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Pretensioners: Our Cohesive Guide to Their Importance

Posted by Artem Martynyuk on

To most drivers, it’s no secret that wearing a seatbelt can save most lives in cases of accidents that are the fault of the one driving or those around them. 

Regardless if you drive a truck, sports car, SUV, or luxury car, or sedan, the seatbelt you have in place plays a bigger role in your safety at all times than anything else. While others may suggest that features like airbags, warning lights, and anti-lock braking systems are critical for adequate road safety, none are as paramount as the tool in question.

When it comes to specifics, the main point any American driver should understand is that seat belts are able to deliver the level of protection they’re rated for because of the different parts that comprise them. From the straps to the hook-and-buckle assemblies used in all models, every component in an assembly is responsible for a specific percentage of safety under any condition.

Although each part of a system plays a significant role in determining how protected drivers can be on the road, there’s one component that drivers should know more about: Seat belt pretensioners. 

What are seat belt pretensioners?

Arguably regarded as the most significant safety component of any vehicle, the seat belt pretensioner is loosely defined as a life-saving device with a role in ensuring effectiveness. 

These parts are technically responsible for locking the seat belt in place during a crash, regardless of the gravitational force produced. In fact, pretensioners have become a must-include component for any manufacturer’s vehicle because they will reduce the number of injuries and deaths resulting from crashes! 

How do they work?

Pretensioners are powered by the use of explosive charges that are responsible for keeping everything in place when a collision occurs.

Within the first few milliseconds of the impact that are detected by the device’s sensors, the explosive charge mentioned initiates a concealed piston that gives way for the following sequence. After the piston initiates, the spool to which the seatbelt’s fabric strap is attached is driven rapidly until the strap itself wraps around the passenger with no remaining slack. 

Why does a pretensioner save lives?

Generally, the ability of a seat belt pretensioner to save lives is heavily rooted in a specific concept that makes the difference between living, dying, and getting injured in a crash: Free space. 

The best way to explain this is to imagine having an egg inside of a box. If the egg wasn’t secured and the box was vigorously moved around, the fragile item will certainly break. Conversely, if you fastened the round and fragile little object down and did the same thing with the box, then it wouldn’t break at all, and this same principle applies to you in a car.

By cutting out the slack from the seatbelt, the device helps ensure that you remain in place even if your vehicle experiences a great amount of sudden or jarring force. While you might end up getting a few belt bruises, the device prevents you from flying out of the car, experiencing a heavy traumatic injury, or other possible threats. 

What if your pretensioner is broken?

Seeing that the part in question plays a pivotal role in ensuring your protection on the road, it’s safe to assume that you can’t afford to have it malfunctioning at any point. If you discover that even a sudden force test won’t cause your device to kick in, then it’s best to get in touch with Repair My SRS to help you out and schedule a repair right away! 

Conclusion

As a driver, one of the most critical car parts that can easily make a world of difference in your road safety experience is the pretensioner that lies deep within your seatbelt safety system. By keeping this guide in mind and further understanding the purpose of the part in question, you can have a clearer understanding of how you can stay as safe as possible on the road! 

Are you looking for an SRS airbag module reset service in Westfield, MA, that can handle your car's needs? Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment with our team of experts today!


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