SkinsD Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Have had a series of odd stuff happen to my car I was hoping one of you might be able to explain. On Tuesday this week I hit a huge pothole and went off the road (just the pass side tires, but was able to regain control) this literally cut my pass front rim in half and blew the tire. Had those replaced. On Thursday I got stuck in the boondocks with a flat pass rear tire, that also bent that rim too. AAA sucks too btw, sat there from 10p to 2p when a cop helped me. This is where it gets weird. I go back to the dealership yesterday and order another rim and tire. After I leave I go to the store. I pull in a parking space and as soon as I put the car in park both airbags inflated! Thank God I wasn't on I95 or something! I didn't hit anything nor was I going fast or close to anything. It makes no sense, other than that when I hit the pothole something got messed up. Basically my question is whether that can happen. Can the sensors be messed up that the bags deploy 4 days later for no reason? Oh and I took the car back to the dealership where I bought and had it worked on since I owned it. The warranty is up (Its an '03 Toyota Matrix), how screwed am I? The car looks close to total by my estimate. How do dealers handle stuff like this? I greatly appreciate all your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 On the airbags it is likely wiring that was damaged(causing a short). My first guess would be in the steering column/clockspring :whoknows: The system tests itself each time the ignition turns on and generally will not deploy if the test comes up with a initial fault....did the light stay on before they deployed? As far as costs you are looking at $2,000 plus just for the two front,quite possibly much more....hope you have insurance. Added I see no tech bulletins demonstrating a prior/similar problem,mostly the Toyota's are having recalls on SRS not deploying with sufficient force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share Posted October 14, 2007 The system tests itself each time the ignition turns on and generally will not deploy if the test comes up with a initial fault....did the light stay on before they deployed? Thanks twa for the help. No there was no warning light on for the airbags before this happened. In fact I never saw it since I owned the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Sounds like a bad week...Good luck The light comes on when you start the car then goes out if the system selftests OK. With no light a short is likely and the clockspring is a weaklink,but with electronic modules who knows....it is very rare. I hate airbags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCollins Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 It's a little late now for this but could have parked your car and had a friend with a pick up back into it with his step bumper. most insurance policies cover hit and run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 It could be possible(I think) that one of your sensors was damaged in the crash. It's a lead ball in some kind of jell. It might have loosened it up. This doesn't sound like it's possible, but like twa said above, with electronics, who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 It could be possible(I think) that one of your sensors was damaged in the crash. It's a lead ball in some kind of jell. It might have loosened it up. This doesn't sound like it's possible, but like twa said above, with electronics, who knows. Actually this is what Toyota is saying what happened, the sensor was damaged in the initial crash and then went off for whatever reason. My argument is that I asked them to look over the car to make sure the vehicle was worth fixing (if an impact can rip apart a rim there is a problem). But they just fixed it and said everything was fine. Now they won't take responsibility for anything, so essentially I'm screwed. Anyone got a cheap used car for sale? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 I don't suppose you have full ins coverage? Since the dealer claims it is related to the accident with the wheel it should be covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCollins Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Actually this is what Toyota is saying what happened, the sensor was damaged in the initial crash and then went off for whatever reason. My argument is that I asked them to look over the car to make sure the vehicle was worth fixing (if an impact can rip apart a rim there is a problem). But they just fixed it and said everything was fine. Now they won't take responsibility for anything, so essentially I'm screwed. Anyone got a cheap used car for sale? :laugh: I understand why you're concerned, but if there was damage to the frame, suspension, steering, or axels, the mechanic would probably know it, and it would be apparent when you drove the car. You don't need no stinking airbags, just drive the car and shuuuudup already :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 I understand why you're concerned, but if there was damage to the frame, suspension, steering, or axels, the mechanic would probably know it, and it would be apparent when you drove the car. You don't need no stinking airbags, just drive the car and shuuuudup already :laugh: Yeah I asked about that and they said they can't do that... something about how I could sell the car to some unsuspecting family who wouldn't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 I don't suppose you have full ins coverage?Since the dealer claims it is related to the accident with the wheel it should be covered. No I dropped collision coverage when I payed the car off... 3 weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCollins Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Yeah I asked about that and they said they can't do that... something about how I could sell the car to some unsuspecting family who wouldn't know. your previous post wasn't clear. I thought you said that they fixed the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 your previous post wasn't clear. I thought you said that they fixed the car? Sorry, they only fixed the right front wheel from the pothole I hit. The airbags didn't inflate until 4 days later... while I was stopped and putting the car in park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 damn man that sucks... airbags are so expensive that a 2003 toyota matrix is totaled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCollins Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Sorry, they only fixed the right front wheel from the pothole I hit. The airbags didn't inflate until 4 days later... while I was stopped and putting the car in park. OK another spoonful of information . Are you also saying that you can't drive the car without airbags? Just remove them, replace the horn cap and dash cover and get over it. I owned and drove vehicles that didn't come with seat belts, and without insurance for 16 years, I'm sure you can get by without airbags :doh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsNut73 Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 damn man that sucks...airbags are so expensive that a 2003 toyota matrix is totaled? About 10 years ago I "totaled" a Ford Escort hatchback. I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge...too busy playing with the radio...when I "tapped" into the rear end of a beer truck. Couldn't have been going more than 10MPH...and the air bags deployed (which, by the way, was worse than the accident...it was those first generation airbags that tore up my arms when they went off :laugh: ) Anyway...very minor damage to the front bumper...didn't even leave a blemish on the bumper of the beer truck. Got a call a couple days later from the insurance company...totaled...car is worth $6K and the airbags alone were $3600. I couldn't believe it... ...oh, and if I were you SkinsD, I might just stay inside the house for a few days...at least until that black cloud that's been hovering over you moves on... . That's a rough week brother... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 About 10 years ago I "totaled" a Ford Escort hatchback. I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge...too busy playing with the radio...when I "tapped" into the rear end of a beer truck. Couldn't have been going more than 10MPH...and the air bags deployed (which, by the way, was worse than the accident...it was those first generation airbags that tore up my arms when they went off :laugh: )Anyway...very minor damage to the front bumper...didn't even leave a blemish on the bumper of the beer truck. Got a call a couple days later from the insurance company...totaled...car is worth $6K and the airbags alone were $3600. I couldn't believe it... I read it and I still don't believe it. I guess we are lucky drug users don't break into cars and steal airbags. That's crazy... http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E3DF1631F936A35756C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print A ring that stole thousands of car air bags in New York, New Jersey and the Northeast and netted $1.5 million by selling them to shady auto parts dealers across the nation was smashed yesterday with the indictment and arrest of five men and a woman, Federal and city law enforcement officials said.Detailing the largest conspiracy in stolen air bags since the devices became standard equipment in American-made cars a decade ago, the officials said more than 5,000 used and perhaps defective air bags may have been installed in the cars of unsuspecting motorists in every state over the last two years. wow :yikes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Personally I agree with Dean...cut em off and drive,it has nothing to do with drivability. SkinsNut73...yeah they can tear you up worse than a wreck,I have had customers with broken arms, deep lacerations(rearview mirror or item on dash imbedded) and other severe trauma. The newer generation ones have improved ,but I still wish they never required them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APBT Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Have had a series of odd stuff happen to my car I was hoping one of you might be able to explain.On Tuesday this week I hit a huge pothole and went off the road (just the pass side tires, but was able to regain control) this literally cut my pass front rim in half and blew the tire. Had those replaced. On Thursday I got stuck in the boondocks with a flat pass rear tire, that also bent that rim too. AAA sucks too btw, sat there from 10p to 2p when a cop helped me. This is where it gets weird. I go back to the dealership yesterday and order another rim and tire. After I leave I go to the store. I pull in a parking space and as soon as I put the car in park both airbags inflated! Thank God I wasn't on I95 or something! I didn't hit anything nor was I going fast or close to anything. It makes no sense, other than that when I hit the pothole something got messed up. Basically my question is whether that can happen. Can the sensors be messed up that the bags deploy 4 days later for no reason? Oh and I took the car back to the dealership where I bought and had it worked on since I owned it. The warranty is up (Its an '03 Toyota Matrix), how screwed am I? The car looks close to total by my estimate. How do dealers handle stuff like this? I greatly appreciate all your help! Go to the local Government. They should replace all of your damages free of charge if you can prove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 16, 2007 Author Share Posted October 16, 2007 Thanks for all the advise guys, I really appreciate it. I decided to take your advise and just drive the car without airbags. Frankly I never thought of it, so again, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Thanks for all the advise guys, I really appreciate it. I decided to take your advise and just drive the car without airbags. Frankly I never thought of it, so again, thanks! I'd also call up Toyota's Customer Service and explain to them what happened... I'm pretty sure this isn't something they want people to find out about.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinnedAussie Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 On Thursday I got stuck in the boondocks with a flat pass rear tire, that also bent that rim too. AAA sucks too btw, sat there from 10p to 2p when a cop helped me. You go out to the boondocks without a spare, then get a flat and wait for 16 hours before help arrives? Maybe the cop was sent out on a missing person call! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsD Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share Posted October 17, 2007 You go out to the boondocks without a spare, then get a flat and wait for 16 hours before help arrives?Maybe the cop was sent out on a missing person call! Hahahaha I meant until 2am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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