination of the airbag light is a sign that should not be ignored. In addition, this indicator, like that of the engine or the ABS braking system, is one of the most important.

When this light comes on, it means that one of the elements responsible for safety is not working.

How does the airbag system work?

The airbag is activated when the deceleration exceeds the threshold set in the control unit. First the belt tensioner and then the airbag is activated. This will illuminate the warning light and remain on until repaired.

The airbags or airbags are responsible for inflating in the event of an accident, thus preventing the crew members from hitting other parts of the car.

Four tips to watch out for

• Airbag off: The most common reason for the airbag light to come on is that the airbag system is disabled or turned off. That doesn’t necessarily mean someone turned them off. There may be reasons for this over which we have no control.
• Minor Accident: In some minor accidents, your airbags will not deploy, but the crash sensors will still activate. That means the airbag light will stay on until you go to an auto repair shop and have a technician reset it.
• Airbag system will not reset: If you have an accident in which the airbags deploy, simply replacing them is not enough. Crash sensors, belt tensioners and other SRS components also have to be replaced.
• Seat belts: Many vehicles turn on their lights when the seat belt is not fastened. However, there could be other seat belt issues that could cause this light to come on.

It’s important that you fix any problems with your airbag system because airbags can save your life if you’re in a car accident and you don’t want to find out the hard way if your airbags are working or not.

The safest thing is to take it to a mechanic so they can check the entire system and you can travel safely.

Airbag and seat belt

One of the most common mistakes is not wearing a seat belt, believing that the car’s airbag is enough to protect us in the event of an accident.

The use of the airbag is designed to take into account both the driver’s position and the tension of the seat belt at the time of the accident. Therefore, if we do not fasten the seat belt correctly, the position of the body will not be sufficient and the airbag action could cause injury to the driver.

That said, the use of a seat belt is mandatory and necessary, especially if we consider the effectiveness of this element when it comes to protecting us in the event of an accident.

And why does the ABS light come on?

A fault in the brake system can have various causes. The first and most serious reason is that the ABS controller has stopped working, the second may be that a fuse has blown, a cable between the controller and the sensors is broken, or a speed sensor is dirty.

Again this already depends on the vehicle, it may be that the ABS warning light comes on as well when the brake fluid level is low. This is not common as cars usually have a special warning device for this, but it could be the case.