airbag system replacement??

[stackz]

the bags popped on my 98 mountaineer when it got hit in the front left.

I've got replacement bags on order and I've also got a pair of front impact sensors from a 99 explorer.

will the explorer sensors work?? also, do I need to replace the clockspring in the steering wheel since the bags deployed or is it re-useable??

also, on the sensors, how do they work exactly?? the radiator support was slightly bent in from the impact but The new header panel and fender and all bolts up just fine and looks good from the outside but the left airbag sensor is somewhat tilted. Will this cause it to trip and pop the new bags or will it be ok??

I guess I can try to straighten the panel out but if I cant would it be good as -is or will I need to shim it straight??

 

[MONMIX]

the bags popped on my 98 mountaineer when it got hit in the front left.

I've got replacement bags on order and I've also got a pair of front impact sensors from a 99 explorer.

will the explorer sensors work?? also, do I need to replace the clockspring in the steering wheel since the bags deployed or is it re-useable??

also, on the sensors, how do they work exactly?? the radiator support was slightly bent in from the impact but The new header panel and fender and all bolts up just fine and looks good from the outside but the left airbag sensor is somewhat tilted. Will this cause it to trip and pop the new bags or will it be ok??

I guess I can try to straighten the panel out but if I cant would it be good as -is or will I need to shim it straight??

99-98 sesnors are the same

some manufacturers reccomed to replace the clock spring. I usually do for liablity, but often feel I am throwing away a pefeclty good part. Sometimes mind you, the connector melts when the bag deploys ( I have seen that on GM stuff more than any body though ) I would leave it be unless you just want to cross all your T and dot all your I's.

With out question you want the sensors to be perfetly level and 100% straight ahead. I would straighten the pannel as perfetly as I can.

Good luck and lemmie know if you need any more help

 

[stackz]

99-98 sesnors are the same

some manufacturers reccomed to replace the clock spring. I usually do for liablity, but often feel I am throwing away a pefeclty good part. Sometimes mind you, the connector melts when the bag deploys ( I have seen that on GM stuff more than any body though ) I would leave it be unless you just want to cross all your T and dot all your I's.

With out question you want the sensors to be perfetly level and 100% straight ahead. I would straighten the pannel as perfetly as I can.

Good luck and lemmie know if you need any more help

ok, so I can get repeat use out of the clockspring is what you're telling me?? good.

Oh and just fyi, my impact sensors are different on my 98 mountaineer from the ones I got from the 98 explorer. they bolt the same but the connectors are different

why do they need to be perfectly level and straight?? If that's the case, wouldnt the airbags go off if I parked on a hilly driveway??

I will most likely just put shims on the one where the panel is bent in order to get it as straight as I can.

 

[MONMIX]

ok, so I can get repeat use out of the clockspring is what you're telling me?? good.

Oh and just fyi, my impact sensors are different on my 98 mountaineer from the ones I got from the 98 explorer. they bolt the same but the connectors are different

why do they need to be perfectly level and straight?? If that's the case, wouldnt the airbags go off if I parked on a hilly driveway??

I will most likely just put shims on the one where the panel is bent in order to get it as straight as I can.

Yeah, you should beable to reuse the clock spring

Yeah Explorer and mountianer sensors have different part numbers. I am sorry I over looked that detail.

I am attaching a photo of an air bag sensor. This is the most common type. Ford Explorer uses a simular system. The spring is very calibrated. Upon impact the sleeve sleeve slides forward and connect the two contacts and BOOM. Bags go off. 1/100th of a second they inflate and deinflate.

It is all based on inirtia. You have to stop suddenly, very, very suddenly to set of air bags.

 

[410Fortune]

following this thread as I need to replace both the bags in my 96

 

[MONMIX]

following this thread as I need to replace both the bags in my 96

Lemmie know if you need any thing,,,

 

[spindlecone]

Monmix
Your trained to do the airbag stuff, I don't think DIY types should be messing with airbags. JMO

 

[410Fortune]

Spindle the airbags as I understand it are fine for DIY's to do, as long as they are INFORMED.

its basically comes down to this:
profesisonal = $1200+

Me = under $400

I have friends who have done them before.
As long as you follow the rules you should be okay IMO.

Monmix since you know more about this then me what is your opinion?
leave it to the pro's? or attempt as long as you have the tools and know how and are armed with all the info you need?

 

[MONMIX]

Monmix
Your trained to do the airbag stuff, I don't think DIY types should be messing with airbags. JMO

I do appriciate your concern Spindle, but unless you get into the ECM stuff there is not a lot of science in air bag systems. I would never encourage tampering with correct set ups and modifying systems. Simple steps, such as disconnecting BOTH terminals and waiting fifteen mineuts disables the whole system. Every component is plug and play from there on out.

It is fine for a DIY, who follows instructions.

 

[spindlecone]

Than maybe a writeup is in order, about how to do this, what to do, what not to do, what precautions to take

 

[MONMIX]

Than maybe a writeup is in order, about how to do this, what to do, what not to do, what precautions to take

Great Idea.

 

[stackz]

I do appriciate your concern Spindle, but unless you get into the ECM stuff there is not a lot of science in air bag systems. I would never encourage tampering with correct set ups and modifying systems. Simple steps, such as disconnecting BOTH terminals and waiting fifteen mineuts disables the whole system. Every component is plug and play from there on out.

It is fine for a DIY, who follows instructions.

yeah, not much science to airbags. My dad used to run his own autobody shop and dealt with airbags and such and that's where I got most of my info from...hell, that's how I knew I could deal with the little bit of damage that happened to the radiator support. He just couldnt remember if the clocksprings are one-time use or not.

Hell, I had an airbag/steering wheel from an s2000 that I put into an old 98 civic that I owned...even hacked up it's harness and it worked just fine...deployed just fine when I got into the wreck that totalled it.


Ok, so I can re-use my clockspring then since the circuit wont complete until the impact sensor closes it's circuit. I just get hung up on the name "clockspring" and keep thinking that when it's triggered, that it moves or something and you'd have to reset it or junk it or something.

I'll just shim out the driver side impact sensor with a few bubble levels and some longer bolts and washers. I got that part of the radiator support pulled out as good as possible but it still looks slightly crooked so I've got a "little" work to do.