I've found a totaled 2004 tl and I'm trying to decide how much it's going to take to rebuild it.

The main thing confusing me right now is what it's going to take to replace both driver and passenger airbags.

While pricing airbags from several places I see the seat belts and airbag modules are sometimes paired with the airbags, so is it required to replace those as well or can just the airbags themselves be replaced?

Thanks

 

when an accident happens, the seat belt pretensioners are deployed so thats why you need new seat belts.

driver's airbag is super easy to change, takes about 15 minutes.

passenger one is harder because you'll have to replace the whole dash

 

Do all of the pretensioners deploy or just the ones that are in use during the crash?

Having to buy them all might make this car a no go.

 

Depends on the accident, if the passenger presence sensor saw someone in the seat, then it deploys the pretensioner and bag. Now, when a bag blows, the airbag itself is called a "module" but the system has its own SIR module (supplemental inflatable restraint) module that needs to be replaced. I sent a few to a company to have it reset before, but its best to get a new one. Id get the codes out of the car and address each airbag code plus the repair. Its going to be a lot more than you think. Have the car appraised if possible. Have a body shop write an estimate and go from there. Unless your doing the work yourself and are skilled in wrecked cars/body work and air bag systems, its not a good idea to buy and attempt a rebuild. There's a reason why the owner doesn't have it any more. Its probably totalled

 

My dad has a body shop, so no worries there haha I'm doing the labor and plan on driving the car. It's 2hrs away and I've only looked at it in person for about 15mins, so trying to think this through lol

Do the seat belts retract after the pretensioner is deployed? I don't recall them being out, so maybe they weren't wearing their seat belts and the pretensioners weren't deployed?

 

if the sealt belts still retract and function, then its most likely not blown. I've seen a blown one before and basically its left stuck. But I cant say the same for all cases.

only the front drivers and passenger belts have pretensioners, so dont worry about rears

 

Talked to my dad today and he recently repaired a ford ranger with both airbags deployed. He said the seat belt buckles had to be replaced, not the seat belts themselves. Found a place in my state that rebuilds either seat belt or buckle for $75 a piece.

Thanks for the help you guys, but i might not bother with this car.

 

just because thats how a ford ranger is fixed doesnt mean thats how an acura is fixed. the seat belts contain the pretensioner, if they blow then thats what you need to replace. the buckle itself shouldnt go bad unless its another reason.

 

When I wrecked my old Maxima, only the driver seatbelt pretensioner deployed because I was the only one in the car. The body shop replaced the entire seatbelt with a brand new one.