hey, i have a 99 wheel from japan. everything is atatched except for the airbag... there are 2 wires on the stock one, and 2 on the 99 one. problem is, both wires on the 99 bag are red! so which is which? i want this thing to work in an accident as well as not blow up when i go to start the car after i install it. any thoughts, or experience with this matter will be much appreciated. heath

(btw i read a thread recently which had a link to a sebsite where someone had done this... the only thing is he basically just guessed which was which, and thinks that there is a 50% chance it will work... i need something a little better than 50% when it comes to safety matters )

 

I have read elsewhere that it doesnt matter, that either way it will work correctly.

~Kris

 

Maybe contact Mazda and ask them if you're not sure? I actually just read the same website you're referring to this morning too, and I thought that was kind of risky.

 

I hope you aren't referring to my site because I did not guess.

 

Your own words:

(Disclaimer: Even though two places informed me that the wiring for the bag was a non-issue there is still a 50% chance I got lucky. If you attempt to duplicate my upgrade and fail, feel free to tell me but I accept no responsibility for damages to you or your car due to a deployed airbag.)


This sounds to me like you're still not sure, even though you had 2 shops tell you it didn't matter.

 

Well what do you want me to do? Test it by hitting a tree? Or maybe I should reverse the wires just to make sure I didn't get lucky... Naturally I have to tell people I'm not sure but I did my best to research the issue. Nobody here can tell you with 100% certainty that it will work. I contacted reputable sources and got the same response, as I stated on my site, but I still can't tell people I know that the bag will not deploy when attached or will when you hit something. If you are looking for a guarantee you won't find one from me or anybody else. That's why I added the disclaimer.

I can't trust the shops I talked to 100% and just in case people are too trusting I make sure they know they shouldn't trust me 100% either

So basically I'm saying you have learned all that you can. Good luck.

dis1

 

Hey, I'm not knocking you man, I appreciate the write up infact, I'm just pointing out why the thread starter is a little wary.

 

well i suppose that all airbags are different, but it all has to do with the triger mechanisim... if it just needs to see current (+ or -) then we are good, if it is some sort of directional current thing then we have a problem. i remember reading in some manual (miata or rx7 FSM.., i cant remember which it was) about airbag disposal..... they went through the triggering process, because to throw it out you need to deploy it. anyway, in the FSM they should tell you the procedure... if it specifies that a certain wire needs to be connected to positive and a certain one to negative... or just "plug it in to a battery" then we have out answer. and you know what, the 99+ miatas use that very same airbag... SOOOOOO if anyone has access to a 99+ miata manual (i have a 97) we will have a 100% definite answer.... anyone have access to one??? -heath

 

As was I when I hooked the bad boy up. I crossed my fingers and hoped the wires weren't crossed.
dis1

 

so no one is 100% sure how it connects... i also have a 99 spec wheel going in soon.

rotormotor, let me know how you do yours and how it comes out. thanks

 

Well from my knowledge of working with this type of explosive (yes the thing that makes the airbags go off are explosives but it just makes a gas that's why they stink), it doesn't matter which is which it just need current to go off. Be carefull because even statick electricity will make it go off.

PS= I'm in the Navy and I load ordnance on aircraft and work with this kind of stuff everyday. Don't play with this stuff because it will injure or kill you!!! anything like radio, cell phone static electricity will make them go off. They are shilded but if they are removed then you got problems.

 

wow! thats scary that they can be set off by static alone! i suppose there is just some sort of "fizzle" ignitor like for model rocked engines? i dont feel so secure with soldering the 93 clip on the end of the airbag.... maybe i will go to the junkyard and get the steering wheel side connector and solder that one... then you just plug the bag in and its safer, and if it ever goes off in an accident, you just get a replacement bag and pop it back in (not that an FD would survive much of an impact)

howstuffworks.com is fun fun fun

the only thing is they depict a 3rd wire for their model... hmmm whats up with that.... this thread should have been called airbag 101

 

yeah that sodium crap, STINKS

 

From Scuderia Sciriannis site (hope it helps)

Air Bag Test Procedure
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 13:33:50 -0800
From: "Ulen, Robert S" (Robert.Ulen@PSS.Boeing.com)

Air Bag System

Reference pages S-4, S-8 and S-9 of the Body Electrical Troubleshooting Manual for details. The air bag system does a continuous "auto check" for problems. If a problem is found, the "Air Bag" warning light will illuminate continuously or flash. If the Air Bag warning light is burnt out, a warning buzzer will sound when the ignition switch is first turned ON if there is a malfunction with the system.

 

do you have to soder them? could you butt connect them like speaker wires?

 

as long you don't leave any portion of the wire exposed you should be on the clear!!!