Hey all. I have a 1991 fbird 305tbi. I just replaced the steering column and now it won't even turn over. Here's what happens...When I turn the key the fuel pump primes but I see nothing out of the injectors. The security light does not come on but the Airbag light blinks 7 times then stays on. All other functions work (signals, high beams, etc). Also I replaced my column with a column from an 88 fbird. I removed all the airbag components but installed the VATS key cylinder from my original column. Just put it in and ran the wires through the column and plugged them in like before. Could this be a VATS issue? or am I missing something? Can I bypass VATS in a fairly easy and inexpensive way. Please Help. Thanks

 

You can bypass the VATS easily and cheaply: www.thirdgen.org/vats https://www.thirdgen.org/vats_passkey_system

The airbag - are you saying you put the airbag wheel on the older column, or not? If you did, must have missed a connection, or maybe the fuse needs replaced?

If you didn't, then I'd do a search for threads where folks removed the airbag wheel and installed a non-airbag wheel, and see what they did to get rid of the light. You might have to just take the bulb out.

BUT ALSO NOTE ...

1) it might not be legal for inspections to remove the airbag, since it's a government mandated safety feature

2) You insurance compnay could deny a claim in the future without an airbag installed IF you are getting a discount for having an airbag. If the state/county inspector doesn't care about the airbag, then I'd call your insurance company and inform them that you don't have an airbag and you don't want to receive that discount anymore.

 

Ok. I bypassed the Vats by using the resistor method I found here on this site. car started right up. What I did was swap out the airbag column for a non- airbag column wheel and all. Drove it just a few minutes ago and everything went fine. As far as the laws in my state (VA) I checked on that and it will pass inspection without the airbag. My insurance company told me that I would just have to inform them of the change and they would change my policy accordingly. This car will be a KR conversion so I would have been removing the airbag anyway. My only question now is what do I do with the airbag? Should I keep it and if so how do I store it safely? Thanks for all your help. I love this site.

 

Put the airbag in a box and place it on a shelf in your closet. they aren't as sensitive as they get credit for. If you want to turn the airbag light off, install a shunt in the connector with a 2.2 ohm resistor. This will replace the airbag in the controller's eye and correct the failure code.

 

Ok cool. I was just wondering because I have a 14month old and didn't want to take the risk. In tech school one of my instructors showed us what an airbag can do if it goes off. Didn't think the thing would jump that high.

 

Is the wheel in good shape? Is the airbag starting to seperate from the wheel in the upper corners? If it's in good shape, and you don't want it, sell it. I've bought several airbag wheels off ebay and they shipped them via UPS. Not sure it's legal to ship an airbag, but I've received several that way. Craigslist is an option too. The 3rd gen airbags seperate after time from the wheel, and alot of folks want a good looking wheel - so they'll pay well for them. Also, if anyone had one deploy, they'll be hunting a new one.

 

It is starting to seperate, and the horn buttons are missing. To me it's not really worth anything