Side Airbag installation

[trident_12]

Hi.

What are the chances of installing side airbags to an 05 vz exec? Ive heard that the ? brackets & ? harness is all there. But isnt there more to it that just harnesses & brackets? what about engineering certificates? Ive been given a set of new side airbags so if ive got em, might as well install em ay?

cheers.

[vy-346]

i thought they actuated from the side of the drivers seats?

[wingwang99]

Originally Posted by vy-346

i thought they actuated from the side of the drivers seats?

They do, my parents have a berlina with them fitted and you can't put seat covers on unless approved (has a gap down the outside). As far as i know the whole seat needs replacing... someone correct me if i'm wrong

[Calaber]

I think there might be a lot of work to do this to an Exec. The seat frames would be the same but the foam padding and upholstered cover would be specific for side airbag fitment. The seat covers would need to have the "fip-stitching" which enables the airbag to open out and the Exec seats would probably not have this as I don't recall side bags even being optional for the VZ exec.

However, the Acclaim had them and it was just an optioned Exec with only the centre seat upholstery being altered in pattern from the Exec, so perhaps the existing seat covers would be ok.

You would need to run the airbag activation wiring to each seat. The airbag module is mounted to the floor under the rear of the centre console. The additional airbags might require a different module to cover the additional bags. Don't know for sure. (the truth, I don't know at all!) The wiring to the drivers electric seat and the pre-tensioning seat belts runs to the inside of each seat from the module. On Berlinas/Acclaims/Calais and upwards, the air bag wiring is a separate connector which runs with the electric seat cable to the drivers/passengers seat. All the airbag wiring and connectors are bright yellow.

Check to see if your car has any spare connectors in yellow at the base of the driver's seat. If there are, they would be for the airbags. I don't think this is a job I would want to tackle without accurate wiring diagrams and a sound knowledge of vehicle electricals.

[ashbox]

prob need a new bcm too and that involves getting new key fobs or someone on here can fix them.

[danja]

Might also need the side impact sensors (the live under the winder-ma-jig for the front seatbelts). Not sure if these are fitted to cars with only front airbags?