Can an airbag still deploy if the ground terminal is removed from the battery?

Question

I have to replace my combination switch.  The service manual makes a great deal of effort to emphasize disabling the airbags after removing the ground terminal on the battery before servicing the steering column.

Understanding basic electronics, doesn't removing the ground terminal on the battery already disable the airbag?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

yes, it holds a charge in it for a short period of time after you unplug a battery, usually no more than a few minutes, but i would pull the fuse out for it as well just in case the wire were to somehow come back into contact with the battery while you're working on, or near the airbag system.

Robert · Answer

Yes it can. They are designed that way so if the battery fails in a collision the air bags can still deploy.

Anonymous · Answer

IDK, I would Think the Sodium Azide Mixture would Need to Be Heated to Explosively Decompose, Good Question.


EDIT: of Interest:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_azide#Automobile_airbags

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Can an airbag still deploy if the ground terminal is removed from the battery?

3 Answers