Hiya,

Re: 1995 940 Volvo...I know, I know...wrong forum, but it applies to both models. Hey, I drive a 1995 850 too.

Does anyone know about airbag repair? I know it's a major job not for the backyard mechanic, but who does the work? I am tryng to avoid the dealership because of cost. My local import shop doesn't feel competent to even try working on this one...

Does only the dealer have the diagnositcs to repair/reset the sensors?

Any help appreciated! Especially if you know something about costs.

Thanks!

Kevin

Only dealer techs are factory trained on Volvos airbag systems (SRS) so if you want it diagnosed/repaired correctly the first time, your best option is the dealer.

Depending on what it is (what code, etc) it may not even be a big deal and they can only charge you so much for diagnostics anyway. If it's more money than what you want to spend to fix it, you can opt to not fix it a live without a working SRS system too. I know of a few older 700s with constant SRS lights because they need costly parts to repair them and the owners didn't want to spend the money.

Air bags cannot be "fixed" but have to be replaced. If yours have deployed there is a central control unit that will, at best have to be reset, at worst, replaced. It depends on how the deployment occurred. (Deployed is the industry term used when the bags come out of their holders and the generators are spent, covers are torn and resulting powder generally messes up your car's interior housekeeping.) The steering wheel mounted module and the dash module must be replaced after deployment. Some salvage yards will not sell undelployed bags, others will. I have no source for Volvo bags, but my experience with Nissan bags is they cost about $1,000 each new, and a controller is about $750. In the Nissan, and one Honda I am familiar with, the controller must be replaced if the bags are deployed by catastrophic force, i.e. impact.

It calls for one hour labor to reset the codes in the Nissan ($60), and .75 hrs for the Honda ($55) (local shop rates). If you are going to replace the bags yourself, it may involve special tools to remove attaching screws,nuts, bolts or fasteners. Nissan uses a stud/torx sysetm. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY while working on the air bag system. Do not reconnect until it is all back together, and you can determine if the CPU will fire the new bags or not. (Usually done with a test lamp across the firing lead). If the CPU is "stuck", it will have to be replaced. In the Nissan, and several other controllers I have seen, they use a magnet and ramp to fire, and once the firing pin travels into the contacts, it welds itself there. Good luck...