Airbags

I've got a 98 Windstar and got into an accident the other day. The damage actually isn't too sever. Mechanically, the worst thing is that the radiator got pushed in and the mounting brackets bent. It didn't even break. All the hoses, engine, and mount points look fine and it actually still runs fine. The problem is that because of the way the cars impacted my airbags deployed.

The shop is telling me that it's totaled only because the cost to replace the airbags would be roughly $2000 each. I checked prices on ebay and the most expensive price for a complete set (both sides and the module) was roughly $300. Someone, else told me that they pretty much just bolt in without too much actuall work.

This is the first accident I have ever been involved in, in my 12 years of driving, let alone one with airbag deployment. Is this something that I could handle myself? Or is the body shop right and I'm basically hosed simply because the airbags went off. I'm fairly mechanically inclined and handle most household and automotive repairs myself when needed.

I do not know anything for certain but............

On my 99 the dirver's side airbag is part of the horn assembly on the steering wheel. As long as the impact sensors are still good the replacement of this side is pretty sraighforward. I have had the hor pad off for a cruise control reason. Remember to cut power to the air bag circuits prior to working near them.

The passenger side punches through the dash but I doubt it is signicantly more difficult to replace.

Yeah the complete sets I've seen have pretty much been the whole steering wheel assmbly, the passenger side airbag, and the impact sensor. I just want to make sure that thinking that this is something I can repair myself at a reasonable cost isn't just wishful thinking since I really can't afford to junk the van nor can I afford the thousands of dollars that it would supposedly cost to just have the airbags replaced.

Yeah the complete sets I've seen have pretty much been the whole steering wheel assmbly, the passenger side airbag, and the impact sensor. I just want to make sure that thinking that this is something I can repair myself at a reasonable cost isn't just wishful thinking since I really can't afford to junk the van nor can I afford the thousands of dollars that it would supposedly cost to just have the airbags replaced.

Hello

Be sure to get a manual on your vehical and read how to do this safely! I have never had to replace one, but I would think it shouldn't be too hard. Remember, it is an explosive that sets these things off.

Regards

Dan

Be carfull out there.
Them things can save your life or kill or injure you in a split second.:lol:
It is better to let someone that is trained in air bag systems work on it.
After a system has deployed it may trip the sensors or module and if you hook up another air bag to the old system it may blow it to.
A lot of air bag modules are a one time blow out.
Have the hole system checked out before you hook up another air bag.
The life you save may be your own.:lol:
Also some states it is illegal to buy or sell or install used air bags.
Ckeck you state rules and regulations.
MT:lol2: :grinyes: :lol:

Be carfull out there.
Them things can save your life or kill or injure you in a split second.:lol:
It is better to let someone that is trained in air bag systems work on it.
After a system has deployed it may trip the sensors or module and if you hook up another air bag to the old system it may blow it to.
A lot of air bag modules are a one time blow out.
Have the hole system checked out before you hook up another air bag.
The life you save may be your own.:lol:
Also some states it is illegal to buy or sell or install used air bags.
Ckeck you state rules and regulations.
MT:lol2: :grinyes: :lol:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the 98 windstar is a one time trip with the sensor module. That's why I've only been paying attention to the listings that are a complete set of both airbags and the sensor. Of course removing the battery would be necessary as well.

It's killing me because the airbags didn't even do anything for me in my case. Heck the seatbelt didn't even lock up. All the airbag did was blow my hands off the steering wheel. I didn't move enough to even touch it otherwise.

Don't use this information as a guide to repair any air bag system!!!!

Directions for my '96 say to remove BOTH the battery negative AND positive cables from the battery....and wait at least 1 minute before doing anything with the air bag unit.

The air bag CONTROL / Diagnostic module is located inside the dash.....front center....below the radio.....almost on the floor. It sits on the driver's side, bottom of the center part of the dash.....basically....it is next to the driver's right foot...when it is on the accellerator.

There are 2 crash sensors.....they are up in the front.....where your car is smashed. My manual lists one mounted of the front of the bumper, behind the bumper cover....at about the center of the car. The other one is just to the driver's side of the driver's side fan......ABOVE the radiator. You will need to verify the condition of the crash sensors that are located in the front of your vehicle. You will need to verify the locations of them on your 1998....which may be different from my '96.

There is also a "safing" sensor. This sensor is located inside the airbag control module that I mentioned at the beginning. You would have to replace the control module to replace the safing sensor. The safing sensor AND one of the crash sensors must activate in order to deploy the air bags.
The air bag control / diagnostic module does NOT deploy the air bags. The crash sensor do that. The safing sensor controls the air bag connection to the positive terminal of the battery......the crash detectors control the air bag connection to the negative terminal of the battery (ground). Either one of the crash detectors can provide a path to ground for the air bags.

In short.....you have the 2 air bags......a diagnostic module which contains a "safing" sensor that is used to verify a crash condition, and at least 2 crash sensors. The safing sensor and one of the crash sensors trip the air bags in the case of a crash.

There are 2 crash sensors.....they are up in the front.....where your car is smashed. My manual lists one mounted of the front of the bumper, behind the bumper cover....at about the center of the car. The other one is just to the driver's side of the driver's side fan......ABOVE the radiator. You will need to verify the condition of the crash sensors that are located in the front of your vehicle. You will need to verify the locations of them on your 1998....which may be different from my '96.


I can gurantee with 95% certainty that my 98 is the same. I believe that version run was from '95-'98 or '99. That's one reason I chose the 98, they had time to work out any bugs since '95. No wonder my airbags went off. Both sensors would have taken a direct hit the way the cars hit. The one above the radiator the worst.

Thanks guys.