Airbags

[Doolallygirl]

What happens to the plastic bit covering my air bags when they inflate? Does it just snap off or is it on a hinge or something? Because I've got one under my dashboard for my passenger side too and I can't see how it inflates?

[peanut]

you should notice an outline where the airbag is. that part of the dash is designed to split open and allow the airbag to blow through.

[keltik]

dont worry, if you crash youll have other things on your mind, as long as the bag inflates theres no problem is there. i Thought for a while that if the airbag inflates, ill have a large lump of plastic hurled into my face, but thats obviously not the case.

[loverboy]

Don't worry the plastic bit doesn't snap off. As peanut says there is a hairline split along the face of the facia and this is covered by a thin layer of plastic. When the airbag is inflated it blows through the split forcing the face of the facia to part slightly but only enough to let the air bag through. The moulding of the airbag facia is designed to stay in one piece. For further information have a look at http://auto.howstuffworks.com/airbag1.htm