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Airbag replacement 95 Camaro 3.4L
Hey it's been awhile...
I actually have a lot more questions than just the airbags; curious if anyone has had a similar experience. I apologize if I put this in the wrong section.
I'm gonna have to tell you the whole story so bear with me. Lol...
I got into a wreck in bumper to bumper traffic on the interstate. My camaro went under an SUV. The SUV was fine, but my hood and front bumper got destroyed anddddd my airbags went off ... my radiator support was bent in a little but I had no mechanical damage and did not lose any fluids.
In fact, the tow truck the state trooper called wanted to charge $60 + $4/mile to tow it... I told him 'nevermind', ripped off the hanging parts of my bumper, and drove home. So I got lucky... kinda...
Insurance company marked it as totaled and tried to take it to the junkyard on me, but I insisted on keeping it and after much arguing and phone calls and crap they finally let me.
Has anyone tried to get a totaled car insured? How's that work out? It will suck if after all this work I won't be able to keep it...
Pictures after the wreck:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0882.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0881.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0876.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0877.jpg
Don't you love how my fenders weren't touched? lol
Like I said, the radiator support got bent so I took it to my dad's shop (he builds steel houses) where he and I tied it to a come along which was then tied to a forklift... he pulled it out while I took measurements and made sure it all lined up straight (I have two 95 3.4L Camaros -- it comes in handy for that stuff hehe).
oh we also took off the hood, obviously.
and when I got it home afterwards,
the rest of it was unassembled:
(looks so sad w/o headlights)
Now here's coming the tricky part and my questions on airbags.
I did eventually get both airbags out...
The steering wheel was easy - 4 star screws and ya got it.
(stop squinting, it's 180,000+ miles... :X)
but I don't think I got the passenger side Airbag out right bc I left the metal cage in (just took out the cylinder)... it LOOKS to me like I need to take the WHOLE DASH off?! true story?
I hope not.
I went to the junkyard today and found a Camaro w/ a decent dash... going there tomorrow with a hacksaw to cut out the passenger side of the dash after the 2nd bolt (if you're counting from driver side). It looks like the passenger side of the dash is GLUED together.
Has anyone done this before? and can explain how they did it?
Or is there a way I can separate the dash cover and the airbag without setting the airbag off?
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about in case I lost ya:
I'll basically be sawing along that contour... just about. Getting some of the metal from the otherside too so I can make sure it's sturdy by drilling/screwing a metal plate behind the plastic part of the dash. I haven't taken my dash apart yet for this adventure, but I did it in the junkyard to see how it goes. bahhh. please tell me there's an alternative way to do this... lol.
ALSO
do I need to replace ALL three airbag sensors AND the SIR computer? Or just the one that was hit in the collision? (radiator sensor)
So far I've only gotten the radiator sensor from the junkyard and I'm hoping that's all I need. Tomorrow I'll probably buy the rest of the sensors anyway...
And I'm trying to find someone w/ a Tech II scanner to clear the computer.
Anyone near Tampa, FL got one I can borrow?
lol... Insurance company said it was $6,000 in damage...
I'm almost done gathering all the parts I need and have only spent $128... I expect it'll total to $500 after I get the dash, sensors, and materials to sand and paint the new hood and bumper.
Oh as for me though...
I have to see a Chiropractor 3x a week for the next 6 months...ughhhh!
and I've been coughing a ton since the accident which I will blame from the airbag dust, but I suppose it'll go away eventually.
but hey, I'm alive! and hoping my car can be fixed...
please help meeee!
I need to know everything you know about airbags. Once this is all done with I should be a pro. lol
I actually have a lot more questions than just the airbags; curious if anyone has had a similar experience. I apologize if I put this in the wrong section.
I'm gonna have to tell you the whole story so bear with me. Lol...
I got into a wreck in bumper to bumper traffic on the interstate. My camaro went under an SUV. The SUV was fine, but my hood and front bumper got destroyed anddddd my airbags went off ... my radiator support was bent in a little but I had no mechanical damage and did not lose any fluids.
In fact, the tow truck the state trooper called wanted to charge $60 + $4/mile to tow it... I told him 'nevermind', ripped off the hanging parts of my bumper, and drove home. So I got lucky... kinda...
Insurance company marked it as totaled and tried to take it to the junkyard on me, but I insisted on keeping it and after much arguing and phone calls and crap they finally let me.
Has anyone tried to get a totaled car insured? How's that work out? It will suck if after all this work I won't be able to keep it...
Pictures after the wreck:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0882.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0881.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0876.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/IMG_0877.jpg
Don't you love how my fenders weren't touched? lol
Like I said, the radiator support got bent so I took it to my dad's shop (he builds steel houses) where he and I tied it to a come along which was then tied to a forklift... he pulled it out while I took measurements and made sure it all lined up straight (I have two 95 3.4L Camaros -- it comes in handy for that stuff hehe).
oh we also took off the hood, obviously.
and when I got it home afterwards,
the rest of it was unassembled:
(looks so sad w/o headlights)
Now here's coming the tricky part and my questions on airbags.
I did eventually get both airbags out...
The steering wheel was easy - 4 star screws and ya got it.
(stop squinting, it's 180,000+ miles... :X)
but I don't think I got the passenger side Airbag out right bc I left the metal cage in (just took out the cylinder)... it LOOKS to me like I need to take the WHOLE DASH off?! true story?
I hope not.
I went to the junkyard today and found a Camaro w/ a decent dash... going there tomorrow with a hacksaw to cut out the passenger side of the dash after the 2nd bolt (if you're counting from driver side). It looks like the passenger side of the dash is GLUED together.
Has anyone done this before? and can explain how they did it?
Or is there a way I can separate the dash cover and the airbag without setting the airbag off?
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about in case I lost ya:
I'll basically be sawing along that contour... just about. Getting some of the metal from the otherside too so I can make sure it's sturdy by drilling/screwing a metal plate behind the plastic part of the dash. I haven't taken my dash apart yet for this adventure, but I did it in the junkyard to see how it goes. bahhh. please tell me there's an alternative way to do this... lol.
ALSO
do I need to replace ALL three airbag sensors AND the SIR computer? Or just the one that was hit in the collision? (radiator sensor)
So far I've only gotten the radiator sensor from the junkyard and I'm hoping that's all I need. Tomorrow I'll probably buy the rest of the sensors anyway...
And I'm trying to find someone w/ a Tech II scanner to clear the computer.
Anyone near Tampa, FL got one I can borrow?
lol... Insurance company said it was $6,000 in damage...
I'm almost done gathering all the parts I need and have only spent $128... I expect it'll total to $500 after I get the dash, sensors, and materials to sand and paint the new hood and bumper.
Oh as for me though...
I have to see a Chiropractor 3x a week for the next 6 months...ughhhh!
and I've been coughing a ton since the accident which I will blame from the airbag dust, but I suppose it'll go away eventually.
but hey, I'm alive! and hoping my car can be fixed...
please help meeee!
I need to know everything you know about airbags. Once this is all done with I should be a pro. lol
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