NHTSA Complaint #10448786 — 2000 MAZDA MPV

I WAS TRYING TO START MY "NEW" USED MAZDA MPV USING ETHER SPRAYED INTO THE AIR FILTER-BOX THROUGH A SMALL HOLE, AND MY DRIVER'S-SIDE -IMPACT AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY. I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME. I HAD BEEN TRYING TO START THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AND HAD SPRAYED "STARTING FLUID" INTO THE BOX ONE OTHER TIME SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE. THIS PROCESS HAD WORKED FOR ME TWO TIMES IN THE PAST WITH NO PROBLEM. THE STARTING FLUID WAS SPRAYED THROUGH A 1/4" HOLE I HAD DRILLED ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF THE AIR FILTER, BECAUSE I WAS HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE FILTER BOX IN THIS CAR. I INSPECTED THE FILTER BOX FOR SIGNS OF AN EXPLOSION INSIDE, THINKING THAT MIGHT HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG, AND IT WAS INTACT; THE RETAINING CLIPS ARE NOT DISTORTED, AND THE FILTER (BRAND NEW) WAS NOT DISPLACED OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT I MENTION IT FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETENESS; I THINK THAT THE PARTICULAR SEQUENCE OF KEY CYCLES I USED IN TRYING TO START THE CAR SOMEHOW TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG. *TR