On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:21:35 GMT, Jeff <kidsdoc2000@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
>clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:02:10 -0700, Bruce L. Bergman
>> <blnospambergman@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:38:48 -0400, clare wrote:
>>>
>>>> Like I said Bruce, I'm an Ontario Licenced mechanic - and I have the
>>>> full manual set for this car. The airbag unit has NOT been changed.
>>>> Still the same cover and all.
>>>>
>>>> My question was whether anyone has ever experienced the screws
>>>> loosening themselves? The steering wheel and/or air-bag has never
been
>>>> removed from this car. The column cover has been off, and the
>>>> multifunction switch has been removed and repaired (I did it last
>>>> month because the main brake lights were not coming on - only the
>>>> center brake lights - signals still worked. Bad connection on the MF
>>>> switch - and if you know Mystique/Contour/Mondeo cars, the MF switch
>>>> clips to the side of the steering column - removing the wheel is not
>>>> required.)
>>>>
>>>> I really can't see the screws backing themselves out - and the fact
>>>> there were scratches on the screw-heads makes me think someone was
>>>> trying to remove it and got interrupted.
>>> So? Screws can back out on their own. But I've never heard of
>>> screws getting scratches on the head (like someone was putting a
>>> driver in the holes blind, and in a hurry) while backing themselves
>>> out.
>>>
>>> If you are willing to bet your life they didn't tamper with the
>>> bags, just tighten the screws and quit worrying us about it.
>>>
>>> My car, I'd pull the cover and take a peek to make sure I still have
>>> a real airbag under there, as they are a very popular theft item - and
>>> it has to be possible to fake the computer with an end-of-line
>>> resistor instead of a live blasting cap initiator. As long as the
>>> ignition was off while they worked, swapping the airbag for a dummy
>>> wouldn't trip an airbag trouble light.
>>>
>>> --<< Bruce >>--
>> As far as betting my life - I always wear a seat belt, and I'd be just
>> as happy, generally speaking, driving a car without bombs factory
>> installed in the dash.
>> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com
**
>
>Yet, without the bombs, you would still be driving a car with a 15 of so
>gallon tank of highly explosive fuel under the right cir***stances.
>
>People are really bad at looking at risks. Only rarely do airbags go off
>when they shouldn't, and they do far more good than harm. You need to
>look at risks logically, not emotionally.
>
>Jeff
With collapsing steering column and seat belts they are a LOT safer
today than the stuff I grew up with - even without the "passive
restraints"
The secret to surviving a crash is first of all to avoid cra****ng.
A properly worn and properly functioning seat belt is VERY close to as
effective as an air bag - but due to "American Civil Rights" nobody
thinks they should be able to be forced by government to wear a seat
belt (or a motorcycle helmet, etc) so the manufacturers are forced to
install expensive "passive systems" to protect our sorry *****.
A minor fender bender today - even one that does no damage beyond the
bumper, body-wise - can write off a 3 year old car due to the internal
damage when the bags go off.
An aquaintance and friend of a friend lost her life about 3 years ago
in a very minor traffic incident in Toronto when the bag went off and
broke her neck. She was only 4'11" - and could NOT get an exemption to
allow her to have the bag disconnected. Her death has made it possible
for shorter drivers to LEGALLY have air bags dissabled in Ontario now.
There was NO VISIBLE EXTERNAL DAMAGE to her car, and according to
investigators it did not go off "prematurely" It was just a fluke that
it went off - but the results were predictable given her size.
I don't think air bags and antilock brakes, along with miriad other
so-called"features" on today's cars should be mandated as standard
equipment - or even encouraged as "recommended" equipment.
People should learn to drive - - - - -.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com
**
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