The airbag sensor is made to detect a collision and notify the control unit that engages the airbags. A small unit, but it has a key role in your safety as well as the passenger's safety during a collision.
Airbag sensor operationThe airbag crash sensor is the first to detect the event of an accident, it notifies the SRS of the collision and the SRS control module will decide which airbags should be deployed. This small unit is placed in various spots around the car so the car will detect any kind of collision. The airbag sensor can detect the sudden halt of the vehicle by forcing a connection. The connection is forced by a cam and the small unit will transmit that information to the SRS control module.
Issues with a faulty airbag sensorA faulty airbag sensor can cause an airbag warning light to illuminate or the airbag may not deploy when a collision happens.