Oops, I posted my first message unintentionelly in the wrong forum. I'll try it again.
I am a 46 yr old male living in the heart of Sweden. One of my cousins is a Volvo fan in Oklahoma City. Another drives a Saab in Houston. Myself, I have had all sorts of Volvos 1957-96. I don't care much for FWD though.
I'll try and post it again.


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I recently bought an imported 945, 1996 vintage, with the airbag blown. Price was right, so I didn't think twice. No signs of a crash, other than a repainted front fender and hood.
I then called Volvo and the junkyards for advice as how to proceed. Everyone had a different opinion. Searching the internet for the real story, I found this forum. Good stuff!
Here's the deal: airbag can be replaced, but he whole system also needs to be replaced. $2,000, plus the work. Can only be performed by Volvo. That is cost prohibitive, for me.
Junkyards sell SRS parts second hand - which may or may not be entirely legal. Was offered the whole system for around $500. Best to buy the whole system from one wrecked car, they said. Great! But...
The SRS light still needs to be reset, and only Volvo seems to know how to do that. And they won't touch the car unless they installed all new components themselves.
And come to think of it - the used system I was offered would be halfway through or near the end of it's proposed lifetime. And there is a slight hazard working with the pyrotechnic stuff.
I realized driving without an airbag isn't that bad after all. It's still a safe car. I got a standard steering wheel plus two new front belts for @50 from the junkyard. Saved a bunch!
In the real world, SRS systems can only be replaced if it is covered by insurance. It will be a real problem in the future.

While you chose the non-airbag route, one can replace the SRS reasonably. In the later 940s, both airbags need to be replaced (they go off simultaneously) along with the crash sensor unit, the power supply, and both front seat belts assemblies which likewise activate. The best option is to acquire these from a junk car. While they have a stated ten-year life, all evidence points to a very long life for the pyro units inside the airbags and for the electronics, which are all gold-plated and quite reliable.

I believe you are right that the components probably can work for many years more. I was offered the whole system from the junkyard for $500, quite reasonable. But there is no guarantee I can make the SRS light go out. I haven't found anyone here who knows how to reset it. The local Volvo dealership won't help me....sob.
No big deal - I drive some of my other Volvos without airbag protection.
I was just thinking ahead.