LastMezger

Anyone?

tbennett017

Lots of debate on this. It comes down to what I don't know about materials science. My understanding is that it is a big plastic bag, with an explosive in it to make it inflate. What's on my mind is the condition of the electrical triggering mechanism, and the condition of the "envelope" when it goes from all crumpled up in the wheel for 20 years. Will I simply see shards of white plastic among gunpowder smoke as my last moments on earth? Or does it keep just fine in the hot/cold darkness for all those years?

The other thought is date of manufacture... did they make them all for the 964 at the same time? OR when you put in a "new" one, is it really new? or has it been casting a shadow on a parts shelf for 20 years? If that's the case, is there any advantage at all to replacing it?

No answers, just questions.

race911

What, exactly, is the worry? I'm not sure in 2010 that early '90's ('80's technology) airbag-think is "all that". I'll leave it to someone more technically inclined to comment on the velocity on the those things will hit you with. Realistically, if you're impacting faster than what the stock 3-points will save you from, you might not want to be saved?

DWS964

They still work, after 17 yrs. No shards or debris thrown in my face, although I could taste gunpowder for 2-3 days. I am tall, thus sit far back, and with the 3pt belt the airbag did not contact me (other than a bit of a bruise on my hand on the steering wheel. The airbags also blew out my windshield and popped up my sunroof.
I have picked up a used driver air bag and a new passenger bag and sensors, controller, and clockspring, in case I decide to rebuild the car. I also picked up a RS (Cup?) airbag deactivator that I am considering plugging in when doing DE's since I now use 5pt harnesses.

Have Fun, Be Safe.

911Jetta

Wow Darrell!

Glad you were ok after the fact. Thanks for the pictures, first time I've seen "used" 964 airbags... good to know they still worked after all of these years.

Strong cars!

tbennett017

Actually a really fascinating photo Darrell at the top. If you don't mind me getting all "oliver stone' about it, the red car against the snow, and the 'aftermath' sense of it is pretty compelling.

Glad the bags functioned, and that you were okay. I wonder if the windshield/sunroof popout was caused by contact with the bag itself, or the pressure wave of the new volumes in that small space... the pressure wave... Were your ears affected?

crg53

I replaced mine with this.

DWS964

I believe it was the pressure wave that popped the windshield and sunroof. The bags are large but not large e ough to hit them. I heard the bang of the impact but it took me a while to realize the bags had blown and the windshield was gone. The car is rotated from the impact position as I was trying to get it unstuck. You can see the windshield in front of the car. I don't remember my ears being affected. It has taken me a year to post these pics. I will post some more w details of the damage in the left front corner.

fishing

Glad to hear you are ok, even if it is a year later. Thanks for posting how they worked.

Nine11

That looks like it means business.

springer3

Tests on older airbags, and real crash experience shows they are fine even after 20 years.

The 964 airbags date from a time when the Federal Regulations required them to save unbelted and overweight occupants. As a result, they are overly powerful and are capable of causing injury in a crash you would otherwise walk away from unscratched.

The Feds spent years stonewalling the mounting evidence that they goofed. Many people got hurt and a few were killed as a result of the stupidity. Most were infants/children in the passenger seat and short drivers who need to sit close to the wheel. The Feds finally relaxed the standards to allow an assumption that the occupants are belted. Air bags in newer cars are far safer as a result.

I will not be disabling my airbag, but I would not waste the money replacing it.

elbeee964

[mumbling to self]
(Great! - new cars have a relative firecracker sitting in front of you... And we 964'ers get a friggin' hand grenade.)

DWS964

Do we need to consider liability issues if we delete, disable, or choose to not replace our airbags and then sell the car to someone. Per the specs, a 90-94 US 964 has airbags. Or, for that matter, is there a liability issue if a passenger rides in our modified non-airbag car and is injured in a crash?
I know, I worry too much.

springer3

I think you pass the "reasonable person" test if you drive and enjoy the car. You get some exposure if you disable safety equipment, but I doubt anyone replaces perfectly good airbags. Up your insurance coverage if you need to.

doruiacovescu

Can i have some pictures from the passenger s side. I want to retrofit airbag and i m having dificulty with the dash frame.
Thanks!