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Newer air bag/seat belt replacement


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Anyone here familiar with the newer air bag stuff? I picked up a 2003 Outback 3.0L VDC that needs the front air bags replaced. I think the seat belts are somehow related, like they lock and need replaced too.

 

Wondering if someone could explain that to me?

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You may need more then airbags. You may also need airbag sensors and seat belt assemblies. I dont know if this car has seatbelt pre-tensioners on it. Also seat belts themselves are supposed to be replaced after a crash as they are stretched out. The weave allows for some stretching during high G forces to halpe cushion the decceleration due to an impact.

 

Is this a crash car?

 

nipper

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Right on, that would help!? Not sure on accident details. The front bags went off, but the side bags (in the seats) did not. It was hit on the drivers side, door and control arm replaced. He said something about the seat belts would have to be replaced - something about a pin going off or something?

 

Not sure why fronts would go off but seats did not?

 

Would an FSM cover the air bag stuff?

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So instead of a lump of coal you got an h-6, interesintg.

 

 

 

OK the pin is the pretensioner, yes you need new seatbelts. Airbags are looking for very specific impact profiles, so yes they wouldnt have gone off if the impact wasnt proper. They are there more for SUV impact then other cars. The brunt of the impact was probably low enough not to trigger the side, but the shock got transmitted to the frame which the front sensors picked up on.

 

nipper

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the H6 will help me deal with all the coal i get (i think you've threatened before!)

 

any other source of info other than the FSM? the body shops must have some kind of guide or base to start with. like what all needs replaced...computer, sensors, testing, and locations of them all?

 

maybe those NASIOC goobs know something, they wreck their cars all the time don't they!?!?

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newer seat belts can have their own air bag bladder that causes the belts to actually retract during a lock up, the belts tighten against the passenger with the bladder bag goes off........

VERY VERY expensive and they have to be replaced. Like figure 2-4 grand for the seatbelts alone if you can find them........bad news for the person going to rebuild it. sad fact ism this is what technology has got us in this day and age......

 

 

 

hey nip, what's up with those seat belts anyway? how does that work, with them locking/needing replaced? what, how, why do they work like that? and how long have they been like that? our 90's EJ stuff isn't like that is it?
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newer seat belts can have their own air bag bladder that causes the belts to actually retract during a lock up, the belts tighten against the passenger with the bladder bag goes off........

VERY VERY expensive and they have to be replaced. Like figure 2-4 grand for the seatbelts alone if you can find them........bad news for the person going to rebuild it. sad fact ism this is what technology has got us in this day and age......

 

As opposed to dying or getting severly harmed in a crash.

 

There is no price on that.

 

nipper

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hey nip, what's up with those seat belts anyway? how does that work, with them locking/needing replaced? what, how, why do they work like that? and how long have they been like that? our 90's EJ stuff isn't like that is it?

 

There are many differnt systems out there. Some have motors, some use explosives, some use cables.

 

pre-tensioners have been around since the 80's on luxury and saftey enhanced cars (volvo MB saab). As the technology proved itself, and as crash survivbilty became a selling point, they have become more common and cheaper to produce. MOst now use what was described or small explosive charges, as the cable and motor systems had to react as the accident was happening.

 

I am not quite sure what year they started on, but yes very expensive to replace.

 

nipper

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like a root canal fun?

 

:grin:

that's about right. i like learning, so that'll at least make the pain fun....for a little bit! beats the price tag of a mint H6 VDC OBW...or not - i might be reselling it without an operative air bag system!

 

i priced some air bag and seat belt sets (both air bags and seat belts) for only like $300-ish. that was for 3.0L H6 OBW's. am i missing something, i didn't see these 4 digit price tags?

 

do air bags usually, never or sometimes break the windshield? this one did not.

 

last root canal i had wasn't bad at all, lucky or they're getting better techniques?

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that's about right. i like learning, so that'll at least make the pain fun....for a little bit! beats the price tag of a mint H6 VDC OBW...or not - i might be reselling it without an operative air bag system!

 

i priced some air bag and seat belt sets (both air bags and seat belts) for only like $300-ish. that was for 3.0L H6 OBW's. am i missing something, i didn't see these 4 digit price tags?

 

do air bags usually, never or sometimes break the windshield? this one did not.

 

last root canal i had wasn't bad at all, lucky or they're getting better techniques?

 

Each car model is different, but soobies will break the windshield when they go off most the time. Thye use the windshield to help wedge the bag in place so it does its job, and canbe mounted where it is in the dash.

 

 

nipper

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  • 5 weeks later...

Follow up, this wasn't hard at all. The air bags, seat belts, and computers are often sold as sets and I had mine shipped for $350.

 

All are very easy to replace too.....minus some learning curve stuff...like those "special" tabs and connectors.

 

Drivers side - simple just two torx bolts from the sides.

 

Passengers side - also simple, didn't even have to remove the glove box. Separate thread I have on that if you're interested look for it. 3 bolts and done.

 

Seat belts, very simple as well. Remove some trim and 3 bolts.

 

The hardest part is figuring out how to remove those special connectors, which another thread is coming for.

 

I'll follow up once i finish checking sensors and activate it...BOOM!!

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  • 5 months later...

Came across this while searching so I'll give the update now that it's a daily driver. When the bumper hits something the heated seats come on, is that supposed to happen? just kidding. I'm a few months into this car and all is working perfectly. I replaced the bags, seat belts, and computer. No problems and no SRS light.

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Came across this while searching so I'll give the update now that it's a daily driver. When the bumper hits something the heated seats come on, is that supposed to happen? .

 

Oh man, i would come out there for a personal visit to see that.

 

 

nipper

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