2007 XC70 Air Bag Removal Torx Bolts not a screw driver release! Topic is solved

8pack · Post by **8pack** » 20 Dec 2025, 13:13

EDIT-You can read through all the threads as it might help you understand the issue and why it was hard to solve. However, if you want to know the answer to how you remove your 2007 Airbag skip to the end.

Almost all the information given on the internet on how to remove the airbag for a 2007 XC70 is WRONG and this clears it up. It might include other years as well but I don't know.

I have been working on this for about 5 hours and I cannot get the airbag clips to release on either side. It looks so easy in the videos.

There is a metal clip. It looks like the screw driver goes on top of the clip and then you pull up on the screw driver which pushes the clip down. I finally pulled out the small Boroscope camera and took some pictures.

The first is the clip by itself.
The second is with the screw driver under the clip which doesn't look right. The screw driver is really fuzzy.
The third is with it on top of the clip but I can't push it down very far or at least not far enough to release.

What am I doing wrong. I need a new steering wheel control module and need to get to the part number.

Thanks all.

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Post by **Blacklab467** » 20 Dec 2025, 14:57

On the top is a four spoke wheel centre, on the bottom is a three spoke centre. Looking at the underneath should help you understand how to remove them.

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Post by **cn90** » 20 Dec 2025, 17:13

I wrote detail procedure here...

DIY P2 2006 S60 Air Bag, Loose SW...a Brief Note:

viewtopic.php?t=102552

8pack · Post by **8pack** » 20 Dec 2025, 17:53

Thanks. Both of you.

I have followed that procedure and watched numerous videos on it and have been prying up on it for hours. No exaggeration.

I can't tell where the screw driver is supposed to go. Does anyone have a picture of the tabs on the back of the airbag itself that go into the holes. If I can see the tabs then I think I can figure it out.

What I am struggling with is in my pictures you can see a steel tab. The screwdriver can either go under the tab or on the top of the tab. I have had it in both spots with no success but if I knew whether it is supposed to go under the tab or on top of the tab then I know what to do and be patient with.

There is a foam 1/2 moon in front of and under the tab which blocks the screw driver from going in too low. You can see it in my pics.

If you look at the last pic the screwdriver is on top of the steel tab and there is a gap below the steel tab between the tab and the 1/2 moon. Does the screwdriver go there instead of on top?

Post by **DavidE7** » 20 Dec 2025, 20:43

I found that the right length and size allen wrench works much easier than any screwdriver. I am away from my tool kit for a few days so I can't send the dimensions. It is around 4-5mm / 1/4" and long enough to bottom out. One side always pops loose easier than the other side. Often I have to snap the easy side back into position until I can get the more difficult side to pop loose and then re-release the easy side.

8pack · Post by **8pack** » 21 Dec 2025, 07:15

Here are some pictures with the back of the airbag explaining my question better.

Picture 1. Circled in red is the tab that comes through the hole. The question is which direction does the tab move to release the airbag.

Picture 2 with the green arrow Shows putting the screw driver UNDER the tab and prying up.

Picture 3. With the purple arrow shows putting the screwdriver on the top of the tab and prying up.

Post by **Blacklab467** » 21 Dec 2025, 07:17

Here is that picture of the back of the airbag, I've put black arrows where you're screwdriver or Allen key lands when you put it up through the holes. You need to move the spring to the inside of the airbag to remove it, simultaneously. The holes (2) that you see when you remove the airbag would have a nub that looks like a rounded nailhead that this spring would go around and under to retain it. I'll try and find a picture of what it looks like under the airbag once its off, that would be helpful in visualizing what you're trying to release.

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8pack · Post by **8pack** » 21 Dec 2025, 07:54

@Blacklab467 That is super helpful. Now I understand what piece needs to move BUT

Can you do me a favor and look closely at these 2 pictures. I have seen the airbag with a post with a notch in it that the spring lever drops into but there is no tab like mine on the back of the airbag...it looks like mine is different?

Does that tab need to move down to get under the lever in your picture?

I also posted a video of an S60 which is a different airbag, but the same principle and there is no steel tab. 3:20 on the video is where it starts. There is a post as opposed to a tab.

Picture 1. The airbag steel tab circled. Does that lever fit into the area on the tab where the purple arrow is pointing or does it go over the top of the tab and click in behind it.

Picture 2. Seeing that tab through a camera poking through the hole.

I can't figure out whether to get under that tab or over that tab to get to the lever in your picture.

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Post by **Blacklab467** » 21 Dec 2025, 08:41

Hmm, this might be different in '07 as yours is. Mine was an '03. You might look on the parts pectoral of a Volvo parts dealer website to see if the design changed. Here are a couple pictures that might help show what the parts look like and how to release the airbag. I found it helpful to release one side at a time.

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This is for a three spoke but the four spoke is the same, the second picture shows the end of the spring and why it needs to be pushed to the inside to release the airbag.

8pack · Post by **8pack** » 21 Dec 2025, 09:46

2007 is different. That's why the much appreciated advice I am getting is not hitting home. The airbag retaining clips are clearly different. I guess I will keep trying.