If your airbag light comes on, it is strongly suggested you do not ignore it. With all the lights on your dash, it can be very tempting to ignore one and think it is no big deal. However, if your airbag light comes on, and you ignore it, you could be playing Russian roulette with your life and the lives of your passengers. It might mean nothing much, or it could mean that in the event of an accident, your airbags will not deploy. With that in mind, here are 6 things you need to know:
On your dash, you will see a light that either says Air Bag or SRS. SRS stands for “supplemental restraint system.” In some vehicles, you might also see an illustration of a person with an airbag deploying.
In some vehicles, you might see a warning saying, “airbag deactivated,” or, “air bag off.”
If your airbag light is on, it could also indicate a problem with your seat belts.
Your airbag or SRS light might also come on if your vehicle was in an accident that activated the crash sensors in your car, but not to the point where the airbag deployed. In this case, you need to have your airbag reset.
Airbags may also fail to deploy if your car sustained serious water damage to the point where the sensors corroded.
A qualified mechanic can diagnose problems with your air bags, and determine why your Air Bag Light is coming on.
Is it safe to drive with your Air Bag Light on? Maybe. It could be a problem in the sensor that causes the light to come on. Or, the problem could be that your airbags will not deploy if you end up in a collision. It is not recommended you take the chance.
A mechanic can diagnose why your airbag light has come on. If it is a problem with a sensor, the sensor can be replaced. If your airbags need to be reset, a mechanic can do that for you. You should always assume that if your Air Bag Light has come on, your safety could be compromised, so get it checked out as soon as possible.
