I have a 2003 F150 XL 4x4 SCSB 4.6L that's been wrecked and deemed totaled by the insurance company. There really wasn't much damage caused to the body or that rendered the truck non-drivable but it deployed both air bags and locked up both front seat belts which I'm thinking will have to be repaired before getting it titled to put back on the road in NC.

Has anyone else replaced air bags and the Restrain Control Module (RCM) in one of these trucks? From my reading I think there is some type of sliding contact located on the steering shaft on the 99 - 03 trucks that sets the system off and not any crash sensors in the front of the vehicle like most other vehicles have. Any insight of this project would be appreciated.

I may have a good parts truck for these items, just have to check part numbers to make sure and see if my friend will part with one of his yard ornaments. His truck is a 2001 XL 2wd with the 4.2L SCSB and same color interior and exterior. I think he parked his 6 years ago due to a high mileage knocking motor but I don't think it's ever been wrecked and the body's in nice shape unlike most his vehicles lol.

 

JMO but I think it would be better to swap power train and running gear to a non-wrecked truck with a blown motor etc. The airbag/seat belt thing you describe is enough to total most older vehicles. Getting it right fixing it might be a little tricky, and will always take more time and more parts than you think. Plus if you don't do it right, someone is going to get whack when they don't need one, or no airbag when they do.

Call me silly. Pull the power train and otherwise part it out.

 

I would like to do that but I have doubts that my 4x4 components will bolt up on the 01 2x4, if so I'd rather go that route and have a clean title truck, just 2 years older.

 

Yea, the 4x2 to 4x4 deal is tough. Frames might even be different.

I'd still part it out. I just don't trust a rework of those systems, plus all the hidden problems you find when you open up something that's taken a serious hit. ymmv, good luck with it.

 

I called the DMV this morning and got some good news to clarify what I had been reading on their website yesterday. After reading yesterday I thought that I'd have to go through a special inspection and that all safety systems would be required to function, or at least pass a diagnostics check, in order to put the truck on the road but after talking to the DMV this morning I think that special inspection is for if you want the title of the vehicle to be cleared of the "Salvaged" designation. I didn't know that was even possible, thought once it said salvaged then it would for ever more carry that on the title. It would show up on a car fax report that it had been salvaged before though. Anyway I knew the truck had been totaled when I recently purchased it and that the air bags had been deployed and all but got pretty concerned yesterday thinking that I'd have to repair the safety systems before getting a tag and being able to use it on the road. I'll find out for certain in the next couple days when I go to get my tags for it.

I know I'm putting myself and passengers at greater risk by not having the safety devices working as intended but I still drive my dad's truck occasionally that didn't even come with air bags and most everyone that ever rides with me including myself all ride motorcycles which is a much greater risk so I'll probably just put some new seat belts in it and go without the air bags.

I just purchased this truck for a cheap farm truck mainly and one to use a couple times a year to pull some ATV's to the trails a couple hours away. I think it'll suffice for that purpose.

I should be ashamed to admit that I sold a near pristine 05 F250 diesel CCSB FX4 that was paid for and bought a high mileage salvaged gasser to replace it with I had the F250 for 5 years and put only 14K miles on it. It was just sitting there depreciating in the garage and I didn't forsee using it in the near future more than I had been so while truck prices seem to be high at the time figured I'd cut it loose but still had to have a truck for occasional use.

I'd love to have another diesel one day when I have more of a need for it. I want to drive one of the newer trucks with the 6.7 powerstroke in it but I'd best not or would probably have a bad case of new truck fever