Do I have an airbag?

[Mr. Flibble]

I was looking at one of the pictures of my Deli from Japan, and I saw this image:

1995 Royal Exceed, does this have an airbag?

024.jpg (55.44 KiB) Viewed 4870 times

Now it certainly looks like I have an airbag on that steering wheel, but there is no "SRS Airbag" lettering under the Mitsubishi symbol. There is a Japanese character off to the right on the wheel, but I have no idea what it means. On all the L400's with airbags, the steering wheel looks the same, but there is also always the "SRS Airbag" lettering as well. Does anyone know if this one has an airbag - and if not, how hard it would be to add the airbag steering wheel and sensor?

[mararmeisto]

'95 Royal Exceed? Most likely.

[Green1]

Now that's a very good question, you're right, airbags say SRS airbag on them, and yours doesn't, but otherwise it is identical, but I think that's partially the point, I believe the non-airbag vehicles do look the same, but I've also been told all the royals have an airbag...

If I had to guess, I'd say you don't have an airbag.

As for adding one, if it doesn't have one, there are several reasons not to add one:
1) it is not a simple "throw it in there" mod, the sensor and wiring would need to be added, and I don't recommend messing with those because you can accidentally set one off while trying to install it, THIS CAN KILL YOU. Also, if you try to add one that wasn't originally there, and you don't get it exactly right, it may a) not go off when you need it, or much much worse b) go off when you don't want it to, again, THIS CAN KILL YOU. Also, if you don't get it perfectly right, when it does go off it may do more harm than good (again, THIS CAN KILL YOU (see a pattern?))
2) If you wear your seatbelt, you're generally no safer with airbags anyway (Airbags were originallly implemented as the "answer" to people refusing to wear their seatbelts...)
3) explosive devices do not make good safety features.

[FalcoColumbarius]

There's a spin ~ I never thought of an IED as an add-on feature for a Delica.

[jwfchase]

...2) If you wear your seatbelt, you're generally no safer with airbags anyway (Airbags were originallly implemented as the "answer" to people refusing to wear their seatbelts...)
3) explosive devices do not make good safety features...

Thread jack:

Green1, I know you know a lot about a lot of things, but don't voice opinions about stuff like this that you don't know. Yes, airbags of the earlier years were not as good as they are now. Yes, an airbag could kill you, especially an unbelted person. But an airbag with a properly worn seatbelt with a seatbelt pre-tensioner WILL drastically improve your chances of surviving a head on, and side-impact airbag systems WILL improve your chances of surviving a side impact.

How do I know this? What gives me the right to an opinion? Because I've seen a lot more blood, grey matter, and other disfigured body parts splattered around the inside of vehicles without airbags, than I have in late model vehicles that are well equipped with SRS systems. I've extricated a lot more LIVE people out of airbag equipped vehicles involved in major accidents than I have out of older, non-airbag vehicles.

I appreciate all the input and information you've put in to these forums over the years, but please don't get me spun out again by repeating this uninformed (though, I don't doubt you have stats from somewhere to back you up--probably based on old airbag technology) opinion that you are "safer without airbags".


This is not meant as another commentary on L300's or l400's, merely my rant in opposition to your opinions about airbags...

...nuff said, I'll go calm myself down now...

[Green1]

How do I know this? What gives me the right to an opinion? Because I've seen a lot more blood, grey matter, and other disfigured body parts splattered around the inside of vehicles without airbags, than I have in late model vehicles that are well equipped with SRS systems. I've extricated a lot more LIVE people out of airbag equipped vehicles involved in major accidents than I have out of older, non-airbag vehicles.

So in other words, you aren't qualified any more than I am on this one, you don't study the statistics, you only make up your own from personal observation, personal observation that I too have made by the way, the last person I extracted from a roll over was EXTREMELY lucky her airbag did NOT go off. as for the blood and guts, how many of those people were or were not wearing seatbelts? (remember, I didn't say that airbags don't save lives, only that a seatbelt saves more, and that airbags don't really help the equation much when you are already wearing a seatbelt.)

As for side curtain airbags, they are completely irrelevent to the discussion, as we are only talking about a driver's side front airbag (the only option that was available in these vehicles.)

I appreciate all the input and information you've put in to these forums over the years, but please don't get me spun out again by repeating this uninformed (though, I don't doubt you have stats from somewhere to back you up--probably based on old airbag technology) opinion that you are "safer without airbags".

And exactly which airbag technology do YOU think a 1995 Delica is equipped with? hint, it ISN'T 2010 model airbags!

As for uninformed... Look up where airbag regulations came from, you'll see that they did in fact come in from the simple fact that people refused to wear seatbelts, furthermore the US states refused to implement seatbelt laws, so the feds regulated airbags to save those who don't wear seatbelts.

This is not meant as another commentary on L300's or l400's, merely my rant in opposition to your opinions about airbags...

You are entitled to your opinion, and I to mine, however if you want to tell me mine is less valid than yours, you should back it up with more than "I have a better opinion than you do"

[mararmeisto]

Before we get too far off topic, wrt to inserting your own airbag arrangement, Mr. Flibble, it's generally more complicated than an accelerometer and a rapidly-inflating balloon in the steering wheel: the control unit can be tied into the accelerator, the brakes, bumper sensors, accelerometers (more than one for the different axises x-y-z), etc, etc, etc. Most airbag systems have condensor packs that last more than 10-15 minutes for secondary impacts (i.e. you've crashed at the side of the road, airbag didn't go off, but now you get hit by another vehicle) which is why a disconnected car has to sit for an hour before the technician can work on the airbag. Being an older vehicle, these systems are going to be first or second generation (read, 'simpler' than today's), but it'll still be beyond the scope of the driveway mechanic.

Short answer is: if it didn't come with one, you shouldn't/can't add one. And considering it's a Mitsubishi that wasn't sold in this market, the dealers won't put one if for you, either.

Another quick way to tell if your vehicle has an airbag is the warning on the backside of the visor: I've never seen a car with an airbag that doesn't have that warning there. Also, there should/will be an indicator on the dash to indicate the POST (power-on self-test) is correct or if there's a problem. I realise your vehicle isn't here yet, but you could look for those clues when it does arrive.

[psilosin]

You may or may not have an airbag...but now that Green1 is involved you most certainly have a windbag...

[Green1]

You may or may not have an airbag...but now that Green1 is involved you most certainly have a windbag...

And just how does this particular comment contribute to a discussion on if a vehicle has an airbag or not?

Just because you personally don't like me, doesn't mean you need to follow me in to every unrelated thread to tell the world about it.

[jessef]

All Royal Exceed's came from the factory with an airbag in the steering wheel.

Yours is a royal exceed which means it's an airbag in there, unless it was replaced with a non-airbag version after it's inital purchase.

It can be the picture as well. The srs symbol is barely embossed in the plastic cover on the wheel.

Another indicator is the SRS symbol that lights up to the right of the speedometer
when you turn on the ignition.

[Green1]

It can be the picture as well. The srs symbol is barely embossed in the plastic cover on the wheel.

Looking at mine I didn't think it is really any lighter than the mitsubishi logo... however now that you say that, and I look at the picture again, I wonder if my eyes are playing tricks on me, or if I really can see a faint "SRS" on there in the right spot... much fainter than the mitsu logo (but then again, I think someone may have accentuated that one with a ballpoint...)

Could you (or anyone with a non-airbag equipped L400) verify if the non-airbag steering wheels look identical (except for the "SRS Airbag" lettering?) (I suspect it does, but I haven't paid attention to the wheel of one without before)

[Mr. Flibble]

All Royal Exceed's came from the factory with an airbag in the steering wheel.

Yours is a royal exceed which means it's an airbag in there, unless it was replaced with a non-airbag version after it's inital purchase.

It can be the picture as well. The srs symbol is barely embossed in the plastic cover on the wheel.

Another indicator is the SRS symbol that lights up to the right of the speedometer
when you turn on the ignition.

I am guessing that it *HAD* an airbag, and probably had a non-airbag steering wheel installed afterwards. Possibly because of a minor collision. I am actually ok with this having looked at all the photos of the frame, and I cannot see any welds anywhere on the full frame. There is one small spot on a leaf spring that looks like it hit a curb or a rock - not serious - but enough that if it was whumped it could have caused the airbag to go off, and hence, get the steering wheel replaced. As long as the vehicle passes normal safety checks, this does not worry me.

And as to the rest of the thread, I want to go and get my popcorn for this:

[jwfchase]

Not me, I vented, I'm done. Though I did just try an unsuccessful Youtube search for the JiffyPop Airbag skit from SNL... to go with the flames...

[thedjjack]

Personally, I will pass on airbags...They also make car companies lots of money for replacement bags and write off lots of cars (sell new cars). Same idea as plastic bumper covers and new style headlights.

But, I also sit to close to the steering wheel (not the tallest kid in the class). Personally, I would put a cage in and proper seat belt over an airbag. Plus a cage gives protection when you roll.

[FalcoColumbarius]

You know, when I look at that picture of the steering wheel and imagine an exploding air-bag expanding at a tremendous rate.... where is that hard shell in the middle going to go? I am seeing images from James Bond movies.

Falco.