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'93 850 GLT passenger airbag "flap" coming up

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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MadeInJapan
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Year and Model: '98 S70 T5 '07S40T5
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Post by MadeInJapan »

The link that vmo67 posted is most excellent. It gives a good description of the problem, a great bird's eye view of the actual construction of the flap and surrounding area and a viable solution- one with the dealer won't do. They'll want to replace the entire dash (dealers are all about replacement and not "fixing") to the tune of mega bucks.

Good luck to anyone attempting this. If you do, we want pictures and a write-up!
'98 S70 T5 Emrld Grn Met/Beige Tons of Upgrades Mobil-1
'04 V70 2.5T Red/Taupe Some Upgrades Mobil-1
'07 S40 T5 AWD 6 speed manual! Silver/Black Stage1 Heico & Elevate
'07 S60 2.5T Blue/Taupe- my kid's Volvo

JRL
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Post by JRL »

I had one bad one of these a couple of years ago, we glued it down with some strong silicone glue and held it in place overnight with a brick (no pun intended)
Seemed to work
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.

vmo67
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Post by vmo67 »

So if I glue it shut with gorilla glue and it goes off in a wreck it will deploy inside the dashboard and will be contained without bursting the dash into chunks at the passenger? I guess I just don't know how strong it is when it goes off or better yet disconnect the airbag altogether and carry a pillow in the front seat. :o
I have neer sean one of these go off.

MadeInJapan
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Posts: 13434
Joined: 31 March 2005
Year and Model: '98 S70 T5 '07S40T5
Location: Knoxville, TN American but born in Japan
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Post by MadeInJapan »

As you can tell from your posted link and the pictures contained in it, the air bag flap is hinged. Glue down all of the corners and the hinged area...leave the very front of the flap unglued if possible. The force will be strong enough to break the seal and still allow the air bag to deploy so you do not need to disable it. In fact, it is highly recommended that you keep the airbag system completely active. Once you disable it (except for when you disconnect the battery first) you will have an SRS light come on, which only the dealer will be able to reset- a real pain.
'98 S70 T5 Emrld Grn Met/Beige Tons of Upgrades Mobil-1
'04 V70 2.5T Red/Taupe Some Upgrades Mobil-1
'07 S40 T5 AWD 6 speed manual! Silver/Black Stage1 Heico & Elevate
'07 S60 2.5T Blue/Taupe- my kid's Volvo

volvo virgin jinx
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Joined: 30 December 2006
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Location: Rochester NY

Post by volvo virgin jinx »

MIJ, please let me answer this :roll: . The flap is on a hinge, if it isn't, it deploys toward the ceiling of the car, away from the face. There is a metal plate behind the soft cover that is your dashboard with the word SRS on it. No, it won't break into pieces. You would, if I'm guessing correctly, glue the soft foam cover with SRS on it back to the metal plate beneath it. No, it won't deploy inside the dashboard, if you do it right. It (deployment of the airbag) can be strong enough to kill a child by snapping it's neck(if the child is not positioned in the seat correctly), or bruise or break an adult nose, (with the bag alone, not the cover) given size and bone density. I forgot the PSI of deployment, but it's in the manual on this site. 'Nuff said. Get to work!



'93 850 glt 128,000
'94 850 wagon 160,000
jinxsey winksey

volvo virgin jinx
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Location: Rochester NY

Post by volvo virgin jinx »

Aw crap! I have to go to the dealer for the light? I posted a while back that my light came on with a code; it meant that a wire was corroded or had broken. I replaced my dash while the light was still on. If I correct the driver side wire prob, will all this matter? Or do I still have to go to ripoff central?
jinxsey winksey

MadeInJapan
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Posts: 13434
Joined: 31 March 2005
Year and Model: '98 S70 T5 '07S40T5
Location: Knoxville, TN American but born in Japan
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Post by MadeInJapan »

jinxsey, check your private message.
'98 S70 T5 Emrld Grn Met/Beige Tons of Upgrades Mobil-1
'04 V70 2.5T Red/Taupe Some Upgrades Mobil-1
'07 S40 T5 AWD 6 speed manual! Silver/Black Stage1 Heico & Elevate
'07 S60 2.5T Blue/Taupe- my kid's Volvo

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