Pop goes the airbag

[logicisme]

Ok, so this sucks. Yeah I know it's sorta my fault. I am kinda pissed off but since I didn't get hurt I am not that mad.

I was driving "the speed limit" on a road with a bunch of dips, I apparently bottomed out the car when I bottomed over one of the humps and both my airbags went off. I looked under the car and looks like I bottomed on the engine crossmember pretty good but thats all. so now I talked to my dad who works for a Ford dealer and he said that one of the other techs had that happen to him. I am hoping that Ford will cover this as isn't the proper reaction of the airbag system.

I just wanted to post this info as an FYI if any of you might be afraid of airbags or not fit the typical john doe shape for safe airbag deployment. It felt kind of like a someone put a phone book on my chest and kicked me really hard. So y'all know just be careful if you sit too close to the airbag as these things can seriously hurt you even if you don't get in an accident.

I have a stock '03 cobra with less than 20k miles.

 

[Uncle Meat]

DAMN! You must have produced the neccessary amount of negative "G's" on impact to set them off!

Bet it scared the livin' chit out of you huh?

U.M

 

[69 Rustang]

As an alternate if Ford says no, couldn't you file an insurance claim? You did have a collision of a sort. That will be an expensive out of pocket repair...

 

[logicisme]

I could file probably, however, that would mean my ins would go up and i would end up being skrued in the long run. I pay about 198/ mo for my stang full coverage and my samurai / liability. I don't want it to go up. Ins is such a rip off. I wish we could just do a equity account so we didn't have to pay.


Oh well Ebay says around 400 for a new drivers bag. I will assume the passenger will be the same.

 

[kovacs22]

do i really need my airbags? maybe i'll sell them sure could use another set of wheels and tires lol

 

[logicisme]

Ok so here comes the fall out. I just realized my 6cd mach system is jammed with 6 cds in it , I have a pretty bad steering column squeak, it sounds like a quiet cricket has made its home under my hood, the speed control won't coast and my already rattley car has a few new ones to add to the symphony of rattles it makes, and my noisy diff seems to have changed its tune. Not to mention the fabulous black duct tape which my drivers airbag is wrapped in. I may be getting super sensitive but it sounds like the clicky rocker arm sound has gotten a small degree louder. And pieces of plastic and stuff keep falling out of random places beneath the dash

I definatley feel like I pulled an elanor now (post tow truck flatbed jump). At least I didn't appear to bend the frame or something. Although I am not so sure about the engine crossmember.

I can't wait to pay this off so she can become a weekend warrior. Thank goodness for extended warranties. Oh well, only a 12hr drive ahead of me tomorrow. San Jose CA to Portland OR

 

[Uncle Meat]

That "clicky rocker arm noise" is probably the dreaded "Tick" that so many '03's are afflicted with. There's a TSB for that and they will replace your whole drivers side head under warranty.

As for all the other problems popping up since your Evil Knievel stunt... might want to think about having a professional body shop take a look. Sounds like you hurt more than originally thought.

U.M.

 

[69 Rustang]

Ever consider an insurance claim?

 

[logicisme]

The pain...

Okay so much to my dismay kinda laughing in shock huh huh uhhhhh,

The dealer called me with the diagnosis after I took it in today. So the service writer's first words were I have some very very bad news...

So apparently I bottomed out / bent my engine crossmember pretty good and, smashed my oil pan, and smacked one of my cats, and scraped the heck out of the frame connector. They said it would cost several grand to fix. OUCHHHHH, the good news is the frame isn't bent.

Insurance companies (kinda ironic for me to say that)

 

[94CobraPace]

Good time to upgrade to a tubular crossmember!

 

[Uncle Meat]

Good time to upgrade to a tubular crossmember!

+1.

U.M.

 

[tomustang]

+1.

U.M.

there ya go! then when you have an accident it'll snap your neck because of NO crumble force, then your ins company will deny your claim cause you don't have OEM safty equipt on

 

[tomustang]

So apparently I bottomed out / bent my engine crossmember pretty good and, smashed my oil pan, and smacked one of my cats, and scraped the heck out of the frame connector. They said it would cost several grand to fix. OUCHHHHH,

several grand phew!!! you'r K member looks fine, just as long as there isn't any broken weld or cracks. sand the oil pan where it's scraped and apply some engine block paint (you can do this on the car) done. get rid of the brace and by a Maximum Motorsports one for about $100. buy subframe connectors and have them welded into place, while welding them add some thin plates to the offset/damaged spaces on the subframe.

you should be more careful on the road. I have a very low drop and never bottomed out on bad roads, so take it easy next time ok

the good news is the frame isn't bent.

the frame is bent from the factory anyway

 

[Uncle Meat]

there ya go! then when you have an accident it'll snap your neck because of NO crumble force, then your ins company will deny your claim cause you don't have OEM safty equipt on

Hey, I was just agreeing that if he was ever contemplating the addition of a K-member now would be the time to do it!

Evidently he is not too concerned about his overall safety based on the circumstances which lead up to this thread being created to begin with.

U.M.

 

[tomustang]

tly he is not too concerned about his overall safety based on the circumstances which lead up to this thread being created to begin with.

U.M.

true true, so true

 

[Ernad]

Hey, I was just agreeing that if he was ever contemplating the addition of a K-member now would be the time to do it!

Evidently he is not too concerned about his overall safety based on the circumstances which lead up to this thread being created to begin with.

U.M.

Well, he WAS driving the speed limit.

 

[COBRA90GT]

...So apparently I bottomed out / bent my engine crossmember pretty good and, smashed my oil pan, and smacked one of my cats, and scraped the heck out of the frame connector...

Apparently so!