I've got some nasty marks on the steering wheel airbag cover. I have seen new ones available on ebay and see that it appears to just clip in to place. The question is how do you unclip the one that's on? Any tips would be gratefully received.

Just use a flat blade screwdriver in the two holes at the back to release the clips.

Disconnect the battery first. Wait at least a minute.

When you've finished turn the ignition on before reconnecting the battery. There should be no-one inside the car whilst you do this.

And boom! goes the airbag I presume!

And boom! goes the airbag I presume!

Not really. It's perfectly safe. It's hardly a live hand grenade is it?

Not really. It's perfectly safe. It's hardly a live hand grenade is it?

It's not but if you're too close to it it'll quite happily break your neck.

It's not but if you're too close to it it'll quite happily break your neck.

Why would it go off? It's not going to go off just because you touch it. Mine doesn't set itself off when I press it to use the horn, nor did it blow it up when I removed it from the steering wheel. It'll only go off when signalled by the car to do so. Removing it and handling it wont blow it up and kill you.

Not really. It's perfectly safe. It's hardly a live hand grenade is it?

Not quite, but........................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNzOurMRoDg

There have been reports of airbags going off at inappropriate occasions whilst car repairs are being conducted, normally where inappropriate wires have touched. That is why you will always see Fire personel cutting battery cables AND put a restraint cover over steering wheels at accidents, and why garages and body shops have to keep airbags in an explosive safe cupboard when removed from a vehicle.

another one from You Tube

The first line in the workshop manual states "Disconnect the battery." I see however that you've already removed the bag.. I'd disconnect it before replacing it though.

That is going to cost you about 30 seconds. Balance that up against a visit to A & E plus the cost of a new airbag (you can buy them second hand but remind me never to travel with you)

Definitely a no-brainer.

Nothing from the OP.

I hope it didn't go

I'm amazed I've provoked so much interest. I haven't done it yet but thanks for the helpful info and ironic thanks for those filling me with fear!!

A quick PS. Why turn on the ignition before reconnecting the battery?

Slightly Off Topic: A friend of mine drove down the M1 in his dad's 1 year old W124 Mercedes E class in the 90s... Ambling along overtaking a truck the airbag went off without any reason!!! And it being a Merc this activated the hazzard lights AND the ABS brakes so he went from driving at 70 to an airbag going off and the car doing an emergency stop! Yikes. Mercedes kept this very hush-hush and upgraded his dad to an E280 for free... Scary things!

When I had cruise control fitted to my Audi the airbag came out. Looked very easy but the guy doing it wanted no-one in the car and VERY gingerly put the airbag UNDER the car whilst he was working on replacing the stalk.

I haven't tried to change the airbag cover yet, But what is the significance of switching the ignition on before reconnecting the battery?

I haven't tried to change the airbag cover yet, But what is the significance of switching the ignition on before reconnecting the battery?

Stated in ElsaWin so it's VAG policy. I expect it's something to do with all circuits then being open and at the greatest possibility of accidently discharging it.

I guess the main reason for the ignition being on when the battery is connected is that you will be at the battery area of the car if for any reason the airbag did go off.

 

Whereas if you connected the battery first you will then go into the car to turn the ignition on where the airbag has just been fitted.

 

I find with forums that there are a lot of people who will put you off doing things. Some will know their stuff and will offer good advice. Some people know nothing

but have little better to do that offer the advice on matters they know nothing about. The hard part is knowing who to listen to. ( Possibly me included ???? )   : )

 

With a little common sense , the battery disconnected and no power at the circuits before you start any work you should be fine. Before you disconnect your battery and start any work lower your drivers side window so you can access your ignition lock from outside the vehicle.  Once you have completed the replacement airbag you can stand outside the car to switch on the ignition before you go to reconnect the battery. By following this procedure , the worse that will happen is the new airbag will go off with the car empty ( I seriously doubt this will happen though ).

 

I have changed a whole set of airbags and complete dashboard on a different VW based vehicle and it was relatively straightforward.The hardest part was getting off all the plastic trims without breaking the flimsy plastic lugs that secure them.

???

Why reopen a thread nearly 2 years old?

Because my friend I don't have the same time as some other people to check when the op was made  AND there may well be some relevance for someone else of the forum seeking the same information.
As I have had some experience of doing this type of thing ( unlike some others on this forum ) I thought I would share it.

Hope that clears things up for you.