Active Hood Sensor Fault, False Deployment Fix Needed

I had a similar issue with my 2011 Chevy Cruze, another compact Chevy model. As someone with some experience working on cars, I can tell you these crash detection systems can be tricky. The active hood safety system in my Cruze was showing similar symptoms, unusual deployments and warning lights. Turned out the acceleration sensor was defective, triggering false positives. Had it fixed at an independent workshop that specializes in safety systems. Total repair came to 315 for the sensor replacement and recalibration. The shop had to use specialized diagnostic equipment to properly reset the car sensor system. They mentioned these issues often stem from either faulty wiring or sensor degradation. To better help with your specific case: Is your check engine light also on? Have you noticed any issues with the airbag system? Did the problem start suddenly or develop gradually? The Sail's impact sensor setup is quite similar to the Cruze, but there might be some model-specific differences worth noting.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Mine started showing warnings gradually about 2 weeks ago, right after hitting 105491 KM. Both check engine and airbag lights are on now. The pedestrian safety system keeps giving false alarms, especially during cold starts. Already took it to a regular shop but they weren't equipped to handle collision detection systems. The hood actuators deployed twice now without any impact, which is pretty concerning. Thinking about getting a complete sensor replacement since recalibration alone might not fix the aging components. Before heading to the dealer, wondering if there's a trusted aftermarket sensor that works well with these older Chevy models? Last service was actually just 3 weeks ago for regular maintenance, but they didn't spot any issues with the safety systems then.

Dealt with exactly that on my Sail, replaced the sensor about 8 months ago after the same symptoms. The original lasted just over 100K, so that's pretty typical for these car electronics to start failing around that mileage. Went with a Standard Motor Products sensor (about €180) rather than OEM. Works perfectly with the pedestrian safety system and crash detection setup. Just make sure whoever installs it has the right diagnostic tools to properly integrate it with the car's safety system. Quick heads up though, if your hood actuators have already deployed, they'll need replacement too. The system won't reset properly with just a new sensor. Had to replace both actuators along with the sensor to get everything working correctly again. My workshop used a Snap-On scanner to recalibrate the whole system after installation. The total job came to around €650 including parts and labor. Worth every penny since the false deployments were really starting to worry me. Want to add, cold start issues usually indicate the sensor's completely shot, not just misaligned. Don't waste time with recalibration alone. A full replacement is your best bet at this point.

Thanks for all that detailed info, exactly what I needed to know. Good call on the Standard Motor Products sensor. Think I'll go that route since OEM parts for these older Sails are getting harder to find anyway. You're right about the actuators, both triggered twice now, so they're definitely shot. Guess I'm looking at a complete system overhaul. The €650 total cost seems reasonable considering all the safety system components that need replacement. Found a shop nearby that has Snap-On diagnostic equipment, so I'll give them a try rather than paying dealer prices. Will make sure they replace both the impact sensor and actuators together to avoid any integration issues. Really helpful to hear from someone who's already been through this exact repair. Going to book it in next week before the system fault causes any more problems with the hood out of nowhere popping up. The cold weather seems to be making it worse lately.