C5 Air Bag removing
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 667
Likes: 162
From: Jennings LA
C5 Air Bag removing
Just bought this 03 C5 50th and need to change out the driver's side air bag assembly. Do I really need to disconnect the battery or can I do as did on my C4 and just pull the air bag fuse and wait 10 mins?
Last edited by awches; Apr 3, 2017 at 10:07 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Ideally, and if it were me, I would disconnect the battery and allow the air bag to fully discharge power. The C5 stores it's memory and radio functions for a sizeable amount of time even with the battery disconnected so it shouldn't inconvenience you.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 323
Likes: 68
From: Sacramento California
I would disconnect the battery and pull the fuse. Then remove the knee bolster and unplug the airbag harness "from a safe position". After doing that I unbolt the airbag and unplug the harness from the back of the airbag. Be safe and good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
I'm looking at a steering wheel swap on my C5. All the instructions I have read call for disconnecting the battery at least a half hour before touching the airbag.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Kirkland WA
I pulled the airbag to remove my steering wheel a few months ago, followed the FSM, and did not disconnect the battery.
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Always take the appropriate safety precautions.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
We just replaced a friend's horn membrane last week. Driver's air bag must be removed for that job. We followed all the advice to disconnect battery and wait at least 30 minutes before starting to remove.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 667
Likes: 162
From: Jennings LA
the job took about 30 mins total. I did just disconnect the battery and waited 10 mins. I had to change the end on the horn ground anyway from a bolt loop connection to a female knife connection. Had the right combination of tork x tool to get to the screws pretty easy.
Put the replacement unit in and connected the battery , check to see if horn worked, it did.
Went for a little ride around town and saw the ABS and Traction Control lights had lit up. Got home and shut down, waited about 5 mins and restarted. All cleared. Later went for about a 10 min ride to check on a friend and all good.
Best of all , no more sticky unit.
Took the old one apart for grins and ended up seeing if a fine wire brush would even get rid of the top coat. Had to take so much off before fine to the touch. Just wonder what the guy or gal used to wreck that cover like that.
Have a few more projects later on in the Fall but nothing pressing. Time to just go riding and enjoy this car. So much more fun and comfortable to drive over my '95 C4 Coupe.
Thanks for all the input. Love all that print out and do have a factory manual on the way off Ebay.
Put the replacement unit in and connected the battery , check to see if horn worked, it did.
Went for a little ride around town and saw the ABS and Traction Control lights had lit up. Got home and shut down, waited about 5 mins and restarted. All cleared. Later went for about a 10 min ride to check on a friend and all good.
Best of all , no more sticky unit.
Took the old one apart for grins and ended up seeing if a fine wire brush would even get rid of the top coat. Had to take so much off before fine to the touch. Just wonder what the guy or gal used to wreck that cover like that.
Have a few more projects later on in the Fall but nothing pressing. Time to just go riding and enjoy this car. So much more fun and comfortable to drive over my '95 C4 Coupe.
Thanks for all the input. Love all that print out and do have a factory manual on the way off Ebay.