HHR SS airbags went off, no accident, no rollover
Joined: 01-10-2010
Posts: 4
From: Vancouver, WA
Ok trying again my post tweaked and dissapeared.
I read this with great interest as my -09 SS has had the service air bag light pop on and off intermittently since I bought it. First I had trouble with it starting even though the lights worked and all that. At this time the Service air bag warning light would ding and pop on and off quite frequently. I took it in and was told the battery was shorting out and that when the system senses lack of "power" even when running it will trip the sRS warning. I felt this to be somewhat bogus I have never seen that before in any car in all my years in the auto repair field.
However after battery replacement the warning did not pop on for quite a long time. then periodically it pops on and off, but I do not document the times it does. I guess I should be and i will now. Sometimes 1 a month or twice a month and then not for a while. But I bet at least once a month it pops on and off.
I am really wondering if there is a defect within the system as in one of the sensors or something and is an inherant problem that has been masked by GM in some slick way.
Because of this I have also been told if the light does not stay on there is no way to pull up a code. Once again bull **** it will store the code. Now that I am on my last bit of warranty I am going to go a little deeper next time my Air bag guy comes into the body shop and ask him to scan and check for any stored air bag codes. My mechanic has recently bought a bunch of scan tools so I will see if his will ready any hard stored codes.
I am pretty leary about this and actually really love my SS it is fun, versital and can carry a 2 x 4 while spinning the tires when boost spins up at 40+mph LOL
Let me know about the SF deal as I work with them alot and quite frankly they are one of the better companies out there and "take care of their own" for the most part.
I read this with great interest as my -09 SS has had the service air bag light pop on and off intermittently since I bought it. First I had trouble with it starting even though the lights worked and all that. At this time the Service air bag warning light would ding and pop on and off quite frequently. I took it in and was told the battery was shorting out and that when the system senses lack of "power" even when running it will trip the sRS warning. I felt this to be somewhat bogus I have never seen that before in any car in all my years in the auto repair field.
However after battery replacement the warning did not pop on for quite a long time. then periodically it pops on and off, but I do not document the times it does. I guess I should be and i will now. Sometimes 1 a month or twice a month and then not for a while. But I bet at least once a month it pops on and off.
I am really wondering if there is a defect within the system as in one of the sensors or something and is an inherant problem that has been masked by GM in some slick way.
Because of this I have also been told if the light does not stay on there is no way to pull up a code. Once again bull **** it will store the code. Now that I am on my last bit of warranty I am going to go a little deeper next time my Air bag guy comes into the body shop and ask him to scan and check for any stored air bag codes. My mechanic has recently bought a bunch of scan tools so I will see if his will ready any hard stored codes.
I am pretty leary about this and actually really love my SS it is fun, versital and can carry a 2 x 4 while spinning the tires when boost spins up at 40+mph LOL
Let me know about the SF deal as I work with them alot and quite frankly they are one of the better companies out there and "take care of their own" for the most part.
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Interesting story, "gto". But it's a bit more simple than air bags deploying for no known reason......as the OP describes.
As far as your problem....I suspect a wiring problem. Had the same symptoms as you describe, in another of my newer GM vehicles. The solution was locating a wire that was bad under the seat. The dealer solved it and stated it has been a bit of a problem with SOME GM vehicles. No codes were present.
Just depends on the dealer and it's ability.
As far as your problem....I suspect a wiring problem. Had the same symptoms as you describe, in another of my newer GM vehicles. The solution was locating a wire that was bad under the seat. The dealer solved it and stated it has been a bit of a problem with SOME GM vehicles. No codes were present.
Just depends on the dealer and it's ability.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-25-2010
Posts: 640
From: Marietta, PA
This is 100% true. I had an engine light come on and stay on for a day. It went out the next day. Took it to Advanced Auto and had them hook up to it. The code said I had a failure in ignition coil C. Not sure why it came on then went off but ran fine with the light and runs since it went out. Point is it does store any and all codes when a light comes on.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 10-07-2010
Posts: 18
From: P-Town, Illinois
hello all
regarding the airbag light, I know that it was not safe, but I actually took a pic of the SERVICE AIRBAG light while driving, that way i could show that the the light came on while in motion and could actually capture the clock at the same time so the dealer could see the speedo, clock and then when the airbag light went off, he could see that it was intermittent... turned out it didn't matter.
Just an update.
Car was sold back to the dealer, lost some, but not as much as I expected.
It sat there for at least 2 months, looks like it finally sold
State Farm re-investigated but finally decided that the airbags caused the damage and thus were not covered (even though I sent them the GM report stating that the airbag controller set off the airbags).
GM did get the letter that I sent to their VP of product development, highly doubt that he read it, but they called later asking if I wanted my video of the route back.... uh no, you can keep it.
So, that's it, over and done.
Thanks for all the support folks. Much appreciated.
One final note, the really sad thing is that people at work keep on asking what happened to my PT Cruiser... UGGHHHHH.
regarding the airbag light, I know that it was not safe, but I actually took a pic of the SERVICE AIRBAG light while driving, that way i could show that the the light came on while in motion and could actually capture the clock at the same time so the dealer could see the speedo, clock and then when the airbag light went off, he could see that it was intermittent... turned out it didn't matter.
Just an update.
Car was sold back to the dealer, lost some, but not as much as I expected.
It sat there for at least 2 months, looks like it finally sold
State Farm re-investigated but finally decided that the airbags caused the damage and thus were not covered (even though I sent them the GM report stating that the airbag controller set off the airbags).
GM did get the letter that I sent to their VP of product development, highly doubt that he read it, but they called later asking if I wanted my video of the route back.... uh no, you can keep it.
So, that's it, over and done.
Thanks for all the support folks. Much appreciated.
One final note, the really sad thing is that people at work keep on asking what happened to my PT Cruiser... UGGHHHHH.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Sorry it turned out bad but you were stuck between a rock and a hard place here. You did all you could really realistically do.
I would chalk this one as just bad luck and now it has passed you have it out of the way. That is unless you are really unlucky or cursed. LOL!
Good Luck on the future cars!
I would chalk this one as just bad luck and now it has passed you have it out of the way. That is unless you are really unlucky or cursed. LOL!
Good Luck on the future cars!
