Airbag question for people who have changed them

[tidyclio]

Had a little accident tonight the passenger side airbag has fired and i'm assuming the pretensioner will have too.
I've read a few posts and Edde's guide but am still not sure what I will all need. I know I will need a new seat and the computer reset but Edde says you need new impact sensors although some people are saying they have not needed them.
If I do need to replace them where are they located?Also if anybody had details on the place in Germany that resets the computers that would be great.

 

[edde]

The side impact sensors are under the seat bolted to the side of the car.
You might need new ones. Best try without

Find out which belts have gone off by either checking them as when they go off at the front they go noticably lower. Or better still go to a garage who can read computer fault codes and see which ones have gone off.

You need either a new airbag/pretentioner computer (£350) or have a look on ebay for places who can clear the fault codes for about £60 there a place in Germnay who can do them plus PMurry on here recons he can clear the logs.

Then you need a new pretensioner just swop them over and new airbags computer and the light will go off.

 

[Ad]

new airbag is cheapest to get from a breakers. Believe they are the same for all of the Ph2 clios.

 

[edde]

new airbag is cheapest to get from a breakers. Believe they are the same for all of the Ph2 clios.

Yep.

 

[tidyclio]

Great thanks i'm going to try and get a new seat since the airbag has ripped it to shreds i'll need to buy one with a good airbag anyhow. The airbags are being advertised for £14.99 on ebay from breakers which is good considering I think their about £200 from Renault.
Now just need to source a new seat!

 

[GordonD]

You realise don't you that airbags only have a life of 10 years. They are supposed to be replaced then, even if they haven't gone off.

Airbags are like auxiliary belts and timing belts that have a limited life with a progressively increasing likelihood of failing if the service life is exceeded. An airbag from a breaker may seem like a bargain compared to a new airbag, but with an new airbag you're getting 10 years, whereas with a second-hand one you're only getting what's left of its original 10-year life.

Think about how you are valuing your life and the life of people you carry in your car compared to how you are valuing the engine in your car if you're willing to fit a 2nd-hand airbag of unknown age that may well be near the end of its service life when you wouldn't think about fitting a 2nd-hand timing belt because it might be.

 

[tidyclio]

Hmmm yeah ok thanks Gordon Mk2 Ph2 started coming off the production line in 2001 so any airbag I get will have at least 5 years left in it. Like you say they are meant to be changed but at the end of the day this is now the second time I have had the passenger airbag deploy and both times the passenger has said the airbag has left them with more injuries than they would have had anyway. Last nite I ended up on a kerb at about 20mph blew the tyre and the airbag went on when I don't think it should have.
Back to the point though do you think in 5 years time theirs going to be a line of cars outside Renault waiting to pay £800 plus to have for airbags replaced?

 

[tidyclio]

Does anybody know if the airbag computer is coded to the car or if I was to get one out of a car which has had an engine fire would it work on mine?
Also where is the airbag computer?

 

[Fred@BTM]

under the ashtray mate

i have a 2002 airbag out of my car going spare

 

[edde]

Does anybody know if the airbag computer is coded to the car or if I was to get one out of a car which has had an engine fire would it work on mine?
Also where is the airbag computer?

Its not coded to the car but it is coded to the loom there 2 types of looms one with rear wiring sensors for the belts the other withouth if you get the wrong one then you'll have a problem.

Stick the rihgt one in which hasn't had a crash and your OK.

 

[tidyclio]

What do the rear wiring sensors do?

Fred thanks i'm going to look at this car in the morning so if the seats are ok should be able to get the lot out of that. If I was to buy the airbag from you can you buy the foam for the seat as I have a cover?
Is their two units under the ashtray one has the diagnostic connector I take it the airbag computer is next to it?

 

[edde]

What do the rear wiring sensors do?

Fred thanks i'm going to look at this car in the morning so if the seats are ok should be able to get the lot out of that. If I was to buy the airbag from you can you buy the foam for the seat as I have a cover?
Is their two units under the ashtray one has the diagnostic connector I take it the airbag computer is next to it?

It goes the the upper point of the rear belts no ide why some have it and others don't Cups don't have them but others do its wierd.

 

[tidyclio]

I no my car has pretensioners in the back could it be for these?Would you know anyway I could spot which loom it had i.e colour of wires loom with rear sensors has that the other wouldn't or difference in number of wires?

 

[edde]

I no my car has pretensioners in the back could it be for these?Would you know anyway I could spot which loom it had i.e colour of wires loom with rear sensors has that the other wouldn't or difference in number of wires?

You can tell as the rear looms a different type of connector block. Plus theres two more cables in the rear loom.

I'll see if I can get a photo of both types some time.

 

[tidyclio]

No that's great thanks Edde your very helpfull I will count how many i've got and see if it matches but it's so cheap it'll be worth trying anyway.
Just a shame it's so bloody cold outside!