Airbag Problem

My son has a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am GT.
He had a minor front end crash. (with no airbag deployment) The crash damaged the hood, front bumper cover, right head light, and slightly bent the radiator support on the right side. I found a hood, bumper cover, and headlight at a salvage yard. I straightened the radiator support and put all of the parts on. Then I reconnected the battery, and let it run for a while, then test drove it. (all was well) soon after that he took it to work. The drivers AIRBAG deployed while he was driving the car. (very scarry !!!) Does anyone know WHY ?????

sounds like at some time during the rebuild someone may have messed with the wiring for the airbags system. All the connectors have safty pins in them andarenot to be tampered with less the bag is accidently deployed..

My son has a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am GT.
He had a minor front end crash. (with no airbag deployment) The crash damaged the hood, front bumper cover, right head light, and slightly bent the radiator support on the right side. I found a hood, bumper cover, and headlight at a salvage yard. I straightened the radiator support and put all of the parts on. Then I reconnected the battery, and let it run for a while, then test drove it. (all was well) soon after that he took it to work. The drivers AIRBAG deployed while he was driving the car. (very scarry !!!) Does anyone know WHY ?????


Welcome on your first post on AF
Hard to say without checking the SIR system.
Could have been a faulty crash sensor or shorted or lose wire.
But to late now.
Not sure but your comp. insurance may cover something like that.
At least it is a road hazard.:grinyes: :grinno:

Before I could straighten the radiator support, I had to remove the crash sensor that is mounted on the radiator support so it would not be damaged. The only way to remove it is to pull the safety pin and unplug it, (all airbag plugs are yellow) then pull the two foot wire thru the Radiator support. (with the battery disconnected) I reversed my steps, when I put the car back together. If I would not have had the plug in correctly, then the airbag should have deployed the second that I reconnected the battery, Right ???

Before I could straighten the radiator support, I had to remove the crash sensor that is mounted on the radiator support so it would not be damaged. The only way to remove it is to pull the safety pin and unplug it, (all airbag plugs are yellow) then pull the two foot wire thru the Radiator support. (with the battery disconnected) I reversed my steps, when I put the car back together. If I would not have had the plug in correctly, then the airbag should have deployed the second that I reconnected the battery, Right ???

I do not think unplugging and plugging it back up could have been the problem.
They only plug in one way anyway.
If the air bag light worked right after the repair.
Light on key on for a system check and went out after engine running.
Would indicate system was ok.
Hard to say now what did happen.
But if you replace the air bag get the system tested out good first.
It takes a good air bag system scanner to check it.
The scanner will show any problem on the system.
Good Luck MT

Honestly, the bag should have deployed when it was wrecked. So I'd say thier is a short.


Like MT said, you need a good scanner that can check the SIR.

If you look at the frt SIRS sensor closely make sure there is not a slight indentation in the case, this can go unnoticed and cause what happened, keep in mind a collision such as yours may not have generated enough negative g forces to trigger deployment.