11-27-2013, 07:52 PM
Always get bumpers checked out if they've been hit. Even if they look fine from the outside, there can be damage on the inside. What you're describing sounds exactly like that.
I didn't realize how big of an issue this was in relation to airbags until I had my current car in for work. They put the front end in "service mode" which means taking the bumper off and sliding the engine forward. When they put it all back together, it wouldn't fit right. They realized that the bolt going through the bumper and bumper strut on one side didn't align, and wasn't aligned properly before. The reason being was that the bumper strut was depressed an inch or so. The previous owner apparently tapped something enough to push it in. The bumper had since been resprayed.
The shop then educated me on how this will likely cause the airbags not to go off at the intended time.
I didn't realize how big of an issue this was in relation to airbags until I had my current car in for work. They put the front end in "service mode" which means taking the bumper off and sliding the engine forward. When they put it all back together, it wouldn't fit right. They realized that the bolt going through the bumper and bumper strut on one side didn't align, and wasn't aligned properly before. The reason being was that the bumper strut was depressed an inch or so. The previous owner apparently tapped something enough to push it in. The bumper had since been resprayed.
The shop then educated me on how this will likely cause the airbags not to go off at the intended time.