Quantcast
Jump to content


Air Bag Light in Disguise


Gonzo

Recommended Posts

Air Bag Light in Disguise Gonzo 2011

Sometimes I wonder if the things I find wrong with some of these cars are just there for me to find out how ridiculous some people can be. I've got to question the thought process of the brilliant ideas that some people can have, just before total stupidity takes over. I gotta ask… "What were you thinking?"

 

The other day I had a late 90's GM in the shop. The owner had recently bought it off of a small car lot, and had no idea of the history of the vehicle. It was one of those "great deals" that he couldn't pass up. Why is it these "great" deals always have some sort of catch to them? Maybe it would be a good idea to have it checked out before you buy it. After looking at it, I might tell you to "pass it up". Honestly, I'll never understand why someone will buy a used car when they know nothing about it, or decide after they buy it to finally have it checked out … but they do.

 

This particular creation had some strange problems. It had a strange battery drain. At first glance all the instrument cluster warning lights, interior lights, and all the electrical functions seemed to be working correctly. There was a drain, a good one too. Strong enough to drain the battery in a day, or so. Finding the solution actually was going to lead to an even bigger problem.

 

Narrowing it down by watching the amp meter for the parasitic draw value, and pulling fuses till the numbers dropped back into factory specs was the next procedure. Of all things, it ended up back to a crossed up circuit between the air bag system and the charging system. I decided to check the air bag system for codes.

 

This is interesting, it's off line. No communication with the crash box. Hmmm, I'm a little confused, because I know I saw the air bag light come on and go off when I pulled it into the shop. Turning the key off, and then restarting the car didn't help me much, because the air bag light was on… and then off. But then, maybe it did. Like I said, the light came on, and then went off… hey, wait a minute isn't there supposed to be a few seconds before it goes off? Isn't this how it verifies its systems are functioning properly? I thought so. So, what's going on here?

 

As a technician I'm trying to follow the codes, the diagnostic charts, and the operating description of the system I'm working on. This particular problem wasn't following the chain of typical scenarios. Take in account this whole thing started off because of a battery drain… I'm really starting to scratch my head over this one.

 

I had a lot of different ways to go with this one. I could try and follow the draw a little further, or I could chase the problem from the air bag side of it. Maybe, it will all lead to the same problem. For my money I think I'll work on it from the air bag side of the problem.

 

The air bag fuses were all good, and the light did come on in the dash. So, I decided to pull the air bag diagnostic module out and pin check the leads to see if that lead anywhere. My first check on any system is the positive signals and then the grounds. Why's that you ask? Because a loss of ground can be seen as an open lead, and if the positive signals are there, you'll actually find a voltage signal on the open ground. That's what electricity wants to do… find ground, and find the shortest path back to the source of the voltage.

 

In this case they were all there, but when I checked the leads to the instrument cluster the voltage was coming towards the crash box rather than to the cluster. What now? (I love my job, I love my job, repeat as necessary) I guess I better pull the cluster and check the wiring from there back to the crash box and see if that leads anywhere.

 

After pulling the dash it didn't take a rocket scientist to see what the problem was. On the back of the instrument cluster somebody had cut the circuit board line to the air bag light, and then added a soldered-on wire to the charge light. So when the charge light was on, so was the air bag light. Once the car started (providing the charging system is working correctly) the charge light would go out, and so would the air bag light. Huh???

 

You can imagine my "mechanical language" was not for the faint of heart when I found out what was going on. It seems some genius didn't want to replace the air bag module, so they invented their own air bag warning light instead. Brilliant stupidity… I think that's the best way to explain it. I can't imagine somebody went thru all the trouble to deceive the buyer of this car for a safety issue such as air bags. It should be a criminal offense.

 

After undoing the homemade airbag light, the draw was completely gone. Now the only thing to do was to replace the air bag module to bring it back up to working order. I'm not saying anybody would have caught the problem at first glance. It was a well thought out deception. If you were not intentionally looking for an air bag light delay, I don't think you would have caught the problem.

 

Leave it to some unscrupulous dork out there to try something like this. But, I still think it is a good idea to have the car checked out prior to buying it. Maybe, just maybe, you can spot problems like this before you own the problem.

 

 

these stories are here before finally editing. Your comments are welcome and always love to hear from everyone. If you have a similar story, let me know.

Watch for my articles in several automotive trade magazines. Gonzo

 


View full article

Edited by Gonzo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

uote name='CARMandP' timestamp='1298740355' post='9530']

Wow, that's a new one on me. I have never seen that stunt pulled before :) Pretty smart if you ask me. (and yes it should be illegal)

It really should be illegal in every state.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was a pretty sharp crook on that one or a used car dealer telling an unscrupulous tech to just fix it where the light didn't stay on. You see a lot of shenanigans from some used car dealers. There are a few in our town that will not let a customer bring a used car to us for a pre-purchase inspection. Guess why? We had one used car salesman start insulting us when we found problems on Porsche he was trying to sell and my service manager almost physically threw him out.

 

The people that would even consider buying a vehicle under those circumstances are (in my opinion) just as bad as the salesman that won't let them get it checked out. Unbelievable... and YES, I HAVE physically thrown used car salesman out of my door. I know exactly the type you're talking about.

Edited by Gonzo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's what I found out Dewayne. tampering with the air bag is a choice of the owner, you own the car (not renting) so it's your choice.. you can even request to have the bag turned off for reasons of height, health, or disability. Even if the owner is a used car lot. however, knowingly selling a car with a defective air bag system and not telling the new owner is .. well, in some cases illegal. But, the way it's worded (typical politics) the phrase "knowingly" becomes the "escape clause" .

 

But I'm with you... it ought to be illegal, and if a so called "professional" sale is taking place... then things like this should be checked out. This isn't the 50 or 60's where we didn't even consider seat belts as a requirement... this IS the time when as much care is taken to protect the driver and passengers as well as fuel mileage.

 

It's just sad to find what I found on that car... are real eye opener to the other side of car repair.... the illegal side.

I don't know for sure, but I thought tampering with an airbag system and not letting the purchaser know IS illegal? That used car dealer set themselves up for a lawsuit if their customer was ever in an accident and the airbags didn't work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Here's what I found out Dewayne. tampering with the air bag is a choice of the owner, you own the car (not renting) so it's your choice.. you can even request to have the bag turned off for reasons of height, health, or disability. Even if the owner is a used car lot. however, knowingly selling a car with a defective air bag system and not telling the new owner is .. well, in some cases illegal. But, the way it's worded (typical politics) the phrase "knowingly" becomes the "escape clause" .

 

And therein lies the problem. Even if this dealer did have the chop job done the buyer has to prove the dealer knew it was "fixed" incorrectly. Good luck in getting that done. Any tech who would do that sure as heck isn't going to admit to it.

 

 

One of those buy-here-pay-here (screw job instant junk) car lots near my shop has their cars all "inspected" before sale. They even strongly suggest it to the customers. It's all a credibility thing. Convince the customer that the deceptive car lot is really honest because they let the customer have the car inspected. Well the car lot steers the customer to a specific shop. A friend of mine worked there (the shop not the car lot) and he told me that the "inspection" was very specific and he was NOT to "find" anything else except what the car lot authorized them to "inspect." Anytime I have a customer talk about buying a new-to-them used car I always tell them to have it inspected first. I try to impress the value of the inspection as a bargaining tool if anything is found wrong then they may be able to get the seller to pony up some $$ of the price. And at the very least they will knwo what they are buying. I tell them that if the dealer or seller refuses to let them have it inspected first WALK AWAY, there's a reason why they won't let it be inspected, they are afraid you will find something they don't want you to find.

 

Or like in the case of my mother-in-law's minivan, a Chrysler with the remote in the key head, the van had only one key. When the salesman dropped it off I asked if it had two keys and he said, "Yes, I only brought the one." I thought that was little fishy so I told my MIL to insist on having both keys BEFORE signing the paperwork. Well she didn't, so she had to go back and get the second key, programmed to the tune of $150.00+. But not being one to get pushed around, and having written many loans for this dealership when she worked at the bank, she talked to the sales manager and told him I was specifically told that there were two keys and the salesman had flat-out lied, so the sales manager graciously paid for the key. Had it not been checked out first she might have had to pay for that very expensive key.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         2 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
  • Similar Topics

    • By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • By carmcapriotto
      As tax season 2024 unfolds, many entrepreneurs find themselves grappling with previous years' unpaid taxes, alongside the looming obligations for the current year. This episode gets into practical solutions for managing tax debt, with real-life advice and expert insights to navigate this challenging aspect of business ownership.
      • Understanding Your Options with the IRS: Setting up a payment plan with the IRS is the most common recourse for those unable to pay taxes in full. Learn about the prerequisites, process, and potential pitfalls. How does the IRS view income versus payroll tax debts? What are the crucial differences that could affect your business?
      • The Truth About Offers in Compromise: Offers in Compromise (OIC) might seem like a silver bullet for tax woes, but they're often misunderstood and not as easily attainable as advertised. I I try to demystify OICs, outlining the qualifications, processes, and the reality behind settling tax debts for "pennies on the dollar." Why are these offers rarely the best solution for most taxpayers?
      • Practical Tips and Real-World Strategies: Beyond understanding IRS mechanisms, this episode provides actionable advice for managing and potentially settling tax debts. From negotiating with state tax authorities to leveraging existing assets and income for a better outcome, learn strategies that could save your business significant amounts of money and stress.
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By carmcapriotto
      In this week’s episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt welcomes Mike Edge from Tread Partners, a fellow podcaster from the Gain Traction Podcast. The dialogue explores the symbiotic relationship between tire sales and auto repair services, emphasizing the strategic value of incorporating tire sales into auto repair shops' service offerings.
      Why Sell Tires in Auto Repair Shops? Discover why even repair shops traditionally not focused on tire sales should consider offering tires to their customers. Mike Edge shares insights on how selling tires isn't just about the transaction; it's about fostering long-term, loyal customer relationships. This segment explores the concept that selling tires can be a gateway to securing a customer's business for all their vehicle maintenance needs over the next three to five years. Operational Insights and Strategies: Learn from the practical experiences and strategies of shop owners who have successfully integrated tire sales into their business model. This part of the discussion sheds light on operational considerations, such as space management, inventory selection based on local demand, and the logistics of tire delivery and installation. It also addresses the challenges and benefits of balancing tire sales with high-margin service work, ensuring shops can maintain profitability while enhancing customer satisfaction and retention. Navigating Equipment and Supplier Relationships: For shops considering entering the tire business, this section provides valuable advice on selecting the right equipment and building beneficial relationships with tire wholesalers and distributors. It emphasizes the importance of investing in high-quality, reliable equipment to streamline operations and enhance service quality. Mike also highlights the critical role of choosing a supportive wholesaler, one that not only offers competitive pricing but also provides exceptional service, ensuring shops can meet their customers' needs efficiently and effectively. Realities of the Tire Business With Hunt Demarest of Paar, Melis & Associates  
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
       
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By carmcapriotto
      Find out how the movie Mrs. Doubtfire relates to the automotive industry. Matt Fanslow explores the motivation behind self-improvement and giving credit when using someone else's knowledge or ideas.
      Show Notes
      Mrs. Doubtfire Movie Analysis (00:01:05) Analysis of the movie "Mrs. Doubtfire" and its characters, discussing the dynamics of the relationships and the impact on the main character's behavior. Motivation and Improvement (00:03:23) Exploration of the motivation to improve, drawing parallels from the movie's characters and their impact on personal growth. Learning from Others (00:09:30) Discussion about learning from colleagues and other professionals in the automotive repair industry, focusing on gaining inspiration and improving skills. Robin Williams and Improvisation (00:13:48) Reflection on the comedic genius of Robin Williams and his unique improvisational skills, leading to a discussion about his impact on the comedy community. Robin Williams' Legacy (00:16:16) Reflection on the impact of Robin Williams' passing and his reputation in the comedy world, addressing the complexities of his suicide and the issue of joke theft in comedy. Giving Credit to Intellectual Property (00:18:47) Importance of referencing and giving credit when using someone else's knowledge or ideas.  
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech napaautotech.com
       
      Email Matt: [email protected]
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel HERE
      Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
       
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By carmcapriotto
      A reflection on the rewards that come from the challenges of parenting and leadership. The joy lies in witnessing individuals—be they our children or our employees—discover and develop their passions and talents. As leaders and parents, our greatest contribution is to offer guidance and support, fostering an environment where intrinsic motivation and self-assessment can flourish. Bill Nalu uncovers the essence of effective parenting and leadership lies in the ability to inspire and guide without overshadowing the individual journeys. Bill Nalu, Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI. Listen to Bill’s previous episodes HERE. Show Notes
      Reflection on Parenting (00:01:54) Reflecting on the challenges of parenting and the lessons learned, and drawing parallels with managing a work family. Parenting Techniques Applied to Work (00:02:13) Applying parenting techniques and life hacks to the work family, discussing the lessons instilled in children and their application to the business. Discipline and Partnership (00:04:11) Discussion about disciplining children, the concept of partnership in parenting, and the roles of mom and dad. Teaching Life Lessons (00:06:33) Sharing experiences of teaching life lessons to children and drawing parallels with guiding employees in the workplace. Cultural Story and Leadership (00:09:47) Emphasizing the importance of culture and storytelling at work and its correlation with parenting at home. Setting Expectations (00:11:06) Sharing a personal story about setting expectations for children and how it relates to instilling pride and professionalism in employees. Integrity and Honesty (00:16:43) Emphasizing the importance of integrity and honesty in parenting and how it translates to guiding employees in the workplace. Parenting and Leadership Alignment (00:17:46) Highlighting the importance of alignment between parents and managers in parenting and business to avoid undermining each other. Parenting classes and attributes (00:19:01) Discussion on the requirement and value of parenting classes and the importance of instilling independence in children. Impact of family dynamics on business (00:20:31) Exploring the correlation between family dynamics at home and in the business, and the impact of closeness on business relationships. Grieving and its impact on business (00:22:20) The lasting impact of personal loss on individuals and how it can affect their behavior and decisions in business. Emotional intelligence and communication (00:25:41) The importance of emotional intelligence and effective communication in both parenting and business relationships. Work-life balance and family dynamics (00:33:28) The influence of family dynamics and work-life balance on business decisions and relationships. Parenting and Passion (00:36:54) Discussion on nurturing children's interests and allowing them to explore different activities to discover their passions. Leadership and Delegation (00:37:46) Reference to the E-Myth book and the importance of delegating tasks to grow a business. Work Environment and Productivity (00:38:55) Effective parenting parallels with effective leadership in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of focusing on health and safety issues and not micromanaging. Organizational Culture (00:39:45) Debate on the significance of workplace organization and cleanliness in relation to productivity and employee growth. Encouragement vs. Praise (00:40:51) Differentiating between encouragement and praise in parenting and leadership, highlighting the value of self-reflection and internal motivation.
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections    
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio


  • Our Sponsors



×
×
  • Create New...