A couple of years ago I started getting quite a bit of water in from big rains, front floor as well as rear. Through the Brickboard I eventually traced it to the 2x3 fiber plug left of the clutch pedal. Soon after, while pulling into a parking lot,BOOM. Apparently the airbag controller was located under the seat and had gotten soaked and one day just fired. Volvo just said too bad, shouldn't have gotten water in.
So to my main question. THis was a 14 yr old car and Volvo wanted $ 2,100 to replace airbag and controller and anything else neccessary. Instead I bought a non-airbag steering wheel and took my chances. Now I'm think of selling for a newer version. I know it must be a state by state thing, but has anyone heard if the car needs an airbag to lawfully sell it? The SRS light is always on and I thought I might have a buyer sign something saying their aware of it. Any thoughts will be appreciated. Bruce

As Seen. As Is. Enough said.
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D.P. Mulvey in Central VA. 1991 744 NA, 146K Miles

In my state, most of the salvage places that rebuild bricks don't replace the airbags, they put dummy replacements in and the honest ones follow the law and notify the folks they sell it to in writing that the airbag is no longer in place.
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD

I'm hoping the the signed paper idea will suffice. I assume you don't live in MN judging fron the age of you interesting collection.BA

Not in MN, more like 3 states south of you. You'd have to check on your states regulations
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD

Volvo should repalce the airbag. Their lucky that you were not injured when it went off. They would have been liable. I don't think that there is any excuse for an airbag to pop out just because of some moisture in the car. If you threaten to make this more of a public issue with them, they might gladly queitly replace your airbag free of charge. There was no sticker on the visor saying that if the car got water in it that it would deploy the airbag. I'm not a lawyer,but I think that Volvo should take care of a defect that one of there cars had.

Good luck and happy bricking.

During those years, the airbag was an option, so any 740 could have or not have one. No law against buying a car w/o the option.
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'89 245 Sportwagon, '04 V70 2.5T Sportwagon

The fact they were an option is a very good point. Were they also an option on Turbos? It does have that SRS light but if it were disconnected one would never be able to tell there was such a light. Thanks

From one MN to another MN, let the buyer beware. Tell them about it and they can look in a junk yard for another one if they want. Disconnect the SRS bulb. I have extra license plate bulbs if you need one or two.

Klaus
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95 854T, 88 780, 88 245

I hope your bank account is a good one.

Caveat Emptore when you knowingly sell a defective product does not hold up in a court. ( Does a hot cup of coffee in the lap sound familiar??) If you take the bulb out to hide the fact the airbag is not working, you have compounded the problem into fraud.

Fraud along with an accident with injuries which an airbag might have prevented would cost you a lot of money, if not jail time for manslaughter.

I'd take a different route since I do not know of any salvage yards that sell airbags or the control boxes for an obvious liability problem. ( What happens if it does not work when Joe Blow Saturday Warrior puts one in and has an accident and it does not deploy? Have another cup of hot coffee!)

The airbag blew without warning and not in an accident. Very much like a tree limb falling on the car. There is a reason it is called comprehensive insurance.

And push it hard. If the insurance company does not want to replace then have them total the car. If they deny the claim because it is a lack of maintenance issue, be aware that they may have data that these discharges have occured before.

Also contact that Federal Agency that monitors vehicles for defects and issues recalls if the auto company does not do so voluntarily. They might be able to help with info regarding these discharges. If nothing else you will add to the data of airbag failure modes which may prevent something similar down the road.

Your wanting Volvo to replace an item that is 16 years old, (which probably should have been replaced in 1998 according to the sticker on the door post) is like saying your tires are worn so the tire company should replace them. Not going to happen.