Don't Effort Abode Wet
Monday, November 22, 2021
We all facial expression our car’s airbag to piece of job inwards the example of emergency. So what happens when it has been automatically close off without warning?
We idea something was incorrect alongside the airbag shutoff switch inwards our 2012 Subaru Impreza. We’d survive driving along, as well as all of a precipitous the rider airbag would close off, leaving the rider unprotected.
So nosotros called the dealer as well as had the switch checked (more than once!) No problem, nosotros were told. Maybe the rider shifted her weight as well as the switch turned off.
Then, this week, a service attendant mentioned that the on-off switch had zip to create alongside weight. It was based on the sum of H2O inwards a person’s body.
The lite went on inwards our minds. It turns out that the airbag would close off afterwards a few minutes when nosotros were driving habitation from the beach as well as the rider was wearing a wet swim accommodate or sitting on a wet towel! It would rest off until the spot dried out.
We checked this out. Here’s how ane Subaru dealer explains this on their website:
We idea something was incorrect alongside the airbag shutoff switch inwards our 2012 Subaru Impreza. We’d survive driving along, as well as all of a precipitous the rider airbag would close off, leaving the rider unprotected.
So nosotros called the dealer as well as had the switch checked (more than once!) No problem, nosotros were told. Maybe the rider shifted her weight as well as the switch turned off.
Then, this week, a service attendant mentioned that the on-off switch had zip to create alongside weight. It was based on the sum of H2O inwards a person’s body.
The lite went on inwards our minds. It turns out that the airbag would close off afterwards a few minutes when nosotros were driving habitation from the beach as well as the rider was wearing a wet swim accommodate or sitting on a wet towel! It would rest off until the spot dried out.
We checked this out. Here’s how ane Subaru dealer explains this on their website:
Most Occupant Detection Systems mensurate the weight of the front end spot passenger, to determine if the front end rider spot airbag should deploy.
All 2012 as well as 2013 Impreza as well as 2013 BRZ models piece of job a novel type of Occupant Detection System called Electrostatic Capacitance Sensor ODS. This organisation does non piece of job weight to determine whether to plow the Occupant Detection System ON as well as OFF.
The Electrostatic Capacitance represents a material's capability of storing an electrical charge.
When H2O or anything alongside high wet content is spilled on the front end rider spot cushion, the airbag is designed to remain OFF until the spot cushion is dry. This volition too survive the example if the rider has wet on their clothing, such equally rain-soaked pants or pelting gear. In each of these situations, the airbag condition may remain OFF fifty-fifty if a rider is seated.
Passengers are advised NOT to sit down inwards the front end rider spot if the spot cushion is wet or if their article of apparel is wet. The best means to ensure proper functioning is to proceed everything off the front end spot except a passenger.
We don’t remember getting notice of this when nosotros bought the car. And it was clear that the service division staff didn’t ever intend of mentioning this organisation when an possessor brought upwards the lawsuit of the airbag cutoff. And if yous search for “Subaru occupant detection system” or “Subaru rider airbag shut-off” on the web, at that spot is no official notice from the company.
There is no alarm nearly this shut-off organisation on the rider side visor. And, if yous cheque the owner’s manual, at that spot is zip nearly this lawsuit inwards the opening section’s security precautions, although at that spot is stuff nearly the speed as well as forcefulness of airbag deployment. Later, embedded on page 42, at that spot is this advisory if yous lead house to plow to that page: “If the front end passenger’s spot cushion is wet, this may adversely acquit upon the mightiness to determine deployment. If the spot cushion is wet, the front end rider should halt sitting on the front end passenger’s seat. Wipe off H2O from the spot immediately, permit the spot dry out naturally as well as thence cheque the SRS airbag organisation alarm light.…”
Let’s tell you’ve never noticed this “feature.” You’re driving habitation from the beach on a crowded highway at sixty mph alongside your household unit of measurement inwards a total car, as well as the rider airbag shuts off. Perhaps yous run across the shut-off lite all of a precipitous illuminating. How precisely create yous halt the front end rider from sitting inwards the front end passenger’s seat? Perhaps yous don’t fifty-fifty run across the shut-off advisory light, inwards that yous are focused on the vacation traffic. In either case, your rider faces an unexpected hazard.
Many Subaru owners are outdoor types who volition displace habitation afterwards a jaunt to the beach or a hike inwards the wet woods. How many of them know they are inwards danger when they create so?
How as well as why did Subaru determine that this form of automatic shut-off machinery was superior to ane based on trunk weight? Don’t they convey an obligation to ameliorate inform the owners of these model cars? This is a production pattern lawsuit waiting to happen.
There is no alarm nearly this shut-off organisation on the rider side visor. And, if yous cheque the owner’s manual, at that spot is zip nearly this lawsuit inwards the opening section’s security precautions, although at that spot is stuff nearly the speed as well as forcefulness of airbag deployment. Later, embedded on page 42, at that spot is this advisory if yous lead house to plow to that page: “If the front end passenger’s spot cushion is wet, this may adversely acquit upon the mightiness to determine deployment. If the spot cushion is wet, the front end rider should halt sitting on the front end passenger’s seat. Wipe off H2O from the spot immediately, permit the spot dry out naturally as well as thence cheque the SRS airbag organisation alarm light.…”
Many Subaru owners are outdoor types who volition displace habitation afterwards a jaunt to the beach or a hike inwards the wet woods. How many of them know they are inwards danger when they create so?
How as well as why did Subaru determine that this form of automatic shut-off machinery was superior to ane based on trunk weight? Don’t they convey an obligation to ameliorate inform the owners of these model cars? This is a production pattern lawsuit waiting to happen.