Airbag module removal
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New User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Silver City Nm
Airbag module removal
I need to remove the drivers side air bag module on my 1993 Aero. SAFELY! The Ford dealer says disconnect the battery! The factory service manual [sec 11- stearing] mentions an auxillery power supply for the air bag system then says refer to section 11-06 ... There is no section 11-06 in the book! However, section 01-20B, (Restraints, Passive, Supplemental Air Bag System) says disconnect positive battery cable first, wait one full minute before proceeding. This makes sence if the auxillary power supply is a charged capacitor but now I'm spooked about how to proceed SAFELY on the removal of the Air Bag module.
Does anyone know exactly how to disarm, make safe, and remove (and later reinstall) the airbag module? Is there an auxillary power supply (other than a charged capacitor) such as a NiCad or Lithum Ion battery hidden someplace? Exactly which battery cable should be disconnected first? I would really prefer not to have the airbag rip my face off when I remove it
. Thanks in advance.Tom
Does anyone know exactly how to disarm, make safe, and remove (and later reinstall) the airbag module? Is there an auxillary power supply (other than a charged capacitor) such as a NiCad or Lithum Ion battery hidden someplace? Exactly which battery cable should be disconnected first? I would really prefer not to have the airbag rip my face off when I remove it
. Thanks in advance.Tom
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: charlotte nc
Ive removed several before, Disconnect the battery,,,,,,,,Then remove the screws from the backside of the stering wheel and the entire airbag will lift out and is attached by a clip together connection which you pull apart,Thats all there is to it.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
The backup power supply is just a capacitor inside the restraint control module.
Disconnect the negative battery cable a couple minutes before you start and you'll be fine.
It's really not all that easy to make an airbag blow off. You'd have to somehow apply power and ground to it at the same time which is pretty unlikely to happen. In theory you could deploy the airbag with an ohmmeter if you were testing it at the connector but I'd be kinda surprised if that would actually work.
When you have the airbag removed Ford says to always place it face up so if it did blow up it wouldn't launch it upwards.
Disconnect the negative battery cable a couple minutes before you start and you'll be fine.
It's really not all that easy to make an airbag blow off. You'd have to somehow apply power and ground to it at the same time which is pretty unlikely to happen. In theory you could deploy the airbag with an ohmmeter if you were testing it at the connector but I'd be kinda surprised if that would actually work.
When you have the airbag removed Ford says to always place it face up so if it did blow up it wouldn't launch it upwards.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2004
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Airbag face up
When I worked next to a body shop the owner gave us a passenger side airbag to take home and set off.
We used a car battery and a LOOOOONG lead. Explosion was so loud, the sherrif came by ( I know him so, was lucky there) and it gave off an enormous white cloud of dust...so large that when the sherrif did come we really couldn't deny much with the little mushroom cloud of powder still lingering in the driveway.
My boss was telling me they used to put trash cans on top of them and blow the trash cans 20-30 ft in the air.
Not safe, but it was sure funny.
We used a car battery and a LOOOOONG lead. Explosion was so loud, the sherrif came by ( I know him so, was lucky there) and it gave off an enormous white cloud of dust...so large that when the sherrif did come we really couldn't deny much with the little mushroom cloud of powder still lingering in the driveway.
My boss was telling me they used to put trash cans on top of them and blow the trash cans 20-30 ft in the air.
Not safe, but it was sure funny.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,226
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From: The OC
I am getting an intermittent code 32 from airbag light (clockspring?), read my manual and it said the same thing, disconnect negative cable AND power supply. I feel confident to disconnect the cable for 15 minutes for a complete capacitor discharge then remove unit.
