Guys, with these cars getting modified over and over again with multiple previous owners, please don't assume your airbags are operational and that the previous owner would have disclosed otherwise............. Lots of cars with 928 bridge plugs installed for new steering wheels or those that might have kids under twelve occasionally ride in the front seat.

I sold a car to another member here and noticed a thread where he is installing a new steering wheel (with functional airbag) and I recalled that the owner prior to me installed a bridge plug since his kids rode in the front seat from time to time. This can be dangerous to assume you have an airbag and someone before you deactivated it. I feel bad for not relaying this info to the buyer when he bought the car. Easy detail to miss, so I thought it prudent to start this thread. Fortunately it is easy to check and rectify.

Take 15 minutes to check yours if you are indeed assuming your system is functional.

 

Good point although I'm actually more concerned about a 25+ year-old airbag exploding in my face. Those were some of the first airbags to ever be installed on passenger cars and the technology has gone a long way since then. Also the deterioration of the components over a quarter century is something to be weary of...

 

Good point. Didn't someone here recently have a bag pop while driving over bump in the road with a really low suspension?

I just don't want people taking for granted that they are protected by an airbag in the event it is disabled. I think bags have a 10 year shelf life, so it would probably be prudent that we all upgrade our airbag systems at a likely cost approaching that of an engine rebuild........

 

I think a majority of members have momo or prototipo or similar steering wheels without an airbag feature. Did these cars come with any passenger/side airbags? I ask because my lower dash was removed and I don't see where an airbag could deploy, the glove box takes all the room.

Would be scary to have a 26 year old airbag go off or think you had one and not have it go off!

Stay safe out there guys!

 

Yes, at least 1990 and on had passenger airbags. Don't know about 1989 cars.

 

This is part of the reason why I'm putting on a new wheel with a new airbag from Carnewal - While it's still going to be single-stage, I expect it will be less likely to catastrophically fail.

 

Porschenut_Lee,

"Take 15 minutes to check yours if you are indeed assuming your system is functional."

Could you elaborate on the "check yours" part. I see a section on my hammer like diag tool regarding airbags, but was afraid to do anything with it until I know what's what? So, what's what? Por fa vor ....

 

Mine are getting pulled out w bypass resistors this weekend. I don't want this old *** thing firing in my face.

 

Already disabled my airbags with the bridge plug!

 

89s also have no airbags.

 

He is saying to check for the presence of a bridge adapter. There is an access panel on the passenger side of the center tunnel. Remove the panel and see if the connector there is a flow through connector, or if there is a replacement part plugged into it that loops back into itself.

Also, if your steering wheel is aftermarket with no airbag you can be pretty certain you have the bridge adapter.

 

all those that disable or take out your air bag should let your insurance company know since you probably get a discount. Have a wreck and they find it not there or disabled could cost you dearly.

 

Are original oem steering wheels
Still available new with the air bag? Or just the airbags?

 

I just don't like the idea of the 25 year old airbag exploding in my face. My son sits in the passenger seat with his overstuffed backpack on his lap on the way to school. That has nothing to do with the airbag age but I would rather bypass it at this point.

Can someone post of pick of the access tunnel location and bypass? Where do you get the bypass connector?

 

Ricardo - The access panel (door) is seen from the passenger footwell. If you look at the center tunnel, you will see a screw holding a door closed in the carpeting on the tunnel.

https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...isconnect.html