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Ford airbag help please
mookaloid - 9/9/10 at 07:56 PM

Changing the steering wheel in my daughters Ford KA - cant quite see what the bolts are that hold the airbag to the steering wheel. Can anyone tell me the type and size please?

Cheers

Mark

David Jenkins - 9/9/10 at 08:10 PM

They may well be some form of security screw - I can't speak for Fords, but I did have to buy some special screwdriver bits to undo the airbag on my wife's Daewoo Matiz.

stuleah - 9/9/10 at 09:16 PM

If its the same as a mondeo it will be a torx bit, quite small but not sure exactly what size.

dmac - 9/9/10 at 09:21 PM

If its anything like the Mk4 fiesta then you have to remove the ignition shield and remove the bolts from the back. The heads are an odd size, too big for a 5mm socket and too small for a 6mm. I managed to find an old socket that was a good fit but I couldn't see what size it was.

One thing you must do is to disconnect the battery and wait for at least 2 minutes before starting work.

Hope that helps.

Duncan

adithorp - 9/9/10 at 10:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dmac

One thing you must do is to disconnect the battery and wait for at least 2 minutes before starting work.

Hope that helps.

Duncan


I'd make the 20 mins.

monkeyarms - 10/9/10 at 07:14 AM

quote:
Originally posted by dmac
The heads are an odd size, too big for a 5mm socket and too small for a 6mm.


7/32" Hex head I think.

dmac - 11/9/10 at 05:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by monkeyarms
quote:
Originally posted by dmac
The heads are an odd size, too big for a 5mm socket and too small for a 6mm.


7/32" Hex head I think.


I've just dug one out of my odds and ends bucket and its 0.216" across the flats so that's pretty close to 7/32.

Duncan

rusty nuts - 11/9/10 at 06:24 PM

Try 5.5mm , and yes it does exist

DRC INDY 7 - 12/9/10 at 09:47 AM

5.5mm socket and its a myth that you have to wait to work on airbag systems when the battery is disconnected

dmac - 12/9/10 at 06:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DRC INDY 7
5.5mm socket and its a myth that you have to wait to work on airbag systems when the battery is disconnected


Are you sure about that, the Haynes manual says to wait 2 minutes and I assumed this was to allow a capacitor to discharge. It makes sense that there would be one in the circuit as you want the airbag to deploy even if the battery fails or is disconnected early in the accident.

Duncan