Getting ready to install a new airbag diagnostic module.

Biggest fear is setting off the airbag.

I've read that we need to drain the power by unhooking the battery and then waiting a while for the juice to trickle out. I've also heard that we should turn on the lights to be sure and drain any power -- seems pointless if the battery is already unplugged?

Also the diagnostic says to unplug the wires to the clockspring -- but earlier posts suggest that just unplugging the diagnostic unit cuts any power to the bag.

Any experieces with this???

thanks, as always.

 

Nobody has installed one of these??

 

Any time in the past that I've messed with airbags I've just disconnected the battery first. By the time I got in there any charge was long gone.

You can hold the brake pedal down for 10 seconds after disconnecting the battery, that should kill any residual power.

Dale

 

Thanks!

 

This is why Dale is an RX7 Bad ***. Plus he's tall and women throw panties at him.

 

Except they're REALLY, REALLY large panties.

On topic, hope you get it sorted!

Dale

 

Yep

Disconnect and brake pedal same as resetting the ECU

 

To fire the airbag, the following items must all happen:

1) The Diagnostic Module is fully connected.
2) The car battery is supplying power to the module OR the "backup power supply" (a 33,000 microfarad capacitor) is fully charged to +12 volts.
3) The "S" crash sensor AND at least one of the three "D" crash sensors are closed simultaneously.

Note that 3) should only happen during a crash... either that or the "S" sensor and a "D" sensor have both failed short at the same time.

If any of the three requirements above are missing, the airbag cannot deploy.