OK. I Admit it. This Thing Scares Me!

**RexCars** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 12:38 PM

I pulled the screws holding the airbag to the steering wheel in the 94 LS parts car. What I found was a cute little orange pluggy thing (with the Audi 4-ring logo on it!) connecting the air bag module to the signal wire.

My question is, how does this cute little orange refugee from the Fatherland work? Does it simply clip over a little boss on the airbag, or is there some double secret code here? The last thing I want here is to achieve ignition and blast off.

The battery is disconnected and has been for months, so I don't think there is any power in the syste. Still, I'd rather unclip the thing that cut the wire.

Thanks,
Rex

**Alfisto Steve** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 12:44 PM

Just pop it out of connector on back of air bag as it just snaps onto two straight pins and orange connector has a couple small bumps that snap into air bag. Use two little screwdrivers or a V fork or thin needlenose pliers to pop it up.

AlexGS · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RexCars

The last thing I want here is to achieve ignition and blast off.

Michael Smith · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 05:54 PM

I'll let you know. My 164L is now 18 years old and I just ignored the warning that the airbag must be serviced after ten years. Serviced how? Why?

My 97 SAAB Aero is now nearly 13 years old and nobody suggests that the airbags need servicing. The SAAB owner's manual says the airbag system should be "visually checked" at every service by which I infer that if the airbag light is not on and the airbag has not deployed (visually easy to check), all is well with the airbag system. What else could you do?

Are we to assume that ten year old cars with 6 or 11 airbags will need all those airbags "serviced"?

This sounds to me like those "best before" dates on things like crackers and preserved foods which have an infinite shelf life.

Government official: "so, how long do these things last?" Manufacturer's representative:" We don't know." Government official:" well, make people throw them away and buy a new one after.... let us say ten years OK, That'll be safe?" Manufacturer's representative: "How can we know, we just invented these things? Good for our business though as long as the Government makes it mandatory to "service" these and not us."

AlexGS · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 11:24 PM

I agree

My 156 has eight airbags and, if each whole airbag unit has to be replaced, that's gonna be more than the value of the car. I guess my question was a practical one of which part gets replaced. But I can see your thinking on the 'best before' date analogy.

-Alex

Romeo85 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 11:32 PM

I have removed a couple airbags before and never had a problem. Just removed the one from my LS very simple and just 2 screws and then unplug it.

I can not imagine what you would have to service on the bag. Maybe decades from now they might no longer work but I have no idea on that. I do know that I removed a couple of bags from a '97 BMW and set them off. They worked perfectly fine. Launched a can pretty high to boot.

**AlfaVeloce** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:10 AM

These things are powered by little solid fuel rocket motors called gas generators. I used to test tactical rockets and I recall doing aging tests on the Atlas booster's turbine starters (a gas generator) and igniters. Some of the items were 30 years old and more, but still worked. The propellant does age over time but what you get is the burn rate changes. The amount of the gas is still the same but it comes out slower in some compounds, and faster in others over the life of the propellant. It will always burn. It just may not inflate in time, or it may inflate too fast and damage the bag.

I can't recommend highly enough that you avoid messing with the gas generator cartridge. You will loose a hand if you are lucky, should that thing go off.

Michael Smith · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 05:22 PM

So, since the 91 airbag in my car is an SRS and I always wear my seat belt I am going to assume that I am at least as safe as I was with no airbag.

**AlfaVeloce** · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 09:23 PM

Me too. I think if you fool with it, things would probably just get worse...go from unknown to unpredictable.

**mac2444** · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 09:13 PM

Here's my solution to the 18 year old air bag problem:

( not that it's the safest or smartest option, but it is one of the prittier ones

)

Michael Smith · #11 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 09:21 PM

Now that is one pretty wheel. It reminds me of my 82 GTV6. There is nothing quite like a polished mahogany wheel rim. With leather driving gloves for winter it is superb. In summer I prefer just the feel of the wood.

Nice gear lever knob also. I had one like it on a SAAB of mine, Italian made polished mahogany. It was fantastic.

v6junky · #12 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 03:50 AM

Yep, I don't fancy messing with the SRS either on my GTV which needs to have the signalling self cancel repaired. I just get used to cancelling the signals manually. Hey, it's one of the Alfa niggles that adds character to the ownership experience!!!

**Alfisto Steve** · #13 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 07:31 AM

Speaking of character the air bag light just decided to come on in QS2 last night when I started it up to come home and did it's flash for few minutes and then go sold orange.

I will have to pull trouble codes today and see what set it off. Hopefully I can clear code and reset light.

When I got Rosso I ended up having to change orange ECU as I couldn't even get self test to run.

I have reset about three different 164 12v models so procedure not to difficult but when bulletin says 3 second rule it means 3 seconds or light won't clear even if codes are cleared.

Here is link to online TSB's but not all have hyperlinks Alfa 164 Service Bulletins It seems by time the 24v model hit the market show was over here in USA so no TSB on 24v air bag system.

00.90.09
Airbag Warning Light - fault code extraction procedure b009009

00.91.05
Airbag Test Device - Instructions

Alfa 164 TSB 45.94.01

45.94.02
91-93 164. Airbag System Maintenance. Check functioning of lights.
45.94.01
91-93 164. Air Bag Maintenance. Every 2 years.
45.93.05
91-93 164. Air Bag Publication Corrections. Wiring diagram errata.
45.93.04
91-93 164. Air Bag Fault code 51. Keep ECU grounded.
45.93.03
91-93 164. Airbag Intermittent Problem Diagnosing.
45.93.02
91-93 164. Airbag Self Diagnoses.
45.93.01
91-93 164. Airbag Warning Light Fault Display. Two styles of airbag ECUs.
49.93.01

**Alfisto Steve** · #14 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 05:24 AM

I pulled a code 36 faulty squib on QS2, reset it and air bag light back to normal. the book told me to also remove air bag and test system with tester resisters plugged into air bag connector (not the air bag).

If light comes back and code 36 there again I will do rest of test as I have factory test box with switch and resisters. (this tester is for 91-93 models only).