I recently bought a 1998 Cadillac SLS from Texas (Vango Auto Group Ebay ID dealsonwheels03). Prior to buying it, I ran a Carfax and it came up clean. The car has several points of evidence that it has been wrecked (Ebay paid out almost $3000 to cover bad body work and damage repair). I have many concerns, but most importantly, I wanted to know if there is any possibility of a false positive coming from the air bag sensors. It is obvious that the passenger's front bag was deployed because the dash is slightly curled up. The dash light for the airbag sensors operates as it should. Is there any way the system could be tricked. Please help. Thank you in advance, Dave

Hmmm....yeah....I would look into it.

The airbag SDM is good for one deplyoment. After a deployment they are suppose to be replaced. Some shops will reuse the SDM. That of course can lead to very serious issues latter. Being the body work is so shabby. I would be concerened with shabby work done on the airbag system.

It would be worth the $100 or so, to have the dealer plug in the GM Tech 2, and have a look at the SIR system.

One thing to watch....does the airbag lamp flash 7 times at start up? If not, sure bet somethings up with the airbags.


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I recently bought a 1998 Cadillac SLS from Texas (Vango Auto Group Ebay ID dealsonwheels03). Prior to buying it, I ran a Carfax and it came up clean. The car has several points of evidence that it has been wrecked (Ebay paid out almost $3000 to cover bad body work and damage repair). I have many concerns, but most importantly, I wanted to know if there is any possibility of a false positive coming from the air bag sensors. It is obvious that the passenger's front bag was deployed because the dash is slightly curled up. The dash light for the airbag sensors operates as it should. Is there any way the system could be tricked. Please help. Thank you in advance, Dave

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2483670667&category=6151#mainImage

Hi Dave. After I read your thread, I did a little research using the seller's name and found your car. From the looks of the auction pictures in the above auction, the car looks pretty good. This goes to show you that pictures are very deceiving. It's a shame that the seller is still registered. You spent almost 10k for an unreported 'salvaged' vehicle with a clean title. I hope that you get your money back somehow. I own a 1991 STS. If it were in an accident where the air bag deployed, the computer will set a permanent SIR code that can never be deleted. It can be recalled in onboard diagnostics. Your model is newer, so I assume that yours does as well. My friend owns a car like yours and have the factory service manuals. I'll check with him to see if a permanent code sets after air bag deployment. This can be of additional help in your legal case against the seller. Also, I'm curious: What are the several points of evidence that your car has been wrecked??? Also, if CarFax issued a clean history with their 'buy back' and you activated it, you should be entitled to some compensation from them as well.

CarFax only honors there buy back guarantee if there is public record of an accident/salvage title and they fail to locate it. So really, CarFax is only as good as what public record can show. Thanks for your help, Dave