Airbags deployed now car will not start HELP

[Timmy390]

It's been one heck of a weekend so far. On Friday afternoon, my daughter slammed someone in my 98 Cavalier. Airbags popped on both sides. The car was towed and the key was left on killing the battery. I got the car yesterday and took everything apart and got the front end all bent back to where everything will go back on(well maybe)

Anyway, I put the battery back in and tried to start the care today after replacing the radiator. I put the key in and the "bell/chime" is going crazy. I hit the key and nothing. The dash is all screwed up with all the lights on. They stay on. Radio will not come on, nothing works. Checked the battery and its ok. Tried to jump it with same results.

Hooked up my code scanner and it will not talk to the cars computer at all.

I've never had a car pop the bags before so I have no idea what needs to be fixed or replaced. Car was fine before the crash.

Please help. This is my daughters only way to collage so I'm doing all I can to get this thing on the road for Tuesday morning.

Also, if anyone has airbags for a 98 Cav with gray interior, I'm interested. Also need headlights and corner lights.

Thanks, Tim

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by Timmy390

It's been one heck of a weekend so far. On Friday afternoon, my daughter slammed someone in my 98 Cavalier. Airbags popped on both sides. The car was towed and the key was left on killing the battery. I got the car yesterday and took everything apart and got the front end all bent back to where everything will go back on(well maybe)

Anyway, I put the battery back in and tried to start the care today after replacing the radiator. I put the key in and the "bell/chime" is going crazy. I hit the key and nothing. The dash is all screwed up with all the lights on. They stay on. Radio will not come on, nothing works. Checked the battery and its ok. Tried to jump it with same results.

Hooked up my code scanner and it will not talk to the cars computer at all.

I've never had a car pop the bags before so I have no idea what needs to be fixed or replaced. Car was fine before the crash.

Please help. This is my daughters only way to collage so I'm doing all I can to get this thing on the road for Tuesday morning.

Also, if anyone has airbags for a 98 Cav with gray interior, I'm interested. Also need headlights and corner lights.

Thanks, Tim

H 'lites and parking lites can be gotten aftermarket fom Keystone Auto or B&D Int'l. You will have to replace the Sirs deployment module, both air bags and the front sensor if it has one. Sounds like you popped one of the main fuses in the main fuse box under the hood, if so, watch for pinched harnesses in the impact area. Some states used air bags cannot be sold, NYS for instance.

[Derk_eliso]

Originally Posted by Timmy390

Please help. This is my daughters only way to collage so I'm doing all I can to get this thing on the road for Tuesday morning.

Also, if anyone has airbags for a 98 Cav with gray interior, I'm interested. Also need headlights and corner lights.
Thanks, Tim

I'll have a set of headlights and clear corners for sell after Thursday when I get my new lights. They'll be on eBay but I'll give you first dips if you like.

[Timmy390]

After posting this, I did some reading and figured out there is no fuel pump reset (must be a Ford thing as stated above). So I started on the electrical. Everything looked OK. Battery had a green eye after a recharge (they left the key on over night after towing it). The starter DID hit the very first time I hit the key. After that it was dead. I hit the battery with a volt meter and had 11.75 volts so I tried to jump it. Well, that killed the battery in the jump vehicle. It will now no longer start my truck. It too has a green eye. I see a pattern…….

I checked the battery in the Cav today and it was 10.54 volts but yet had a green eye. Went to Wal Mart and got a new battery for the Cav and it fired right up. It runs and drives. It don’t look too good now but it starts.

I took all the air bags out last night after removing the top of the dash.

I’m guessing the battery was jacked after the hit.

Thanks for all the advice/help on this. I hope to never see another air bag………..

Tim