Q45, two "booms" a minute apart, airbag light now on

[astrolake]

I was driving my 1994 Q45a on a smooth road and suddenly there was the sound of an explosion on the left, then a minute later one on the right. Now, may airbag and seatbelt signs flash, the tensioner on the belt is frozen. No, the airbags didn't deploy.

Any guesses? Any known recall/advisory? Very strange and unsettling.

Thx for anyone's help, George

[elwesso]

Ive heard of that happening, and both times its bene on the Q45a...

A lot of times things will happen if stuff is spilled on the airbag computer, which is conviently located below the cupholders...

Not a recall but it has happened.....

[gniknave]

My advice when an airbag light is on would be to take it to your mechanic immediately. I've heard many cases of people driving with these things on and then having them suddenly deploy. Like Wes said, the airbag module is below the cupholders (geniuses ), so if ya spilled anything down there then make sure you're sitting down when the dealer tells you the repair amount
Modified by gniknave at 10:08 PM 1/8/2005

[Jesda]

To everyone, I suggest removing the center console and center dash and covering all of the electronics with a layer of cellophane or a similar water-resistant plastic material.

Although it might be easier to save $4 a cup and stop going to Starbucks.

[qship96]

sounds like the seat belt pre-tensioners went off-an explosive charged cartridge in the b pillars that will need to be replaced,as they are a one time use safety device used to tighten the belt down before a crash,usually milliseconds before the air bags deploy.

[sancem]

The very thing happened to me a few months ago only both tensioners went off at the same time. The dealer replaced the seat belt assemblies for free because they are "lifetime". But turning off the warning lights required "diagnostic" work which was not covered by Infiniti and I didn't want to pay for it.

I was asked by NICO members at the time if I has spilled fluid (maybe I did) or if I had drilled into the console (definitely not).

I think this just happens.

I asked Dennis if I should have the diagnostic work done and he never answered. I am driving around with 2 red lights on my dash.

[Q45tech]

Doesn't just happen without owner abuse.

Change out the airbag computer to resolve.

[astrolake]

Thanks for the information.

The dealer is behaving very strangely. They claim that the computer codes tell them that the car has been in a collision and this deployed the tensioners (when asked why the airbagsdidn't go, they claim they might have and I replace them?). This is very odd as I've owned the car since 1998 (when I bought it still under the full 4/50 warranty) and it got a low speed tap on the rear a few years ago, but nothing else. I ran a carfax and it doesn't show anything from before I bought it.

The tensioners blew on a smooth level street, so I figure something gave them a spurious signal. Seems to me that they've just figured out which one did it, but they want me topay nearly $1K. Any one else with such experience? Thx.

[Q45tech]

Everytime we get one in for this, examination of the under console airbag computer connections/module shows evidence of liquid something having gotten to the area...........could have been years ago or recent.

$1000 seems about right to me, if the air bags go off the car [94-96Q] is usually totalled.

[astrolake]

I haven't spilled anything in the cupholders for years, but certainly it happened a few years ago. I'm certain that EVERY Q45 will show evidence of liquid under the cupholders, the console crushes paper cups when you close it. The one-two design feature of a console that crushes cups on top of an airbag computer seems pretty crazy.

If they told me that I was responsible for water damage, that might be one thing, but theytell me that my car codes as having a collision which is just wrong, it hasn't. It also seems strange that they claim that I had the airbags replaced when as you say, this basically totalsthe car.

[Q45tech]

No I'm speaking of present value vs. an air bag deployment. Anyway the Q is beyond its legal 100k/10 year life and the warranty is long gone [before then] so up to you to fix.

Change the air bag computer is the only solution.

[astrolake]

The dealer was very clear. There is a lifetime warranty for the seatbelts. However, the computer shows a code indicating a collision (there had to be some reason they blew,a bad code from the computer sounds likely). As a result of this code, they claim the warranty on seatbelts doesn't apply as it's collision damage. The only problem with their claim is that there hasn't been any collision since I've owned the car(>6 years). None at all according to CARFAX.

[Jesda]

I haven't spilled anything in the cupholders for years, but certainly it happened a few years ago. I'm certain that EVERY Q45 will show evidence of liquid under the cupholders, the console crushes paper cups when you close it. The one-two design feature of a console that crushes cups on top of an airbag computer seems pretty crazy.

If they told me that I was responsible for water damage, that might be one thing, but theytell me that my car codes as having a collision which is just wrong, it hasn't. It also seems strange that they claim that I had the airbags replaced when as you say, this basically totalsthe car.

I agree; its a completely stupid, idiotic design, which in a way manages to make sense, since the vehicle was originally built and sold without a cupholder. Adding one was simply an afterthought to ease the complaints of chubby Americans stuck in traffic (like me).

I blame this one on Nissan. It doesnt take much to seal the area with a layer of plastic or rubber in the event of a spill. Seems like a ridiculous no-brainer to me. Cars move back and forth and so do liquids inside the cabin.

Youre still responsible for the costly repairs at this point in the life of the vehicle. If you dont have kids, then drive without a functioning airbag or start digging through wrecking yards for electronic components.

[astrolake]

The dealer states that the seatbelts are still under the lifetime warranty, it's only theirfalse claim of a collision that's at issue. Even if it were 10yr/100k miles, my car (oddly)has an in service date of 12/31/95 (guess a dealer drove it around on MSO since it was built 4/93) and has just a couple miles more than 100k, so close that it's been my experience that warranties are honored.

[Q45tech]

The 100k from date of manufacturer [not in service date] is the lawsuit ability date. The legal life of the car! How long the Federal government allows that a car can legally exist and hold the manufacturer somewhat liable for safety items. Safety Recall limits etc.

The warranty is 4 years 60k for non power train items.One chance in a million they cover it.

The Consult reports all the parameters [if it says the air bags were fired they were fired]........they don't necessarily have to go off....disconnected or not there to begin with or replaced.

Trying to get something free on a 10 year old car almost never happens especially when you didn't buy it brand new!

[911/Q45]

Far fewer problems overall if you drive the car with both hands on the wheel. Don't: drink, eat, talk on the phone, fondle yourself or anyone else.

[astrolake]

I've checked the Infiniti website. As the dealer says, it is indeed under warranty (the early Q45s had a lifetime seatbelt warranty, the current one is 10 years, unlimited miles, sothere is no ambiguity since my in service date was less than 10 years ago). The dealer agrees that it is under warranty. It's only a question of making them honor the warranty when they are weaseling out because the computer has thrown a bad code. I've got a CarFax report showing no collision history. Will have to get the car examined by a few body shops to show that if there was any work on the car it was a very long time ago, then I guess I'll be forced to head to court.

I don't think they are fixing the underlying cause, so it will likely happen again, a nuisance, but will make a clearer case for me.

[Q45tech]

But the warranty [the aggreement Nissan made with government] is to cover a broken/sticky latch button and slow retraction when belt is removed...........

Has nothing to do with explosive pretensioners.

Read the TSB and agreement! It says seat belts with those problems [and those problems only] will be replaced not seat belts damaged by owner abuse or accident.

Contact the regional Nissan people! The dealer really has nothing to do with it [the warranty]..........your job to persuade Nissan to pay dealer.