355 Passenger AirBag lid removal help...

Speedo cluster is easy, there's two philips screws at the bottom of the cluster on either side (just to right and left side of the steering wheel). Take those out, then the whole cluster 'unhooks' off a top latch. Then disconnect all the cables and it comes right out. No clue on the air bag...just stand back and use a reeeeal long screwdriver!

 

I'm doing this repair in the Fall... any news on how to get the passenger airbag out?

 

ITS NOT JUST THE LID,BUT THE WHOLE AIRBAG THAT comes out.SORRY BUT i DONT THINK i HAVE REMOVED A 355 BAG

 

For the airbag, you'll need a Torx security bit. T60 i think, often hard to find.

 

remove both the center vent and the right dash vent. inside to either side of the airbag you will find two tamper proof torx bolts. remove the two from each side, unplug the airbag from under the dash and then remove airbag out of front of dash.

regards, Jim

 

as always, ensure that the battery has been isolated for 30+ mins., ground yourself to the car body to get rid of static before doing this.

 

- The car's main switch disconnects the Ground from the Car Security system. If you open either of the doors with the switch set to OFF you will notice your interior light will still lit up. The switch doesn't disconnect the airbag system and you will end-up with the AIRBAG light up on the instrument cluster. To avoid that you need to disconnect the "+" Power plug from the battery. I would still recommend to turn the Ground switch to OFF more to not to get a spark when re-plugging the "+" connector back to the battery.

-The steps #3 and 4 should be reversed. It's way easier to disconnect the airbag plug when you have the airbag out.

-The airbag is secured with Torx No. 40, not 30. Also, if you don't want to scratch the sides of the airbag body, loose both airbag brackets from the dash frame. Those are 2 x 13MM nuts on each side. Once assembling back in, first put in and tie 4 screws T-40 then adjust the airbag lid against the dashboard cover and tie one of the 13MM nuts on each side. Then tie the other nut on each side.

 

As a precaution when disconnecting a battery terminal, disconnect the negative side first. By disconnecting negative first, you are decreasing the risk of any shorts when you try to remove the positive terminal and accidentally touch the wrench to body chassis.

 

Curious.
No lights that lit up while opening doors after putting off the switch in my car.
I alway see advices to use the switch before removing the airbag, but that's the first time I see someone mentioning to remove the terminal from the battery.

 

You always can try it on your car to learn that the airbag is NOT connected to the lights bus to get your airbag light fired up. Then you'll be on your way to the shop with SD1/Leonardo to reset the it ;-)

 

It may depend on the individual car. As far as I know, the entire F355 airbag system (including the ECU) is only powered by the ignition (i.e. no power to anything with the key off). I don't have a wiring diagram for the airbag system on the F355, but cars of this era seem to have the same power setup (456M, F550, F360, F430, etc). As long as you have the ignition system off, you should be ok (with respect to the Airbag light). No power can get to the ECU (whatever is happening to the battery).

If your door lights are illuminating, you may have some aftermarket wires attached to the battery negative terminal. Aftermarket wiring may be bypassing the cutout switch.

 

My car is not having any aftermarket wiring.

 

That you know of

Do you have a trickle charger pigtail wired directly to the battery?

(EDIT: My doorlights work if I have my trickle charger hooked up (and powered) with my battery disco switch off. My trickle charge is connected to the terminals in the engine bay)

 

I changed my steering wheel for a 360 one. Battery connected, with just the power switch OFF, and everything is OK.
Airbag light is working and goes off when it should.