AirBags

JRM1970 · 10:30 AM

OK, here is a head scratcher for someone. In finding some rust damage on the front end of my car, I have decided to go with a front clip. My question is, for the airbags, is there a sensor in the front end somewhere that needs to be replaces/relocated or is there one built into the airbag system itself?
On an after thought, this car was hit in the nose and the airbags were not deployed. I guess they could have been replaced before I got it, but that was a question that I needed to ask the PO.

flash968 · 08-10-2009, 10:15 AM

there are 2 of them on the 968 - never seen them, but i know they are there - not sure about other models

mistertate · mistertate's Garage

They're all up under the cowl. It's shown in the factory manual and you need a special serated socket to remove them. If you crawl up under the dash you can find them. Likely won't interfere with your front clip job

JRM1970 · 08-10-2009, 12:01 PM

Thanks guys! That is what I was hoping to hear. I could not find any wiring down front but the lights harness and was hoping that I did not have to rebuild or rewire an airbag system.
Mistertate, do you know what page or section of the manual this is in? I can get one to look at and it might be worth the effort to copy that page to have on hand.

mistertate · mistertate's Garage

Section 68-4

JRM1970 · 08-11-2009, 08:33 AM

Thanks Tate.
This now opens up a new question/problem. Looking at the photo attached, I found what appears to be the connector in the photo under the drivers side dash and it is cut close to the connector. There is no way to reconnect the wires. I guess what I need now is can this connector be cut off and a pair o\f paddle connectors substituted in its place? And Second, is this even the Airbag connector. I believe it is, but the connector swap is what concerns me at the moment.

emoore924 · 08-11-2009, 08:47 AM

Just a friendly word of caution when messing with the airbags and their wiring, computer and sensors: be very careful to follow the FSM warnings before disco'ing or cutting or messing with the airbag setup or the results could be sudden and unexpected.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Yes those are the impact sensors and the connectors. They are a pain to reach, very far under the dash. Are they cut on the car or sensor side of harness?

JRM1970 · 08-11-2009, 11:51 AM

I'd like to take a pic of it and post here to be sure that I am looking at the same thing that the FSM is showing. i do not recognize the small black box that it also points out, but that may be from trying to cover all cars and not specific ones....
Anyway, to answer your question, it is cut on the side that goes up behind the dash on the steering wheel side. I can trace it to that point, but not sure weather it goes into the steering column or not. A lot of parts there to try to see around. There is only about 1/4 inch of wore left on the plug and no way that I can strip it and splice it back together. The only way is to replace it with another plug of the same type or put n the spade connectors and insulate them. Once again, I am assuming that this is the wire for the airbag only after reading this excerpt from the manual. I could be wrong all together, but am afraid that it is...

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

The black box it's pointing too is the sensor itself. It has a connector that comes off it that is also shown. There is one on each side of the car, at the extreme forward corners under the dash.

JRM1970 · 08-11-2009, 03:12 PM

OK. I tried to get a picture, but the camera is not cooperating.
What I can see after looking at it at length is , the drivers side connection from the sensor box to the connector is fine. The problem wire is the opposite side connector. It is cut off right at the connector. I have plenty of wire to replace with some form of connector, I just need to know what one.