hi sages- been wondering about an airbag topic- what should one expect to pay to replace an air bag in the 240model by an indie or a shyster ? actually doesnt look too difficult for a shade tree to do. wondering b/c although my 92 245 hasnt exploded its one air bag yet,i guess it could always happen with a strong frontal bump or accidentally shorting a circuit. guessing a clip joint would want a homerun and soak you $2k. say this b/c junk yards have shown me rows of junked cars with blown bags but nice bodies and interiors. you know what that means.has anybody here actually done the job? are all the parts generally available? thanks tons oldduke

These days, no one wants to be involved with a bad air bag.

The time is coming when you will have to have a dealer install it.

If I owned a junkyard, I would blow all the airbags too. I don't even want anyone to steal one from me, let alone buy a used one!

Volvos are expensive when new, and real Volvo parts are still expensive, no matter how old our bricks are!

Buying new seat belts would be a better investment.

hello james a- actually im surprised there isnt a present regulation requiring air bag repairs to only be done by dealers . the home runs those shysters would make on that windfall of work would put many good used cars in the junk yards. have you replaced one yet? seems there is a generally perceived risk of exploding one while doing electrical or dashboard work. ergo pay a dealer 2k to do it. this could be deadly to late model 240s. my friends and enemies have both told me i have a bad attitude but i dont believe it. thanks tons oldduke

Are you replacing it cause it is old? I would verify the replacement had a recent date.

Has Volvo issued any recent edicts on longevity? Most explosive type things have a VERY long shelf life.
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Paul NW Indiana '89 744 Turbo 180K/ '90 745 turbo 145K

It was 10 years but some time ago Volvo increased it to 15 years. Haven't heard anything since. Some models have an expiration date sticker in the door jamb.

Personally, I would never replace an airbag on an old Volvo. Way too expensive to justify the cost vs. the value of the car. Plus on the 240, 740 and probably the 940 the cars were structurally designed to be very safe for their time without the airbag. The airbag was just an add-on to meet American expectations for one...

Hiya Uncle Olduke!

Do you mean replacing the SRS air bag in the steering wheel? Merely two torx head screws secure the air bag assembly in the steering wheel. You unscrew from the steering wheel side that faces away from you.

Not hard at all. I believe you can still purchase new air bags.

Do you mean if you have an accident and your Volvo 240 requires extensive front end body work?

The air bag system (impact sensor / computer) is actually under the driver seat (or the passenger seat?). Inside is a mercury switch that at front or other jarring impact will close the circuit and ignite the air bag.

You can replace the system and cabling pretty easy. I've bought 'unused' airbags that I pulled from 89+ 240s. There is some information indicating the airbag version is matched to the air bag system (sensor / computer). The cabling is the same as are grounds. The load side tap may change from 1989 up to 1993, though.

Corrosion forms on the bonded contacts. Also, as the SRS sensor / computer, being on the floor pan, can suffer moisture. Uncle Art had an image of his SRS computer that was all rusty. I think it was Art. (Where is Art?)

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-240-740-940-12/i-blew-up-my-airbag-76383/

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=235120

Usually you need only replace the air bag. Though verify all connections and such.

Also, you MUST disconnect the battery so the SRS system loses stored energy used to power the air bag. I think like some 90 minutes or so? I'm not sure.

The air bag sensor computer thingy has it's own fuse built in to the housing, I believe. Not sure.

http://ryydis.homeip.net/www/volvo/ElectricalSRS.html

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/ElectricalSRS.htm

Questions?

Hope that helps.

B.
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hi kitty grey- once again you are a true sage. no problem with air bag yet. strange that my 92 245 has only one air bag(driver). anyway, was told that air bag replacement costs $2k at dealers and clip joints. sounds like too much of a homerun. what would you expect to pay. not including smash up repairs. does looks simple enough to fix if it blows. have to check with rock auto to see if they sell the things. have you done one? thanks tons my brutha. oldduke

Happy Sat-Your-Day Uncle Old Duke!

Hope you and Mrs. Old Duke are in fine fettle, with all three pedals, and all aces.

Thank you, though, dunno if I'm a sage. I'll try though to help.

Welp, the Volvo 240 SRS was in the earl;y days of the SRS systems. Better to have an air bag to bump into than having your chest pound the padded, if also a collapsing steering column for already then decades in the rear wheel drive Volvo with (we hope) three pedals on the floor.

There may have been a few other automaker that had the front SRS air bags for both driver and front passenger. Though dunno of the makes and models that did, if any.

If you buy a new air bag from Volvo, it may indeed cost you some 2000$. I dunno. I have several of them yet no part number to check like at Tasca Volvo Parts online to see. I'm unsure, yet I believe I read some wheres an air bag from a 1990 240 may not work so well in a 1992 and vice versa. There may have subtle changes (improvements?) year over year.

The air bag in our Volvo 240s is easy to replace. I'll see if I can find some images to show you here in a bit. (We're waiting on the Twinings Lady Grey Tea to make a go of it, if it takes the entire tea pot.)

You want to check on the air bag system, or have the dealer do it. From the air bag computer sensor housing (under the driver or front passenger seat? or is that the cruise control?) power connector to all wire line connectors right up to the air bag. The SRS system usually get some manner of corrosion on the connectors from the computer box to the air bag.

Like I said, I got these air bags for like 35$ a piece or so. There may be some legal reason not to sell unpopped air bags and system components from salvage yards at the state or federal level in Clown-meriKa. Or that may be catalytic converters?

Oh, I see you buy all systems components on eBay, so I guess you can buy used from a salvage yard. It's the spinning contactor thingy under the steering wheel, that if it fails, you have to pull the steering wheel to replace it.

Volvo 240 SRS Parts from VADIS


So it is a component system. The crash sensor is separate? If you get a failed sensor warning when the SRS light is on, check the housing and the wire harness connectors. Get humid under that carpet.



How to remove the air bag, sort of. Just disconnect the battery for like 30 minutes or so so the capacitor that carries the charge to detonate the air bag into expansion de-energizes.

Thank you Uncle Old Duke!

Hope that helps.

Thank you, muh brutha Uncle Old Duke!

Keep the three pedals a peddlin'!

Live from the Middle of the Midwest.
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thank you kitty grey- lots of good info there. have actually not heard of anyone on the board who has replaced an air bag. would be interesting to hear what they have to say. regards oldduke