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Do you drum on your steering wheel and have the same worries I do?

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airbag deploy drumming
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SUO1372

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
This is a funny worry of mine because I think it's something that truly could happen one day. When I'm driving with the radio on I am a compulsive drummer, ideally tapping my fingers on the top back of my steering wheel box. Not the top on the cover for the horn but the hollow plastic box like part behind that. I rest my palms on that cover and finger drum on the back part, try it, it really does have a satisfying sound. On a really rocking song I'll start hitting it hard as if I were playing the bongos. Tool is my weakness! I'm not concerned about looking like an idiot as much as I'm concerned of my airbag bag deploying and slamming my fist through my face. I keep a really good beat but im afraid my car may become a critic in the worst of ways. So I'll open the doors on this topic.

Has anyone ever deployed their airbag drumming on their steering wheel? I'm mostly concerned about patriot but open to other stories. Now Discuss...
 
#2 ·
Haven`t had a deployed airbag in my life and hope I wont for the rest of it. But as to your drumming habbit ... I think the sensors for AB deployment is in the front of the car not on the steering wheel. So don`t worry and keep on drummin`:D
But on the other hand ... who nows what delicate electronic gadgets are inside the steering wheel and what can trip them off :p
 
#3 ·
I drum on the wheel itself, like you I just can't help it for some music. Nothing to be worried about with what you're doing, from what I can tell. Except if you have both hands in there they're not on the wheel, could be a problem in an emergency.
 
#4 ·
As long as you're not drumming on the sensor (and as someone else mentioned, those are in the front of the vehicle) you're good to go! Only things in the steering column are switches and a clock spring harness.
 
#5 ·
Having played drums for almost 40 years I do the same thing.

I just try not to use my drumsticks :D
 
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#7 ·
One time, in my younger and wilder days, I punched my steering wheel in a fit of rage and the horn got stuck blowing. Since I was already aggravated I ripped the cover of the steering wheel off to get the horn to stop blowing and the air bag fell out. And I still couldn't get the horn to stop blowing. That was an expensive little lesson on why it's not good to lose your temper behind the wheel. Thankfully the air bag didn't deply.
 
#8 ·
Swedgen said:
One time, in my younger and wilder days, I punched my steering wheel in a fit of rage and the horn got stuck blowing. Since I was already aggravated I ripped the cover of the steering wheel off to get the horn to stop blowing and the air bag fell out. And I still couldn't get the horn to stop blowing. That was an expensive little lesson on why it's not good to lose your temper behind the wheel. Thankfully the air bag didn't deply.
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PMSL, sorry but I couldn't help it. In answer to the OP, I reckon you would be fine as others have already mentioned.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Ahh Good to hear guys thanks for the input, So your saying if I wanted to play a joke on my friend sitting in the driver seat I could kick my head light. Thats a good bit of information right there. thanks!
 
#10 ·
festerw said:
The sensors don't monitor impact, just deceleration. Plus they're located behind the headlight and under the gear shift.
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correct. vehicles use MEMS sensors (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) to detect the deceleration of whatever platform it is mounted on. i did a senior CAD design project on these types of sensors to design a test chamber that would test the reliability of these sensors under various environmental conditions (pressure, temperature, humidity, etc)...basically seeing if there would be any performance degradation due to such conditions. this is important, especially for SRS systems, since vehicles by nature are exposed to environmental conditions 24/7/365/life-of-vehicle . it would be bad news if these MEMS sensors could handle the elements!
 
#13 ·
Keep on rocking!

I've wailed on airbag equipped steering wheels since I had an '02 Neon. Whether it be for Tool, 5 Finger Death Punch :pepper: , or some !#@ktard driving like a maniacal jerk... None of the vehicles hit me back...yet!
 
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AntDragon
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