Best way to replace my stolen airbags?

Our 1996 Accord just had both front airbags stolen.
What's the best way to replace them without paying a fortune?
How can I tell if the computer modules were stollen too?

thanks

-Adriano

 

junkyard. theyll be half of retail, which is likely more than the car is
worth.

if the SRS light goes on, the computer is probably still there. wild guess.

i personally wouldnt bother replacing the bags. itll be harder to sell
the car, and you WILL have to disclose that.

hm... i wonder if replacing the covers would work, then trading the car
in not ethical, but then that makes it the dealers problem.

 

Buy them from a fence. (that was a joke...)

Call the local wreckers. Or try here:
www.car-part.com

The SRS light won't come on.

 

Thanks for the replies.

One more question: What is the clock spring? How do I know if it's
missing too?

Thanks

 

The "clock spring" (also known as the "spiral cable", or "cable reel")
allows electrical connection to the airbag to be maintained as you turn the
steering wheel in the process of steering the car. It's sort of an update
to the old pin-and-ring assembly that horns used to use.

It is inside the airbag assembly. You get a new one with the new airbag.

 

And you might end up buying your own bags back.

 

yeah I wonder if I'll end up seeing them on ebay.

 

i think the clock spring is underneath the steering wheel. chances are,
they just yanked the bags, real quick.

 

I would not be surprised.

 

The clock spring is under the steering wheel. All you should need is a new
bag unless they screwed up the connector on the wires that plug into the
connector on the air bag. Make sure you get the bolts that hold the bag in
place.

 

Hmm. I guess the diagrams I was studying weren't too clear on that. It
looked to me like it was part of the airbag assembly.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense that it should be between the
rotating part (the wheel) and the stationary part (the column). Thanks for
the correction.

 

It looks like they did a clean surgical removal of both bags.
The yellow 2-pin connector seems intact.
The bolts were left on the floor mat.
Assuming I buy a pair of replacement airbags,
how tricky is it to do the installation myself?
Can a auto body shop do it?

thanks

_Adriano

 

hard to say without the factory service manual, but i would surmise that
disconnecting the battery and installing the new bags would be how ya do
it.

disconnecting the battery being of utmost importance, of course.

 

I have seen some recommendations to remove the fuses that control the SRS
system too. Also let the system sit for 10-15 minutes after the battery is
disconnected and fuses removed. I imagine this applies for when you are
removing the air bag more so than putting it in but it can't hurt. I didn't
have any problems removing mine and putting it back in.

Since you have the screws and the connector is good you shouldn't have a
problem doing it yourself.

 

I don't know about your year model but the 2001 and later have monitoring
of the air bag systems similar to the engine obdii system, after you
replace the air bags you may have to reset the error codes. If you can't
borrow a factory manual you may be better off taking it to a dealer after
repairs to check error codes and reset if necessary.My manual (2001) says
to disconnect the battery for three minutes before working on the airbags,
it sure sems to be a better idea than disconnecting and reconnecting fuses
because if you are under the hood connecting the battery you are out of
reach of an airbag deployment, but may not be if you are in under the dash
putting fuses back in-- airbags can seriously hurt you. dont take chances!

 

I have several factory service manuals. I can scan a relevant page tonight
and upload it.

 

That would be awesome. It's a 1996 Accord sedan EX 4cyl 4dr.
thanks.

 

And here y'go...
<http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/manual_scans/accord/96_accord_srs.pdf>

Note to all: I notice I've been posting a fair few scans from the manuals,
so I've moved them all into a new folder called (what else) "manual_scans".
Within that folder are now individual stores for each model.

I see now how the "clock spring" is *most definitely* UNDER the steering
wheel. The diagrams in the '96 Accord manual are far better than those in
the '02 RSX manual, which is what I was studying when I originally posted a
reply to Dipsy.

It looks like the "clock spring" is essentially immune from damage unless a
thief decides to cut the connector off instead of unplugging it.

BTW, I'm gone until at least Wednesday. Being half-Canadian and kinda sorta
half-American, I have to celebrate both Dominion Day and Independence Day
all at the same time (which is hardship, I assure you).

 

Cool. Thanks and happy D & I days.

-Adriano