'95 850 GLT Airbags ... 10 yr Replacement? Cost?

[PerryRT]

OK, folks. I've still been digging into my "new-to-me" '95 850 GLT. The topic for today is airbags. My vehicle has the standard-for-the-year set of four (driver, passenger, and two side) bags.

And according to the sticker on the driver's side B pillar...they are all due for replacement in November 2005.



Soooo.... given that I'm not planning on running into anything any time soon, but still feel I should do something about this -

1) How critical is this change out - have most people done it "on schedule"? Or is it "optional" and should be OK for a longer interval? (If mine were actually changed out, would there be a sticker somewhere else? I'm doubting it, but figured I'd ask.)

2) What might a set of replacement airbags cost me? Is this a question I can ask a dealer without hearing a chuckle and a "Cha-ching" sound in the background? Any aftermarket sources out there? I'm not thinking junkyard for fairly obvious reasons...why replace one timed out bag with another one...unless they happened to use the same bag units on much later models (?)

3) Is this job (removing and replacing) reasonable to do assuming I don't try to break into the bags themselves? (In other words, can I at least save myself the labor costs?)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[MadeInJapan]

Volvo updated their information regarding airbags- now they are suppose to be good for the life of the car and there is no specific time limit. Rest easy grasshopper!

Yes, if you went to the dealer with this, you would hear both a chuckle and a "chiching~~~" sound. Figuring the age and true "value" of these cars, the airbag replacement in and of themselves would be cost prohibitive- in other words, more than what the car is worth.

Now, if you decided to do the switch yourself and bought all of the airbags on....let's say, eBay, you probably could get this done for several hundred dollars. But...the airbags that you'll be putting into your car will most likely be just as old as the ones that come out of your car. In fact, those in your own car very likely could be in better shape than the replacements.

Conclusion- replace airbags only when they have deployed. If this were ever to happen (God forbid), then replace with the least expensive option you can find. Btw, most insurance companies will "total out" your car if all of your airbags deploy even if there is little other damage.

[CarVolvo]

one of the major reasons insurance dont rebuild crashed cars I would surmise is the fact that the cost of replacing the air bag system is too much.


New ones would go for im guessing in the thousands after installation and all the approvals that go with it.

if your SRS light is not on..then you should be okay.. and im not sure if it makes sense to replace them with used ones.. in fact its often illegal to sell used airbags by a professional installer like your mechanic.

Removing the drivers side is relatively easy but you do have to make sure that you battery is disconnected and you dont damage the system in any way.

The passenger one is a bit more complex as you have to remove the top dash pad to get to it..then you have to have special fastener removers to get the unit out of the dash pad assembly. this may cause problems to your dash pad cover

[PerryRT]

Wow - I didn't know this, but apparently you can get some pretty good exercise dodging a bullet!

Thanks, MIJ. That's probably $1000 or more I don't have to spend. I owe you a adult beverage of your choice someday.

[MadeInJapan]

Hey Perry...I'll take a Stout beer!

[kelvin6]

There is a TSB out that says that airbag lifetime has been extended to 15 years for the 8xx series and 20 years for the 2xx/7xx series.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... highlight=

[MadeInJapan]

I read somewhere that there's a newer TSB that says "life of the car," whatever that means....LOL