Buick Regal: Repairs and Inspections Required After a Collision
Accident With or Without Air Bag Deployment - Component Inspections
WARNING: Proper operation of the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
(SIR) sensing system
requires that any repairs to the vehicle structure return the vehicle structure
to
the original production configuration. Not properly repairing the vehicle
structure could cause non-deployment of the air bag(s) in a frontal collision or
deployment of the air bag(s) for conditions less severe than intended.
After any collision, inspect the following components as indicated. If you
detect any damage, replace the
component. If you detect any damage to the mounting points or mounting hardware,
repair the component or
replace the hardware as needed.
- The steering column - Inspect the steering column for bending, twisting,
buckling or any type of damage.
- The instrument panel knee bolsters and mounting points - Inspect the
knee bolsters for bending, twisting,
buckling, or any other type of damage.
- The instrument panel brackets, braces, etc. - Inspect for bending,
twisting, buckling, or any other type of
damage.
- The seat belts - Perform the seat belt operational and functional
checks. Refer to Repairs and Inspections Required After a Collision.
- The instrument panel cross car beam - Inspect for bending, twisting,
buckling, or any other type of
damage.
- The instrument panel mounting points and brackets - Inspect for bending,
twisting, buckling, or any other
type of damage.
- The seats and seat mounting points - Inspect for bending, twisting,
buckling, or any other type of damage.
- The roof and headliner mounting points.
- The brake pedal --Inspect the brake pedal for bending, twisting,
buckling or any type of damage.
Accident With Frontal Air Bag Deployment - Component Replacement and
Inspections
After a collision involving air bag deployment, replace the following
components.
- Driver Steering Wheel Air Bag
- Passenger instrument panel air bag, if deployed
- Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM), if the
Inflatable Restraint Sensing and
Diagnostic Module has set DTC B0052 and will not clear
- Front and/or Side Impact Sensors
- Driver/Passenger Seat Side Air Bag, if deployed
- Seat back cover if Side Seat Air Bag is deployed
- Driver/Passenger Seat Belt Anchor and/or Retractor Pretensioners
Perform additional inspections on the following components.
- Steering wheel air bag coil and the coil wiring connector - Inspect for
melting, scorching, or other damage
due to excessive heat. If damage is found, replace the component.
- Passenger instrument panel air bag wiring connector - Inspect for
melting, scorching, or other damage due to excessive heat. If damage is
found, replace the connector. Refer to Wiring Repairs.
- Mounting points or mounting hardware for the passenger instrument panel
air bag, steering wheel air bag,
Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic Module, seat side air bag (if
deployed) and seat belt anchor
and/or retractor pretensioners - Inspect for any damage and repair or
replace each component as needed.
Accident With Side Seat Air Bag Deployment - Component Replacement and
Inspections
After a collision involving driver/passenger side seat air bag deployment,
replace the following components.
- Left/right side impact sensors on the side of the impact.
- Left/right roof rail air bag on the side of the impact.
- Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM), if the
Inflatable Restraint Sensing and
Diagnostic Module has set DTC B0052 and will not clear.
- Inflatable Restraint Seat Belt Anchor and/or Retractor Pretensioner.
- Driver or passenger seat back cushion cover replacement.
WARNING: Do not repair or replace the seat stitching or seams in the
seat back trim cover
with an internal mounted seat side airbag module. Replace the complete seat
back trim cover from the OEM. Non-OEM seat stitching may cause improper
airbag deployment which could result in personal injury.
Perform additional inspections on the following components.
- Mounting points or mounting hardware for the side impact sensors, and
driver/passenger side seat air bags
on the side of impact - Inspect for any damage and repair or replace each
component as needed.
- Mounting points, mounting hardware, headliner and trim pieces for the
left/right roof rail air bag on the
side of impact - Inspect for any damage and repair or replace each component
as needed.
- Mounting points or mounting hardware for the Inflatable Restraint
Sensing and Diagnostic Module and
seat belt anchor and/or retractor pretensioners - Inspect for any damage and
repair or replace each
component as needed.
- The seat cushion frame
- The seat recliner and cover, if equipped
- The seat adjuster
- The seat back frame
- Door trim assembly
- Impacted seat cushion side covers and switches
Accident With Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment Only - Component
Replacement and Inspections
After a collision involving driver/passenger Seat Belt Retractor or Anchor
Pretensioner deployment, replace the
following components.
- Driver and Passenger Inflatable restraint seat belt anchor pretensioner
and/or retractor pretensioner
- Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM), if the
Inflatable Restraint Sensing and
Diagnostic Module has set DTC B0052 and will not clear
Perform additional inspections for any damage and repair or replace each
component as needed on the following
components.
- Mounting points or mounting hardware for the Inflatable Restraint
Sensing and Diagnostic Module
- Mounting points or mounting hardware for the Seat Belt Anchor
Pretensioners
- Mounting points or mounting hardware for the Seat Belt Retractor
Pretensioners
Impact Sensor Replacement Guidelines
The impact sensor replacement policy requires replacing sensors in the area
of the accident damage. The area of
accident damage is defined as the portion of the vehicle which is crushed, bent,
or damaged due to a collision.
An example of this would be a moderate collision where the front of the vehicle
impacts a object. If the vehicle
has an impact sensor mounted forward of the radiator, it must be replaced.
- Replace the impact sensor whether or not the air bags have deployed.
- Replace the impact sensor even if it appears to be undamaged.
Impact sensor damage which is not visible, such as slight bending of the
mounting bracket or cuts in the wire
insulation, can cause improper operation of the SIR system. Do not try to
determine whether the impact sensor is
undamaged, replace the impact sensor. Also, if you follow a diagnostic trouble
code (DTC) procedure and a
malfunctioning impact sensor is indicated, replace the impact sensor.
READ NEXT:
Live and Undeployed Inflator Module
WARNING: A deployed dual stage inflator module will look the same
whether one or both
stages were used. Always assume a deployed dual stage inflator module has an
Scrapping Procedure
During the course of a vehicles useful life, certain situations may arise
which will necessitate the disposal of a
live (undeployed) pretensioner. The following information covers
SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
SIR System Overview
The supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system supplements the protection
offered by the seat belts. The SIR
SEE MORE:
General
Directive 76/756 EEC and ECE-Regulation 48 cover checking and aiming of
headlamps on vehicle.
Correct aiming of headlamps of vehicles should enable optimal road illumination
by the low beam, with
minimal glare to oncoming traffic. For this purpose the inclination of the light
beam in rel
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
are not necessary on a regular
basis. Consider an alignment check
if there is unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significant