Inertia Switch/Impact Sensor: Disassembled & Explained • Cars Simplified

This is an inertia switch (sometimes called an impact sensor) out of a Ford. Steve takes the sensor apart to show the moving parts inside and to explain how it functions, both mechanically and electronically. Impact switches can be connected to different things, but this one's primary role is to allow power to pass through it to the fuel pump unless an impact with enough force is detected. It will then shut off the fuel pump so that it won't keep running if a fuel line breaks in the accident.

After a car accident with this particular kind of switch, a technician must locate this switch and press the button to reset it. Different switches may self-reset or be a one-time-use design.

On rare occasions, running over a large pothole or other major road imperfection may be enough to dislodge the ball in this switch, causing the fuel pump to stop pumping fuel. This will cause the engine to stop running a few seconds later.

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Further reading can be found here: https://carssimplified.com/list/engine_sensors.php https://carssimplified.com/fuel_pump.php ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTwkQYC1viY