Side Air Bags Deploy In Autocross - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Gen52SS · 09-20-2014, 12:22 PM

I've been autocrossing now for 7 months at this point I'd like to free up the rear just a little as the car has built in understeer. Looking to get the ass end just a bit loose. i have been warned by some drivers in my SCCA Club if I do I'll set off the side air bags. They have posted of course the famous video of the Gen 5 blowing the side air bags while drifting. I'm going to say many of you have been AXing your cars with NO problems correct?

mp51998 · 09-20-2014, 01:03 PM

I've spun out as have a few of the other fifth gens in our local SCCA. Some even off the course completely. None have had air bags deployed. I have seen the videos of it happening but think it's a car by car basis. I just go for it. Keep in mind tho that if you ass end is kicking out to much your scrubbing speed and going slower. Looks cooler tho.

CamaroSSNOLA · 10-04-2014, 11:12 AM

This is my first post on the forum btw, but I've been autcrossing 4 times and have been fine. I was told at my last even (a week ago) they recently had a camaro whose side airbags went off. I'd guess its a car to car issue like the poster above me said, but I don't have any knowledge on airbag systems.

I searched the forum and found some people saying this happened to them, but most of the threads were useless arguing about "should gm cover this" or "our cars are performance cars, it shouldn't happen", etc.

What I'd be curious to know is if the traction control settings have any effect on this. I run in competitive mode or with TC/stabilitrak all off, so does the car desensitize the side airbag system to allow the car to be driven harder?
One guy who said this happened had traction control on. I wonder if anyone had this happen in competitive mode or with everything off.

The guys at my autox course recommended pulling a fuse, I only found one for "airbag" in the manual. I didn't want to disable all the airbags so I left it alone.

Norm Peterson · 10-04-2014, 05:07 PM

Needing any airbags at a properly set up autocross is pretty unlikely, and if you're running with Washington DC Region I would expect nothing less than proper course layouts.

I never worried about not even having air bags in two of the cars I autocrossed over the years, not even after two of my newer cars had them. Hell, I've had an airbag recall notice for one of those cars (not the Mustang) sitting in front of me for quite a while now, just haven't gotten around to dealing with it yet.

Norm

Todd in Vancouver · 10-06-2014, 01:01 AM

I've spun out more times then I can remember. I've got some good video of it from inside the car and have had my stability light come on a few times but all good so I've been lucky maybe but I would thing the airbag deployment is the exception not the rule.

Orange Crush 1LE · 10-06-2014, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSSNOLA

This is my first post on the forum btw, but I've been autcrossing 4 times and have been fine. I was told at my last even (a week ago) they recently had a camaro whose side airbags went off. I'd guess its a car to car issue like the poster above me said, but I don't have any knowledge on airbag systems.

I searched the forum and found some people saying this happened to them, but most of the threads were useless arguing about "should gm cover this" or "our cars are performance cars, it shouldn't happen", etc.

What I'd be curious to know is if the traction control settings have any effect on this. I run in competitive mode or with TC/stabilitrak all off, so does the car desensitize the side airbag system to allow the car to be driven harder?
One guy who said this happened had traction control on. I wonder if anyone had this happen in competitive mode or with everything off.

The guys at my autox course recommended pulling a fuse, I only found one for "airbag" in the manual. I didn't want to disable all the airbags so I left it alone.

A guy that I track with on road courses (not autocross) had his airbags go off. He tracks with stability control off. His passenger's skin got abraded and burned by the seat belt tensioning during deployment. She was wearing a tank top. He said that he didn't hit any curbing and wasn't drifting or spinning, it just went off during hard driving.

The airbag fuse is easy to pull. Just pull it when you track or autocross.

Gen52SS · 10-07-2014, 10:53 AM

How about posting a location or fuse number? I've been driving hard at autocross this season 8 months with no issues nannies always off.

kevint · 10-07-2014, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange Crush 1LE

A guy that I track with on road courses (not autocross) had his airbags go off. He tracks with stability control off. His passenger's skin got abraded and burned by the seat belt tensioning during deployment. She was wearing a tank top. He said that he didn't hit any curbing and wasn't drifting or spinning, it just went off during hard driving.

The airbag fuse is easy to pull. Just pull it when you track or autocross.

And wear proper PPE.

bannonm · 10-07-2014, 06:18 PM

Technically there are 4 fuses that are part of the SIR system. I'm not sure if just pulling a specific fuse will disable the system as it would/should show a fault in the system. Here they are:

Instrument panel
F24 AOS Fuse
F3 AIRBAG Fuse

Underhood
F17UA SDM/IGN Fuse
F18UA RUN/CRANK Body fuse

JDP Sales · 10-07-2014, 06:33 PM

From what I've seen all of the Airbag deployments have been on 2011's. Anyone seen any other years? That being said, our 2011 Shop SS has never deployed it's airbags and it sees a lot of track time and autocross. I think it would have to be the perfect scenario to make it happen.

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007

Steve_RS_Camaro · 05-24-2015, 07:28 PM

Just had mine deploy yesterday 2011 RS.

LimaCharlie · 05-25-2015, 04:39 PM

What were you doing when they deployed?

mbowen89 · 05-25-2015, 10:00 PM

Well there's another to add to the 2011 list... seems like maybe that year is the main issue?

Steve_RS_Camaro · 05-26-2015, 05:15 PM

Hard right turn hit the rumbles just a bit and was just starting to get on the gas, all tires stayed on the ground, all traction control/stabilititrac off, shifter in the M position not using the paddle shifters.

09-20-2014, 12:22 PM	#1
Gen52SS Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Seymour, TN Posts: 101 View My Garage	Side Air Bags Deploy In Autocross I've been autocrossing now for 7 months at this point I'd like to free up the rear just a little as the car has built in understeer. Looking to get the ass end just a bit loose. i have been warned by some drivers in my SCCA Club if I do I'll set off the side air bags. They have posted of course the famous video of the Gen 5 blowing the side air bags while drifting. I'm going to say many of you have been AXing your cars with NO problems correct?

10-06-2014, 01:01 AM	#5
Todd in Vancouver Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,538 View My Garage	I've spun out more times then I can remember. I've got some good video of it from inside the car and have had my stability light come on a few times but all good so I've been lucky maybe but I would thing the airbag deployment is the exception not the rule. __________________ Todd in Vancouver '14 ZL1 Camaro '67 Camaro SS Pro-tour in process How hard can it be... Check out my other build http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/9...ject-Obsession

10-07-2014, 06:18 PM	#9
bannonm Drives: 2011 2SS/RS M6 VR Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,536	Technically there are 4 fuses that are part of the SIR system. I'm not sure if just pulling a specific fuse will disable the system as it would/should show a fault in the system. Here they are: Instrument panel F24 AOS Fuse F3 AIRBAG Fuse Underhood F17UA SDM/IGN Fuse F18UA RUN/CRANK Body fuse __________________

05-24-2015, 07:28 PM	#11
Steve_RS_Camaro Ain't Scared Racing Drives: 2015 Summit White Camaro Z28 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 172 View My Garage	Just had mine deploy yesterday 2011 RS. Attached Images

05-25-2015, 04:39 PM	#12
LimaCharlie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,989	What were you doing when they deployed? __________________ 2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS -6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80

09-20-2014, 01:03 PM	#2
mp51998 Drives: Black 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: S. Texas Posts: 1,817	I've spun out as have a few of the other fifth gens in our local SCCA. Some even off the course completely. None have had air bags deployed. I have seen the videos of it happening but think it's a car by car basis. I just go for it. Keep in mind tho that if you ass end is kicking out to much your scrubbing speed and going slower. Looks cooler tho.

10-04-2014, 11:12 AM	#3
CamaroSSNOLA Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chevy Chase, MD Posts: 4	This is my first post on the forum btw, but I've been autcrossing 4 times and have been fine. I was told at my last even (a week ago) they recently had a camaro whose side airbags went off. I'd guess its a car to car issue like the poster above me said, but I don't have any knowledge on airbag systems. I searched the forum and found some people saying this happened to them, but most of the threads were useless arguing about "should gm cover this" or "our cars are performance cars, it shouldn't happen", etc. What I'd be curious to know is if the traction control settings have any effect on this. I run in competitive mode or with TC/stabilitrak all off, so does the car desensitize the side airbag system to allow the car to be driven harder? One guy who said this happened had traction control on. I wonder if anyone had this happen in competitive mode or with everything off. The guys at my autox course recommended pulling a fuse, I only found one for "airbag" in the manual. I didn't want to disable all the airbags so I left it alone.

10-04-2014, 05:07 PM	#4
Norm Peterson corner barstool sitter Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,990	Needing any airbags at a properly set up autocross is pretty unlikely, and if you're running with Washington DC Region I would expect nothing less than proper course layouts. I never worried about not even having air bags in two of the cars I autocrossed over the years, not even after two of my newer cars had them. Hell, I've had an airbag recall notice for one of those cars (not the Mustang) sitting in front of me for quite a while now, just haven't gotten around to dealing with it yet. Norm

10-07-2014, 10:53 AM	#7
Gen52SS Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Seymour, TN Posts: 101 View My Garage	How about posting a location or fuse number? I've been driving hard at autocross this season 8 months with no issues nannies always off.

10-07-2014, 06:33 PM	#10
JDP Sales Drives: Chevys at the limit Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 9,621	From what I've seen all of the Airbag deployments have been on 2011's. Anyone seen any other years? That being said, our 2011 Shop SS has never deployed it's airbags and it sees a lot of track time and autocross. I think it would have to be the perfect scenario to make it happen. Best regards, Tyler 888-308-6007

05-25-2015, 10:00 PM	#13
mbowen89 Drives: 2015 CRT 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: IN Posts: 638	Well there's another to add to the 2011 list... seems like maybe that year is the main issue?

05-26-2015, 05:15 PM	#14
Steve_RS_Camaro Ain't Scared Racing Drives: 2015 Summit White Camaro Z28 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 172 View My Garage	Hard right turn hit the rumbles just a bit and was just starting to get on the gas, all tires stayed on the ground, all traction control/stabilititrac off, shifter in the M position not using the paddle shifters.