Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Electrical & Lighting

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-08-2004, 09:26 AM   #1
143paul
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 12967
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Vehicle:
2002 WRX
Blue

Default Will my cellphone set off my airbag? - Real question

When you’re done laughing…..

When ever I set my cell phone below the cigarette lighter it will trigger a relay somewhere on the left side of the driver. When ever I’m receiving a call this relay will trip. Nothing changes in the car, no lights or shudders or any noticeable change, but you can hear the relay. I have not been able to find what relay. But I’m 99% sure it is caused by my phone, because it will correspond to every call I receive. I think that the airbag controller is located under that "pocket".

As I’m sure most of you know your cell phone, when it’s on, will periodically send a signal to the network to “register” itself. I have a Nokia 3360 and I’m on ATT’s network here in Dallas. This is what I think is tripping the relay in addition to the calls.

My electrical mods are: Indiglo gauge overlays, gauge pod w/ autometer gauges, and aftermarket amps. The power for the gauges and overlays is run off the dimmed power from the factory boost gauge located at the top of the radio. The amps are powered directly from the battery.
143paul is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 11:42 AM   #2
Monsito
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 40581
Join Date: Jul 2003
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Chicago
Vehicle:
04 STi
Blue

Default

Is your phone wired to your car with a hands free kit?
If not most likely it's not your phone causing the problem. Relays respond the electrical current not radio signals or cell phone signals
Monsito is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 11:58 AM   #3
143paul
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 12967
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Vehicle:
2002 WRX
Blue

Default no

No, the cell phone is not connected to the car in any way (not even a charger)

Like I said - the relay sound (the clicking on/off) only happens when the cell phone is sitting under the lighter - in front of the shifter.

Anyone else heard anything like this? Does your cell phone sit there with no reactions?
143paul is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 12:12 PM   #4
cdvma
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 21980
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Central MA
Vehicle:
2002 PSM WRX (Sold)
2017 BMW X5

Default

I've placed my cellphone there without problem. It is a Sprint enabled Samsung A460.
cdvma is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 12:16 PM   #5
bleuquila
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 31922
Join Date: Jan 2003
Chapter/Region: SWIC
Location: new mehico
Vehicle:
03 wrx wagon
78 brat

Default

I haven't noticed anything in my car ever, but if my cell phone is sitting near this one clock at home and someone calls, the clock starts whirring in an electrical-circuity-sounding way a full second before the phone even starts to ring. Also, periodically, when the phone is sending out its little "hi, I'm still here" signals I'll hear the clock clicking inside. Kinda weird. I bet if it was a problem, your airbags would have already deployed (how's that for a non-reassuring or informed answer?)
bleuquila is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 12:17 PM   #6
MikeWRX-NJ
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 33410
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: wishing i was somewhere else
Vehicle:
08 wrx
dgm

Default

when my nextel is near a speaker, the speaker will actually make clicking sounds from the interference. Maybe this is a similar situation?
MikeWRX-NJ is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 03:51 PM   #7
avk
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 17252
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:
'06 WX8
59E

Default

Could it be that the radio signal from the phone is triggering a keyless entry or some such? I know it's very unlikely.
avk is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 07:24 PM   #8
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

My cell makes my computer speakers buzz a second or two before it rings if I set my phone on my computer desk...
Uncle Scotty is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 07:38 PM   #9
nhluhr
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 7327
Join Date: Jun 2001
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:
2008 Mazdaspeed3
2006 Wrangler Sport

Default

the RF that your cellphone puts out can very easily cause a current to develop in things like relays and speakers.

haha - you're probably flashing your highbeams at people without knowing it.

If I sit next to the subwoofer in my home theater with my cellphone on, the sub goes nuts.
nhluhr is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 10:41 PM   #10
wiredawg45
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 36562
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Somewhere near Vagina Beach
Vehicle:
HR's Scooby Newbie
for life!!!

Default

My cell phone won't cause a relay to act or anything.....but it does set off my Warn and eventually set my alarm off.....when I place it below the cigarette lighter area while its on.....

I have a Sprint Samsung a500 and a proximity sensor for my alarm......
wiredawg45 is offline  
Old 01-08-2004, 10:54 PM   #11
avk
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 17252
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:
'06 WX8
59E

Default

Wiredawg's situation is what I had in mind. To get to the bottom of this, one would need to know which relay is involved.
avk is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 03:37 AM   #12
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

I ended up clipping my cell to the side of the passengers side sun visor and that seems to be the best place for it, unless it needs to charge...then I stretch the cord back past the armrest and let it hang in the rear seat footwell.
Works for me.

Putting your cell phone elsewhere will dramatically lesen the possibility of triggering your SRS system.

Last edited by Uncle Scotty; 01-09-2004 at 04:07 AM.
Uncle Scotty is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 04:01 AM   #13
asianboy101
Visiting NASIOC Timeout
 
Member#: 46373
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: westminster california
Vehicle:
2004 subaru sti
blue

Default

YES! ............. ice cream does melt fast................oh, what was the question again?
asianboy101 is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 05:58 AM   #14
eurojax
Review Crew
 
Member#: 34269
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Louisville, CO
Vehicle:
Only marginally
funny.

Default

Yeah, I've had this problem sorta.

In every single speaker I've ever owned, including my car, I've had the whirring noise. It's actually kinda cool, I can answer the call before it rings and freak people out since I have about a 2 second head start. I don't think there is anything at all to worry about.
eurojax is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 06:27 AM   #15
RicerJim
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 39824
Join Date: Jul 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: HR Virginia
Vehicle:
SPB- I'm waaay more
shower pocket than you!

Default

Nobody ever calls me
RicerJim is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 06:39 AM   #16
Extraze
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 16980
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: QC, Canada
Default

i would put my phone somewhere farther than the Airbag computer ... just to make sure...

i know for a fact that cell-phones do cause tiny electrical currents around them when receiving or sending a signal... cell phones have been know to ignite gasoline (or their fumes) while pumping gas at a gas station. that alone makes for a good reason to put it somewhere else ...

the glove box is a good option (allthough its pretty close to an airbag also (but not the computer itself, so its probably better)... under the armrest would be another solution ...

... now ... just imagine what they are doing to your brain ....
Extraze is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 08:12 AM   #17
Orson
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 25254
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Livonia, MI
Vehicle:
2003 WRX wagon

Default

Quote:
Originally posted by Extraze
... now ... just imagine what they are doing to your brain ....


In response to the original question, if it reassures you, EMI testing (electromagnetic interference) is a regular part of vehicle development. Every vehicle gets put through a barrage of testing whereby various parts of the car are turned off, on, and in various combinations, and the electrical system is loaded up and the vehicle is bombarded with various electromagnetic crap. I've seen such tests, but I am not at all familiar with the details. Suffice to say that I have seen these tests come up with interference problems that go back to engineering to fix. I've seen some really drastic/expensive hardware measures to deal with bad EMI test results. Safety systems (air bags, ABS, throttle-by-wire) always get the extra special treatment at these tests.

I would find it difficult to believe that they do not test for phones. I mean, they even test to see if AM reception is being compromised by electromagnetic emmissions from the car - that's the kind of detail they go into.

Last edited by Orson; 01-09-2004 at 08:19 AM.
Orson is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 10:14 AM   #18
OffRoadWagon
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 39971
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Milwaukee
Vehicle:
2004 Wagotron
WRB

Default

Cell phones can definately produce small currents in nearby electronics. Energy changes mediums all the time...that's a little gas can push a big car really fast. But it wouldn't be able to without it's force being increase by the transmission. Well, I'm betting most relays on cars are 12v, and a cell isn't going to generate 12v into a nearby circuit. The reason you can hear it in speakers and such is because they're amplified. So unless the relay for you're SRS is amplified, it's not going to do much. Whatever relay it is triggering probably has some amplification in the circuit...so I have no idea what it could be, really.

Uhhh, move your cell phone a few inches further away, that should do it. Try it with a speaker, see how far you can get before it stops making noise. It disappears pretty quickly.
OffRoadWagon is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 10:34 AM   #19
lotusTT
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 23359
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: San Francisco
Vehicle:
2002 BMW M Coupe
Steel Gray

Default

Quote:
Originally posted by Extraze
cell phones have been know to ignite gasoline (or their fumes) while pumping gas at a gas station. that alone makes for a good reason to put it somewhere else ...

Nope sorry, just an urban myth. Watch Myth Busters on TLC, they tried it and proved its not possible. Static electricity will possibly do it, but not a cell phone.
lotusTT is offline  
Old 01-09-2004, 04:13 PM   #20
Thunder Lungs
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 33677
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: WV
Vehicle:
1980 2 feet
caucasian

Default

If my cell phone is laying next to my DVD player remote, a good 1 second before my phone rings the remote locator beeper goes off.
Kinda wierd.
Thunder Lungs is offline  
Old 05-30-2008, 07:50 PM   #21
GrundleJuice
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 165749
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Detroit, MF'er!
Default

when my phone is about to ring, i get a massive erection. kinda wierd, too. comes in handy sometimes, usually not though.
GrundleJuice is offline  
Old 05-30-2008, 09:29 PM   #22
Cougar4
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 53443
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Vehicle:
2001 LL Bean Outback
Winestone

Default

While 600 milliwatts is the maximum RF signal the phone can put out it shouldn't cause a problem with the SRS system. By placing the phone near sensitive low level inputs can cause certain things to happen I wouldn't worry about the airbags.
Cougar4 is offline  
Old 05-30-2008, 11:44 PM   #23
Mulder
Trust no one
Moderator
 
Member#: 11170
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: NYC
Vehicle:
02 RAV4 MT
15 WRX/11 CRZ

Default

There was no need to bump this 4-year-old thread just to make OT comments.
Mulder is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Other people's keyless sets off my alarm newshoes99 Car Audio, Video & Security 8 09-29-2009 11:03 AM
I set off my Alarm yesterday Diabolical1 CC General Community 9 08-22-2005 01:20 PM
Stupid lousy Infiniti FX45 lasers setting off my Valentine 1 :mad: Kaiser Off-Topic 21 07-30-2003 02:08 PM
My fuel light came on. I need to get gasoline, I say. So my pal turned off my radio. Snoopy Off-Topic 21 07-29-2003 04:16 PM
Wind keeps setting off my alarm mike270 General Community 10 11-19-2002 12:31 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.