I am currently mucking around with the wiring loom that controls the sliding door - it runs in a caged arrangement and is prone to failure.

As part of the loom there was this "thing" that is bolted to the car floor pan with (what I thought was) a fairly hefty bolt.

To me surprise (horror) it turns out it's a side impact sensor. If I were to short the two wires out, or check continuity with the battery connected - cause that's what amateurs do - could bad things happen?

Thanks.