Removing the airbag

luvolvos60 · Post by **luvolvos60** » 05 Mar 2012, 13:43

Hello there forum.

I've got a 2004 s60 2.5T and I've just replaced the rack and pinion (found brand new OEM from CarQuest) I couldn't find one for like 2mos, not even reman.

The replacing was a pain in itself but that's done and over with. Unfortunately during this process I broke something else.
After the fix I go for a little test drive and noticed that none of my steering wheel controls are working and the airbag light is on.
I'm thinking that while the pinion was off the car I turned the steering wheel too much and broke something.

I think it's the clock spring. Any other ideas as to what it could be?

I've been trying to take off my airbag for a combined 12+ hours already.
I've turned the wheel 90 this way and 90 that way and I use a mirror+light and I see the pins but I don't know what to do with them. I can't get my screwdriver on it.

What kind of screwdriver should I use? what size?
Is it a screw that I need to unscrew or is it a pin I need to push out?

Thanks for your time and advice in advance

otis44 · Post by **otis44** » 05 Mar 2012, 15:25

First thing disconnect the battery if you haven't done so already so you don't end up with a broken nose. I don't really know how to describe what you need to do. Obviously you have found the holes, you will need a really small screwdriver or a pick type tool. There is no screw in there, you need to wedge the tool in there and then pry it upward or downward, I really don't remember. What you are doing is trying to get a clip or a spring to release. When you pry it the right way that side of the bag will pop out. Sorry to be so vague, I haven't done one in a while. But when you hit the right spot its not that hard at all.

cdnbluez · Post by **cdnbluez** » 05 Mar 2012, 17:31

There are torx screws in the two holes at the rear of the steering wheel. The bit is T25 or T30, loosen the screws and the air bag pulls off.

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-v70- ... nit-48052/

luvolvos60 · Post by **luvolvos60** » 05 Mar 2012, 19:07

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll try prying and I'll try the torx driver and see what works.

otis44 · Post by **otis44** » 05 Mar 2012, 20:07

cdnbluez wrote:There are torx screws in the two holes at the rear of the steering wheel. The bit is T25 or T30, loosen the screws and the air bag pulls off.

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-v70- ... nit-48052/

That is a good write up but it is for a 98. His car may be the exception, but I have never seen a P2 platform V70 or S60 that has screws in the rear of the airbag.

Post by **JRL** » 06 Mar 2012, 06:27

Oddly, I just swapped a steering wheel and airbag last week off a P2 car and have the VIDA directions printed out, so If you still need them let me know by email and I will scan them and email them to you
Jim
jrl1194 (at)aol(dot) com

cdnbluez · Post by **cdnbluez** » 06 Mar 2012, 07:35

otis44 wrote:
cdnbluez wrote:There are torx screws in the two holes at the rear of the steering wheel. The bit is T25 or T30, loosen the screws and the air bag pulls off.

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-v70- ... nit-48052/

That is a good write up but it is for a 98. His car may be the exception, but I have never seen a P2 platform V70 or S60 that has screws in the rear of the airbag.

I have replaced the steering wheel on my '98 and '01 using the same procedure. Two torx bit screws on the back. By the way, when you unscrew the torx screws, they don't fall out of the streering wheel. They stay in there.

luvolvos60 · Post by **luvolvos60** » 12 Mar 2012, 20:11

All right the airbag is off and so is the faulty clock spring.

It was not a torx screw it's very simple mechanism that is not simple to explain.

When you reach your screwdriver in the hole you are reaching not for the pins but the pin lock that runs perpendicular to the pins.

Once you have your screwdriver in the hole you would then push the handle of the screwdriver in the outward direction from the wheel, causing the pin lock gate to lift therefore releasing the pins of the airbag and it should pop out.

I don't know how I did it, but somehow it popped out and I figured out the mechanism once it was open and in plain sight.

Thanks for everybody's responses and help.
I think I'm gonna make a video of the process and post it on YouTube or something, hopefully can help someone in the future.

cdnbluez · Post by **cdnbluez** » 13 Mar 2012, 19:02

The 3 spoke S60 steering wheel must be different from the 4 spoke V70. When I replaced the steering wheel on my '01 V70 there were 2 torx screws you had to loosen and no pins. Good to know.

Post by **JRL** » 13 Mar 2012, 20:29

Each is very different