If it were me, I'd continue to use the belts - which are the primary source of protection in a crash - and bet the bags will work for a few years yet. It works fine, the oil level is always good when I check it. Where is the smoke coming from? Answer: I suspect it is steam or water vapour, not smoke. When the hot exhaust gases leaving the engine pass through the cold exhaust pipe, the result is condensation. You might also notice a few drops of water dripping off the end of the pipe or out of a small hole provided for just that purpose at a low point of the exhaust system.
If the vapour clears or disappears quickly after leaving the exhaust, that is what you are seeing. If in fact it is smoke, and dark or black, the problem is an over-rich mixture.
The engine is normally fed about one part of fuel for every 15 or so parts of air, slightly more for a cold start. But if that ratio becomes too rich, i.
The problem is the engine control computer and it should be checked. The smoke is not your only reminder, your fuel mileage would suffer tremendously. If the smoke is bluish in colour, the problem might be oil getting past the rings or valves and into the combustion chamber where it is burned as part of the combustion process. However, of the older vehicles that have undergone crash simulation testing, the airbags have operated correctly.
Some older vehicles originally came out with a replacement date, but since then the manufacturers have determined that those airbags will most likely function for the life of the vehicle. When airbags were newly implemented, manufacturers were cautious of potential expiry, being an unprecedented safety item for which no precedence of durability existed. It has now been determined that the type of seal used to house the igniter squib , is more robust than originally expected, so the life of an airbag now matches the life of the car.
Originally, 2 types of airbag igniters were manufactured, one made of plastic and metal and the other glass and metal. The plastic squibs were not as hard-wearing as the glass and there was also a higher chance of moisture getting into the seal, allowing the parts to possibly corrode and in turn make the igniter less efficient.
Ultimately, as many as 50 million vehicles using Takata airbags could face recall. Both the Takata and ARC airbags may over-inflate during a crash, sending deadly shrapnel spewing into the passenger compartment. But a series of separate recalls announced since April of this year targeted more than 4. And that could be just a hint of an even bigger issue that could eventually pose a safety risk for virtually every vehicle on the road. He asked not to be identified by name or company because of the various liability lawsuits now facing the auto industry over airbag failures.
According to research data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tests have shown that airbags produced by the Japanese supplier for vehicles dating back to the to model-years may have a failure rate of as much as 50 percent.
Newer models are expected to see increased failures as they age, as well. Takata airbags are particularly prone to age-related failures, according to the NHTSA and other industry experts. The company used a highly volatile chemical, ammonium nitrate, in the inflator modules that produce the hot gases that propel its airbags out of their hiding place. An industry-funded research team this year concluded that the pyrotechnic chemical is especially sensitive to extended use in hot, damp climates, like southern Florida, but will eventually break down even in cooler, drier conditions.
Newer Takata airbags have added a desiccant, a chemical that absorbs moisture — much like the little packets found in everything from food to consumer electronics packaging. But, even then, many experts question whether that approach will prevent a breakdown of the ammonium nitrate compound for the life of a vehicle.
And that becomes even more of an issue as Americans keep their cars on the road longer and longer. Data from J. Power and Associates show the average vehicle in the U. And tens of millions have been in operation for 15 years or more.
0コメント