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Air Bag ECM Replace?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Air Bag ECM Replace?

Post by Ben850 »

So I may repair the '93 850 if I get it back from this unscrupulous tow yard. I am editing this with photos so as to clarify. I simply wonder if I need to replace the air bag control module under the console as well as the air bags, or does the module reset itself.Image]Imagehttp://Image[/img]I may have to crop images, but I hope this works.
Last edited by Ben850 on 12 Feb 2012, 06:38, edited 2 times in total.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

JRL
Posts: 9350
Joined: 22 November 2005
Year and Model: Several
Location: 19333
Been thanked: 16 times

Post by JRL »

A little more info would be helpful here as to what and why
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

The air bags were deployed in a front end collision, but the body/chasis damage seems repairable. Does the ECM sensor control unit need to be replaced after deployment?
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

I'm not sure if my question was phrased correctly. What I was wondering is. if when the air bags are deployed as a result of an accident, does the air bag control module need to be replaced as well as the air bags, or does it reset itself.
The unit under the console is the one I am speaking of. I see them on ebay for a reasonable price and the only reason I could see to need another one is if it was triggered to deploy the air bags. I also noticed that '93-'95' are different than '96 and later. That makes sense due to the OBDII.
So once again, does anyone have any input on this.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

JRL
Posts: 9350
Joined: 22 November 2005
Year and Model: Several
Location: 19333
Been thanked: 16 times

Post by JRL »

Yes you will need a new airbag and sensor at best, not sure what else is needed
This is not cost effective to do, your car is totaled
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

Thanks JRL. I did'nt have collision insurance, and have most of the parts already, so I thought I might try to straighten it out myself. The other parts I need can be salvage pieces except for the cracked windshield due to the airbag. Every thing else about the car was done to near new last year so it's a little hard to give up on it completely.
Last edited by Ben850 on 14 Feb 2012, 04:44, edited 1 time in total.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

JRL
Posts: 9350
Joined: 22 November 2005
Year and Model: Several
Location: 19333
Been thanked: 16 times

Post by JRL »

Which was correct as it would have been totaled anyway
If airbags deploy on anything much older than a 2 year old car it's usually totaled.

This is up to you.
Personally, if you're going to fix it I would just remove the bulb and drive with awareness. It's now way too old and damaged to start fooling with airbags.
Somehow most of my generation and the generation after me managed to survive with no airbags in an automobile!
(In fact we fought having mandated airbags, the Govt. and Joan Claybrook in the late 70s through the mid 80s until the first bags came out with everything we had...but the Govt. won out)!
You still will have have a strong car with a strong front end structure...FAR stronger than what we all grew up with!
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

For anyone else who may come across this quandry.
When air bags are deployed,('93-'95 850) It is suggested to replace:
1. Air bag sensor. (under the cosole)
2. Steering wheel.
3. Steering contact spool.
4. Air bags. (2) Wheel and Passenger Dash.
5. Seat belts (2) Front Driver and Passenger.

These are the items from the Volvo pdf I came across.

Ofcourse the colateral damage may vary, such as broken windshield from the passengers air bag.

I've decided to keep the car alive. It is not daily transportation, so It gives me something to do when I have some spare time. I had it nearly done before the crash.

I've got the original dash pad with air bag intact, just some curling of the air bag cover from the elements.
Picked up drivers bag for 24.00
Both seat belts for 17.00
Air bag sensor from a 94 850, Free.

Windshield will be last after I locate a '93 bumper cover, and Header panel. Anyone?
PM me like the signature begs.

Thanks for the input.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

Here is an update on the repair.
I replaced all the above mentioned parts and everything seems to be working. the only thing I had to search for was an adapter for the clockspring connector to the SRS harness. 1993 850s can be a pain in some unexpected places. It seems they completely changed the harness connections everywhere on the car in 1994. From the headlights and corner lights down to the headlight wiper motors.
So what I did was replace the '93 bumper with a '96. I also changed out the door moldings from the thinner Alter 1 style.
I left the large Alter 1 headlights and corner lights, I like the look better.

I added a rubber lip to the spoiler area for a little something extra. Altogether I like the new combined look, old and new. The rear bumper is still Alter 1 but I also like the less bulky style.
Attachments
Just before the accident
Just before the accident
IMG_1144.JPG (87.77 KiB) Viewed 2722 times
Today in the same parking space
Today in the same parking space
comparison view.jpg (18.34 KiB) Viewed 2722 times
Mix of old and new.
Mix of old and new.
Last edited by Ben850 on 16 Apr 2012, 05:17, edited 1 time in total.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

turbozutek
Posts: 156
Joined: 14 April 2011
Year and Model: 1995 850 GLE
Location: Glasgow

Post by turbozutek »

Lookin' good; nice work!! :) :)

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