I have also started this topic in the general section of the forum, if the mods want to delete one of them thats OK by me.

 

Am repairing a written off Yeti, basically written off because the front airbags had deployed.

 

I have to remove and replace the dashboard, drivers, passengers and knee airbags and cannot find how to release the connectors without destroying them, they look to be one shot tamperproof types but its in dark confines and my eyesight is not what it once was.

 

The conenctors in question are the ones that go onto the ignitor units, I pretty much wrecked the steering wheel one, got it off eventually, but it will no longer stay in place, no problem because thats a short sub loom that will come with the new unit.

 

The passengers and drivers knee bags have to be disconnected in place for the dashboard to come out and its very tight and dark.

 

Basically there is an orange plastic piece which was pushed flush on assembly to lock the connector in place and I cannot see how to remove it without destroying the connector.

 

I could cut the loom but would still have the same problem on the bench plus I dont like cut n shut soldered joints.

 

anyone know how to get the connectors apart? google has been of no help.

23 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I have also started this topic in the general section of the forum, if the mods want to delete one of them thats OK by me.

 

Am repairing a written off Yeti, basically written off because the front airbags had deployed.

 

I have to remove and replace the dashboard, drivers, passengers and knee airbags and cannot find how to release the connectors without destroying them, they look to be one shot tamperproof types but its in dark confines and my eyesight is not what it once was.

 

The conenctors in question are the ones that go onto the ignitor units, I pretty much wrecked the steering wheel one, got it off eventually, but it will no longer stay in place, no problem because thats a short sub loom that will come with the new unit.

 

The passengers and drivers knee bags have to be disconnected in place for the dashboard to come out and its very tight and dark.

 

Basically there is an orange plastic piece which was pushed flush on assembly to lock the connector in place and I cannot see how to remove it without destroying the connector.

 

I could cut the loom but would still have the same problem on the bench plus I dont like cut n shut soldered joints.

 

anyone know how to get the connectors apart? google has been of no help.

post up a pic of the connector

I am sorry but that is beyond my skillset, its been years since my computer could upload photos from my camera after a Windows upgrade no longer recognised it, in any case my camera in in France.

 

The smartphone is in use as an internet connection, I could take a photo but could not upload it to the computer or to the forum, I access the forum from my computer.

 

In any case its not going to show you anything that I have not already described.

 

They are no longer hampering removal of the dash and are hanging down & will be more accessible once the dash is out but thats a big problem and another thread.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

its been years since my computer could upload photos from my camera

 

John, you could WhatsApp them to me and I'll upload them if that helps?

 

Prise the orange piece up with a sharp point, and the connector should pull out.

find a pic on the internet and link it

 

If I can advise on how to release it i need to know what it looks like

 

 

The orange piece is a locking device.

Thanks to you all, I knew it was the locking device but could not manage to release it, as I suspected access & visibility were hampering me.

 

Same connectors on the seat belt ignitors but with some free length of cable and near to daylight not tucked up in the footwell I could see and release the locking clips easily with a very small screwdriver.

 

It should be the same for the airbags except I will be working by feel, I will take an after photo and forward both to Mike to put on the forum for future reference.

 

After following in teh footsteps of so many on older Octavias where there are loads of postings, Youtube videos etc its really strange to feel like a pioneer breaking new ground.

OK, the definitive answer, hopefully Mike will upload the photos.

 

The good news is that Mr Maghoo is not going mad 😀

 

Connectors on seat belt ignitors are easily removed by lifting the orange locking latch with a small flat blade screwdriver.

 

Connectors on the drivers, passengers and drivers knee airbags are all tamperproof and cannot be removed without destroying them, at the very best you might get one apart with the terminals intact but it will simply fall off a new airbag.

 

I assume/hope that the replacement or refurbished airbags come with a new connector and length of cable to splice into the loom or if second hand will have had a section of loom cut off to release them.

 

Will know later in the week.

Some photos on behalf of Mr. Magoo

 

1) Destroyed airbag connector

 

2) Destroyed airbag connector with orange bits removed

 

3) Removable seatbelt connector

Polish seller of all things airbag, - "let me show you how those come apart, its easy you just do this..............

 

Mmm, never come across ones like that before"

 

He thought they might have been fused by the heat of the detonation but the ones that released had small pockets for a screwdriver or pick tool to lever them up, the ones on the front airbags had nothing, it was a tamperproof locking mechanism that would break off if you tried to release it and still remain locked.

 

He had a bucket of connector parts and made me up what was needed.

 

£570 for a reconditioned dashboard (the airbag rips a hole in the top of it) new drivers, passengers & drivers knee airbags, reconditioned (might be new) steering wheel boss and seatbelt mechanisms, add on £30 to remove the crash data from the airbag control module and the jobs a good un for £600.

 

Dread to think what the parts & labour cost would be in a dealer or accident repair shop.

 

Oh and I now have a dashtop storage box and not just a plian recess plus centre vents that arent broken and spare outside vents if they break.

Now to take off the front end and see if there is any unseen damage beneath the outer plastic bumper, that survived intact with just a little scuffing and will be as good as new after a T-cutting, amazing that the airbags deployed.

 

Grille is smashed, inner part not bezel and a couple of plastic brackets broken on headlights, nothing that cant be persuaded back together. Pinhole in aircon evaporator.

 

Vehicle looks like its had a 1 mph kiss with a garage door although it must have been going over 20kp/h for the airbags to deploy, a minor fender bender that would polish out and need a new plastic grille and a 4 year old car is written off

Had to return to France before completing repairs but the front end came off OK, straightened bumper beam using a combination of a 6 tonne press and a portapower but the crumple zone on the left side had concertina'd slightly plus I found that all of the panel gaps on the front end around the headlights and even if the bonnet will close correctly (no adjustment) relies on the bumper beam so bought a new one for £65 taking my total parts spend exactly to my budget of £800.

 

Trial fitted the bumper assembly and all the panel gaps are good.

 

The main chassis rails have not moved 1mm, in conclusion a minor bumper shunt which only scuffs the paint is enough to deform the crumple zone on the bumper beam which is good because its a sacrificial part but bad because it will set off all 3 drivers & passengers airbags and write the vehicle off.

 

Dont do any Paris parking in your Yeti!