McGuireV10

My wife's 1990 IROC is suffering from the screwed-up tilt steering problem. I'm going to tackle the repair using these instructions, but I need to know which fuse is for the SIR (airbag system). The panel under the dash which covers the fuse box has been missing for years (I think, or I assume, it had a diagram).

Hmm, a chart of the fuse boxes would be a handy resource for the website...

Swift21

i have a 1991 RS so i dont know if it would be the same as your '90 iroc but there should be a map in your manual if you still have it or can locate one. i attemped to scan mine to provide a picture but could not get the scanner working form some reason. From the map though i can tell you that it is the third row down and second column over. it should be a '10' fuse between another '10' on the left of it and a yellow on the right. it is the only thing that is connected by that fuse so you shouldnt have to worry about disrupting anything else by pulling it. i hope this helps.... i really have no idea if the '90 iroc is set up the same as my '91 RS.... but like i said if you can get ahold of a manual it should be in there under "service & maintenance".

novatuc

I think it would be safer to pull the battery cable while working around any part of the airbag system? Just my 2 cents.

Swift21

well yeah i guess that would work too, lol. and hey might as well clean the terminals if you've got em off too.

slow_90firebird

Hey, if you do decide to pull battery cables, I think I read somewhere that you should touch the positive to the negative for a few seconds (after they are disconnected). I think the reason for this is to discharge any capacitors in the airbag system.

Another tidbit, my buddy that went to trade school said you can set off an airbag if you get mad and punch the steering wheel! They had a mechanical arm with a boxing glove at this school and it made the airbag go off. Good to remember if you are someone who gets "road rage" and likes to punch the wheel.

McGuireV10

Thanks everyone -- I had planned to do both; pull the fuse and disconnect the battery. Apparently they can go off even when completely unpowered, so why take any chances?

I'm giving some thought to replacing the steering wheel with a non-airbag setup. This car is a 1990, so it was probably purchased in 1989 meaning the airbag is going on 18 years, plus the old stock wheel is looking kind of rough.

According to what I've read, the usual lifespan of an airbag system is about 14 years, so that's kind of sobering...

Yikes, per Wikipedia (I know, not always reliable)... "Removing the car battery does NOT deactivate the airbags."