Air bag should be fine, even after 10 years

Dear Tom and Ray: My 1995 Honda Prelude has warning labels that say the car's two air bags need to be inspected after 10 years. Well, it's almost 10 years later. Is this really needed? Or was this a warning that was put in before air bags were really understood?

Seth

Ray: Well, there's no way to really test the air bag, other than to loan the car to my brother for the weekend.

Tom: Right. Without what is called a "destructive test" (actually setting it off and seeing if it works), there's no way to know for certain that the air-bag material and the explosive charge are still in perfect condition. But based on industry experience, we know that they're likely to be fine for the life of the car.

Ray: Volvo, which is known for its leadership in safety, originally told its customers to have their air bags replaced after 10 years, just to be safe. But based on its real-world experience, it later changed that recommendation to 15 years, and now -- with even more experience -- to 20 years.

Tom: They've had Volvos with air bags sitting out in the desert for 20 years, with the explosive chemicals just baking in the sun. And every time they test the air bags, they still work.

Ray: The electronic components of the system, however, can be checked. That's something you don't need the dealer for. The air-bag system has a self-diagnostic mode that checks all of its circuits every time you start the car.

Tom: So if you go out to your car and turn the key to the "run" position (just before it cranks), you should see an "SRS" (supplemental restraint system) light appear on your dashboard. It should stay on for about six seconds, and then go off. That tells you the wires are connected and the sensors are working, and the air bag is ready to go. It also tells you that your SRS light works -- which is important.

Ray: If the light doesn't come on, fails to go off or flashes while you drive, then you need to see your mechanic.

Tom: The other part of the inspection is just a visual check of the vinyl covering of the air bags. Check for any cracks or damage that might hinder the operation of the air bag.

Ray: Or if you see a deep imprint of a face in the vinyl, that would suggest that the bag hasn't been working as well as it should. But I suspect you'll find that it's all fine, Seth.