Question: What is the Vetronix CDR system?

Answer: The Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) system consists of hardware and software that downloads Pre-Crash and Crash data from the vehicle's air bag module to a laptop computer. The Windows® based CDR software presents this data in easy-to-read graphs and tables.

Question: What is an air bag module?

Answer: The air bag module is the vehicle's “computer” that controls air bag deployment. Since 1990, recordable air bag modules have been installed in select GM vehicles. SDM, Sensing and Diagnostic Module, is the name given to air bag modules used in General Motors vehicles from 1994 to present.

Since 1998, recordable air bag modules have been installed in select Ford vehicles. RCM, Restraint Control Module, is the name given to air bag modules used in Ford vehicles from 1998 to present.

Question: What data can be downloaded from the vehicle's air bag module?

Answer: Recorded data depends on vehicle make, model and year. The following data is typical of what is found on a newer GM vehicle.

*Depending on the particular vehicle, all or a subset of this data may be available.

Question: Will data only be recorded if the air bags deploy?

Answer: No, data is recorded in both Deployment and Non-Deployment Events.

Question: What is a Non-Deployment Event?

Answer: There are two types of air bag module (SDM) recorded crash events. The first is the non-deployment event. A Non-Deployment event is an event severe enough to “wake up” the sensing algorithm but not severe enough to deploy the air bag(s). It contains Pre-Crash and Crash data. The SDM can store up to one Non-Deployment Event. This can be overwritten by an event that has a greater SDM recorded velocity change (Delta-V). This event will be cleared by the SDM after the ignition has been cycled 250 times (about 60 days of normal driving).

Question: What is a Deployment Event?

Answer: The second type of SDM recorded crash event is the Deployment Event. It also contains Pre-Crash and Crash data. The SDM can store up to two different Deployment Events, if they occur within five seconds of one another. The first deployment event will be stored in the deployment file (this would have been the event that deployed the air bag) and the second Deployment Event will be stored in the Near Deployment file. Deployment events cannot be overwritten or cleared from the SDM. Once the SDM has deployed the air bag, the SDM must be replaced.

Question: What vehicles can the CDR system interface with?

Answer: The CDR system interfaces with select GM and Ford vehicles. Click here for the current list.

Question: Why are GM and Ford making this data available?

Answer: GM and Ford wish to collect air bag deployment and crash data in order to improve vehicle safety design. They also wish to support recommendations set forth by the NTSB and NHTSA.

Question: Do other vehicle manufacturers have recordable air bag modules, and if so, why aren't they releasing this data?

Answer: Yes, some other vehicle manufacturers have recordable air bag modules. The amount of information recorded and the Model Year that they began installing these recordable air bag modules differs for each manufacturer. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) have recommended that all vehicle manufacturers equip their vehicles with recorders capable of storing crash data. Currently, the CDR system can only interface with select GM and Ford vehicles. An agreement with a new vehicle manufacturer is needed to enable Vetronix to write software and build cable for air bag module systems other than those equipped in GM and Ford vehicles.

Question: How does the CDR system download data?

Answer: Data can be collected from the air bag module in two ways:

Question: Where does the air bag module (SDM) collect its data?

Answer: All SDM recorded data is measured, calculated, and stored internally, except for the following: Vehicle Speed, Engine Speed, and Percent Throttle data is transmitted once a second by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) via the Class 2 data link, to the SDM.

Question: Is all the recorded data from the air bag module downloaded by the CDR system?

Answer: Yes, all the data retrieved from the air bag module is downloaded and displayed on the PC.

Question: Is the Vetronix CDR system the only tool that can download this type of crash data?

Answer: Vetronix has agreements with both GM and Ford to download and convert the recorded air bag module data into a readable format. No one else has licensed access to this information.

Question: Is the data permanently stored in the vehicle's air bag module?

Answer: Yes, the data is permanently written in the EEPROM.

Question: What is the cost to have the module downloaded?

Answer: If you take the module out of the vehicle and send it to the Spence Investigation Group the cost is $250 plus tax. In cases where it is not feasible to remove the module please call Steve Spence for a quote.

Question: What do I get for my money?

Answer: You get a hard copy of the recorded data plus a disc with the data in PDF format. The data provided should be integrated into other information collected by accident reconstruction experts in order to get a complete picture of the event. Bear in mind that there are crash circumstances in which only a portion or none
of the data is recorded. No adjustment of the charge is made for this circumstance.

Question: Does the Spence Investigation Group do reconstruction?

Answer: No. We are investigators--not experts. We have the certification to do the downloads and the ability to testify about the integrity of the download.

Question: Does downloading the module destroy or alter the information stored in the memory.

Answer: No. The module can be downloaded an infinite number of times and the information will remain the same with the exception that each download will increase the number of recorded ignition cycles by one. (Remember that a non-deployment event will be cleared after about 250 ignition cycles.)

Question: How long does it take before I get my information back.

Answer: The module will be downloaded by the Spence Investigation Group on the day it is received and the data returned by email on the same day.

Question: Who owns the data stored in the air bag module? Who has rights to it?