Airbag Failure Can Happen to You, Take Recalls Seriously – Faulty Airbags Cause Injury and Death

I recently saw a commercial on television advertising that a certain vehicle has 10 airbags which comes as standard equipment. I wonder how many people will run out and buy that car thinking that their families are totally safe because of those airbags.

Many people drive off the lot feeling safe and secure and then never give another thought to those airbags until they deploy in an accident or when they don’t deploy.

Safercar.gov states that frontal airbags saved 25,782 lives between the years of 1987 and 2008. That is truly amazing! That is what airbags were designed to do. Unfortunately, airbags don’t always deploy when they are supposed to deploy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that between the years of 2001 and 2006, approximately 1400 people died in head-on collisions alone when their airbags failed to deploy. Even those who survive these types of accidents can receive severe injuries to their:

· Head;
· Brain;
· Neck;
· Face;
· Eyes;
· Back;
· Torso

ACCIDENTS WHERE AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY

It’s a relatively simple concept that airbags should only deploy when they can help prevent injuries. The correct bag should deploy instantly based on the type of accident that is occurring. This is often not the case for a variety of reasons. Equipment failure and design flaws are the major culprits.

ACCIDENTS WHERE AIR BAGS SHOULD NEVER DEPLOY

Conversely airbags should never deploy when they cannot prevent injuries. We have all seen comedy skits in which the airbag deploys after the accident is completely over. Regrettably the improper deployment of airbags happens far too frequently a few examples of which would be navigating potholes animal strikes and curb kissing. The airbag should never deploy when you’re not in a real accident. Again the equipment failures and design laws are the major reason.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR AIR BAG FAILED CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH

There can be many reasons for an airbag to fail. One is obviously that the airbag and/or system is defective. We have seen countless recalls of automobiles for this reason. Another reason can be as simple as the size of a person. Airbags were designed with a 5′ 8″, 180 pound man in mind. Most people do not fall into that height and weight category.

In addition to airbags failing to deploy,we’ve discussed them deploying when they shouldn’t. There have been instances of airbags deploying for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Again, there have been many recalls on these vehicles. The inadvertent deployment of an airbag can directly cause an accident.By B Hayes

How to Make Your Tires Last Longer

Your tires are not only a significant expense; they also play a major role in your car’s safety and performance.

Let’s first talk about safety. Your tires are the only part of your car that are in contact with the road. And they have to do their job in all kinds of conditions. They have to work in dry weather and wet and both hot and cold temperatures. Not only do your tires have to do their job in different kinds of weather, they also have to work well in acceleration, turning and braking. We ask a lot of our tires and take them for granted without realizing how much work they’re doing.

Your tires need to be able to grip the road in all of these conditions. And if they stop doing their job you can run into a lot of trouble. And it’s entirely possible that your tires are wearing in ways that you haven’t noticed. Here’s an example from a few years ago:

I had a set of tires that appeared to be in good condition. A cursory glance showed plenty of tread. I was sure I was in good shape; and in dry weather driving my car showed no sign of an ill condition. That all changed one day when I was driving in wet weather. While executing a right turn on a rainy day my car started to spin. I was able to quickly respond and correct with the steering wheel.

I later inspected the tires more closely to find that one of the rear tires had severe wear on the inside. I later found out that the culprit was a worn suspension component in the front. I had to replace some ball joints and some tires. A regular, more thorough inspection of the tires (and suspension) would have alerted me to the condition. I could have had it fixed and my tires would have lasted a lot longer.

Here are three things you can do to make your tires last longer:

Maintain proper inflation.

This is one of the simplest things you can do to care for your car. Tire gauges are inexpensive and easy to use. All you need to do is find out the proper tire pressure. DO NOT refer to the number on the sidewall of the tire. That’s OK for bicycles, but not for cars. There should be a placard on the driver’s door or door jamb that tells you the proper inflation for your particular car. If you can’t find it, refer to your owner’s manual. Check your tire pressures regularly and make adjustments as necessary.

Rotate your tires regularly.

This is also easily done, especially when you buy your tires from an outlet that offers free rotation service. Setting an interval of 5,000 miles makes sense. It’s often enough to make a difference, and it’s an easy interval to follow. Simply buy your next set at the right time and pay attention to your odometer. Please note that tire stores do not always put in the proper pressure. Make a habit of checking them on your own.

Have your suspension inspected with every tire rotation

This is also easily done. From the experience I shared, you now know the importance of keeping up with this part of your car.

If you do these three things you will have done a lot to take care of the life of your tires and reduce your expenses.
By Otto Wortman

Why and How to Change the Coolant in Your Car

The first step is to check the owner’s manual and see how often they say to change your coolant. Most say every two years. The standard coolant used to be good for around thirty thousand miles, but now there are even some that claim to last up to fifty and even one hundred thousand. Be careful using the ones who claim one hundred thousand. There have been several complaints from those who have used them, saying they do not work that well.

The next thing is to be sure you have the right coolant that fits your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Any local auto store should have exactly what you need. While you are at the store be sure to also purchase some kind of drip pan to catch the old coolant and also an empty container to mix the new coolant with water. You may also check your manual in case any special tool is needed to remove radiator cap. If you already have these items at home then you are ready to go.

The next step is to get your car ready to begin. The first thing to do is to be sure to let your car cool for several hours before attempting this. Always park close to a hose and definitely not on a hill. You can turn the ignition key just enough for the temperature gauge to come on. If it says it is cool enough, just turn the car’s heater on and take your key out of the ignition.

Next you can drain the old coolant. Locate the radiator cap which is usually located in the front and marked engine coolant. With the drip tray in place pull the plug on the bottom of the radiator. Some of these may be unscrewed by hand or by using a wrench. Some may even require a special fit tool to work. Empty any extra coolant in your overflow reservoir that you may have. This may have to be siphoned out if there is no hose that you can disconnect from the bottom of the overflow. If you change your coolant on a regular basis you will not have to flush the system. But if it has been a while you may want to do that.

Next, put the plug back in the bottom of the radiator and make a fifty/fifty mix with the coolant and water. Fill the radiator to the top and fill the reservoir half way, if you have one. Turn the engine and the heater on in your car and watch the gauge to be sure it will not overheat. After you are sure the radiator has blown out any air bubbles, turn off the car and carefully fill up the radiator to the top with coolant. Be sure to dispose of the old coolant properly. Watch the temperature gauge for the next couple days. Now you are done and know exactly how to change your car’s coolant.
By Terry Perry