Now, this has always intrigued me - how does the passenger airbag come out of the dash on a Fabia? It looks solid plastic. I assume that the steering wheel one is on a hinge arrangement where the cover flips up/down or something, but not obvious what happens on the passenger side.

Oh and while we at it, what about people like me who wear specs, dangerous with an airbag or not?

I, of course, have no intention of finding any of this out for myself but perhaps there's some enlightened people on here?

I believe the panel its hidden behind is significantly weaker than the rest of the dash. It simply bursts thru when triggered. It's the same as the Octavia.

Oh and while we at it, what about people like me who wear specs, dangerous with an airbag or not?

It'll do a fair amount of bruising and cutting, but it's better than hitting the steering wheel!

Though by my reckoning, with a seat belt on you wouldn't hit the steering wheel anyway...

Rob.

It'll do a fair amount of bruising and cutting' date=' but it's better than hitting the steering wheel!

Though by my reckoning, with a seat belt on you wouldn't hit the steering wheel anyway...

Rob.[/quote']

Exactly. It should only become an issue if you drive with your seat too close to the steering wheel.

The airbag is a secondary device, the seatbelt & pre-tensioners are the main life-savers in a crash.

Exactly. It should only become an issue if you drive with your seat too close to the steering wheel.

The airbag is a secondary device' date=' the seatbelt & pre-tensioners are the main life-savers in a crash.[/quote']

wrong G the driver is the main life saver in a crash!!!!!!!!!!

K, if the crash has already happened then the driver can't do much about it

K, if the crash has already happened then the driver can't do much about it

Except mutter a few expletives! :P

The air bag panel will have a weak area where the bag will deploy from, Old styles had these weak areas on the outside which gave you a little indent, Nowdays it placed on the inside so it looks smoother and all you see is the word AIRBAG!

During my trim removal I managed to get a good look at the pre-tension mechanism in the front seatbelt roll. Looks like a really pro design and you can see exactly how it works - tensioning, not cutting the belt dead.

Big that!

As for airbags, if I (mechanic mate too) cockup the airbag unit removal from my wrecked car I'll find out how the airbag deploys and let everyone know...

On the octavia you remove the glove box and you can then unbolt the airbag and drop it out below the dash. You do not actually need to remove the dash top.

Might be the same on a fabia?

Cheers Steve

Any pointers are welcome indeed, as obviously I don't like getting anywhere near explosives... :eek: Also, the fact I may have a buyer for the steering wheel/airbag & the passenger airbag means I want to keep them unexploded preferably.

Someone's buying airbags off a written off car?! :jawsmall:

Rob.

A lot cheaper than JHM buttco, Rob? Plus what damage has been done to them? I bet even the sensors are both fully intact too, although I may need to find them.

Can someone please confirm that if the battery is OUT the car, these sensors will not trigger? I'm assuming it's an electrical signal that the sensor sends to the airbag unit, so having no battery means that will not happen...

Plus what damage has been done to them?

Dunno - and that's the problem...

Rob.

Dunno - and that's the problem...

Rob.

Well' date=' the only clue I can take is that there is no actual direct "impact" damage to the front of the car. Sure the bank I mounted decided to rip off the front spoiler and do some nice damage to the wings, but really there was no "hit" to the front and the structural integrity of the engine bay and chassis is fine. I hope this piccie helps to try and affirm this - looks worse than it is.

[img']http://jason.altarmoore.com/WRECK/mini-trailer2.jpg[/img]

There probably is nothing wrong with them, and there's every change they'd be as reliable as they would be if they were on a new car...

Rob.

I may have a buyer for the steering wheel/airbag & the passenger airbag means I want to keep them unexploded preferably.

If the purchasers airbags have gone off then they will need your airbag module (on the octavia its is bolted behind the centre consol in the passenger footwell) - any they possibly need your seat belts (if their tensioners have activated) - and maybe the dash top while they are at it!!

You should get a fair wedge for this lot towards the "new fabia improvement fund"

When I was looking around for these second hand bits I was being quoted on average 50% + of the new price + vat.

When I was looking around for these second hand bits I was being quoted on average 50% + of the new price + vat.

Nice to know...