air bag light - outrageous dealer quote?!?

[scottibabeez]

Hi, this is my first post. Glad I found this resource!I have a 2003 Pontiac Vibe with about 57K miles. No extended warranty.Recently, my air bag light started blinking. I brought to dealer today and was diagnosed as the module "going bad". I was shocked when I was told it would be an $800 repair (including a $92 charge just for diagnosing the problem). Is this a typical cost for this or am I being taken advantage of? I don't want to risk my life over $800, but is it worth it to shop around first? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

[engineertwin2]

I don't know which airbag module is going out (assuming they will replace the entire airbag), but MSRP is about $750 for the airbag. You can get it from gmpartsdirect.com for $552 + shipping, so given that they are already charging you the $92, and probably 2 hrs of labor (it won't take that long, but that's probably what the book says), I'd say $800 is in the ballpark.Sorry to break it to you.

[scottibabeez]

Thanks for responding. I have not had any major issues with my Vibe, so I guess that is why I'm having sticker shock. If it makes a difference, I don't think they are changing the actual airbag, but the module or sensor (can't remember now what the part was) or does changing the module mean changing the entire airbag system? Either way, this just sucks

[ToolGuy]

I would try what engineeringtwin2 said and get the part off gmpartsdirect.com, watch their shipping rates though as they can be high for some parts. I would not go used with this part UNLESS you can completely trust the seller with the part, meaning it is a known good module. Or go to another dealer and check their price on the part itself too right at the parts counter. Then if you buy it, take it to a dealer to install.

[Mavrik]

sounds completely reasonable.

[Kamikaze]

What about a Toyota dealership?Isn't it the same part? maybe they could do it cheaper?

[scottibabeez]

I got a written estimate from the dealer...the part alone is $326 and they are charging for 3 hours "shop" time at approx. $100 an hour. The $800 cost included a $100 cost for them to just diagnose the problem. Thus, the net cost for the work would be at least $626. (I guess I was quoted $800 over the phone in anticipation that the $626 would be rounded up to $700). Thanks for your tips and I'll look into purchasing the part elsewhere. UPDATE: I checked GM Parts Direct (GM Part #88969488). It's slightly cheaper even with shipping - $286.72If anyone can recommend other on-line parts sites, it would be greatly appreciated!My mom balked at this cost and suggested I trade in my car for a different/newer car. I think the car has too low mileage for it to be worth it, but any opinions are welcomed...

[ToolGuy]

Well remember if you trade the Vibe with the Air Bag light on, the dealer will ding you for it then and not give you as much for the trade.So pay someone now or pay the dealer later, either way you pay. If it has low miles than maybe keep it unless you can get a lower car payment on a newer car I say.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »So pay someone now or pay the dealer later, either way you pay. So true! And I bet the $$$ the dealer takes off for the light being on will far exceed the current out-of-pocket cost to repair the thing. The dealer isn't going to be able to sell the car with such a glaring safety defect. Best to just get the thing fixed and call it a day.

[ou.grizzly]

Have had the same issue, found when I adjusted the seat into the lowest position the airbag light would come on. Found the issue was between the wiring harness/connector under the drivers seats. What remedied the flashing light was to disconnect the connector, position the seat up in a higher position, reconnect the connector, and turn the car back on. As long as the seat was not in the lowest position, the airbag light was remained off. Of course, not sure if you have the same issue at hand as you had yours diagnosed.

[Blueridge9]

Quote, originally posted by scottibabeez »I have a 2003 Pontiac Vibe with about 57K miles. No extended warranty.Scott, Thanks for posting and sorry to hear about the unexpected expense for the airbag. I want to caution you that your Owner's manual recommends some significant maintenance at 60,000 miles so you might want to study that list and read the tutorials in GenVibe to learn how to do some things yourself or find a less expensive private garage than the dealership.I love my Vibe so I paid to have that 60K maintenance done last winter and plan to drive this a long while.

[scottibabeez]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Grizzly, thx for sharing your experience...doesn't hurt for me to try. I hope I can figure out what the "connector" is though...

[DraziWDragon]

the 88969488 part name is called the SDM module.
GM dealers charge $350 for it, and $400 to "Program" it to your VIN.
the function of this part, is to deploy the airbags if it detects a crash.
If it tripped the airbag light, and you dont get it fixed, then your airbags just wont work.
Theres a slight chance the bags may go off with out a crash, but I've never heard of, or seen that happen from anyone, in any make/model car. but you gotta throw that warning in there anyways.

Anyways. the SDM has to be programmed with your VIN in it, for the simple fact of, if your airbag goes off, and is repaired, but not reset.
The SDM module will never deploy the new airbags.
The VIN programming comes in as a doner failsafe. If someone get the SDM from a junk car, and it wasnt deployed, You can run an ECU diagnosis on it, and see that the sdm was from a different car. Works for people buying used cars.
Its a "Carfax" for airbags.

[zyzyix]

Air bag repairs can be expensive. This partly explains if a car is in an accident and the bags deploy, the car is generally written off because of the cost to replace the air bag and its components.