just need a quick yes or no if the air bags out of a 96 cavy will work in a 04 cavy. thanks.
Jonathan shumacker wrote:No
96-02
03-05
^Nope
95-99
00-02
03-05
Its safest to use the same year bag as what its going into anyways.
ur an idiot modules may be different which i doubt but a 02 bag will work in a 96..
passanger air bags are all the same from 95-05 the driver side is different 95-99 00-02 03-05 just replaced mine in a 2001 so the passanger does not matter but the driver side does
Jonathan shumacker wrote:ur an idiot modules may be different which i doubt but a 02 bag will work in a 96..
Nice. The driver side might look the same, might even bolt to the wheel, but it sure as hell won't work. I made that post hoping to keep the thread starter from using the wrong bag and getting injured from a bag deploying when it shouldn't, or not deploying at all when it should. Don't call someone an idiot for trying to keep someone else from getting hurt. And I stand by my earlier post that it is SAFEST to use the same year airbags as replacements. So if that qualifies me as an idiot, than I guess thats what I am. Thanks, and have a nice day.
As for the passenger bags, I will tentatively stand by what I said, they may bolt right up, but are they electrically the same through the ten year build run of these cars? Hopefully. You'll never know until a wreck occurs.
Always remember, airbags are essentially controlled explosives, screwing around with them can kill you, so do it right, and your neck & chest will thank you if you end up hitting something.
Just an edit, GM has 5 different part numbers for driver side airbags, 3 for the passenger side, spanning a variety of year ranges. Again, may bolt up, but can you guarantee electrical compatibility with the SRS system in your car? I'm done in this thread, before it goes OT or the flames begin. Primer Beast, hopefully all this will help you out.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, August 12, 2007 9:29 AM
Ouch.... wish everyone would get their facts 100% correct before throwing the names around
The 95 system is unique. Uses a DERM module, and a couple of sensors.
The 96-99 systems are all the same. SDM module under the passenger seat and a single front-mounted sensor. The airbags themselves are similar to the 95, and you can re-wire the connectors to work with the 96-99 SDM if you have to. Yes, it'll work fine.... I've seen the results.
The 00 is a beast on it's own. The BCM and the SDM talk to each other, so you can't use a 95 DERM or a 96-99 SDM in a 00 car... it just won't work. You'll throw an airbag code, your airbag light will stay on and they won't deploy in a crash. You CAN re-wire the 95-99 airbag plugs themselves to work with a 00 SDM in a 00 car. Yes, that'll work too. I used a set of 00 bags in my 99, now again in a 00. It depends on the SDM not the bags themselves. The difference between a 00 and later models? The plastic key in the plug. Change that, and you have other possibilities
The 01-05 SDM is the same... sorta. The 01 and 02 are identical, and if you have regular airbags on a 03-05, then it's the same too. It talks to the BCM like the 00, but it has a different plastic key in the plug.... want to swap? Change the clear plastic key out and you're good to go.
03-05 side airbags... the ones in the seats... you have a different SDM. The steering wheel and passenger bags are the same as the non-side-airbag cars tho. Just a different SDM and some more wiring. And 03-05 of course changed the shape of the airbag in the steering wheel, but it still works on the same principle - two wires and a yellow plug. If you change the plug, you can use a 03-05 steering wheel and airbag on a 95
Oops... one more thing. The clock-spring under the steering wheel has the plug for the steering wheel bag. It can't be changed as easily as the plug on the passenger side (with a pin pusher and the right connector, it's as easy as matching up the colors... there's only two - green and white - think you can handle that?
)
Does GM's part numbers support what I say? Not exactly. GM is looking at replacement parts. According to GM part numbers, you can't put a Cavalier front on a Sunfire either... but we know that's not true
I know from having done it successfully. Can you say the same?
So... to the original poster...
Yes, the airbags will work IF you change the steering wheel and clockspring to the 96-99 one... so that it'll plug in... and change the plug on the passenger bag. But the SDM won't work, so you'll need a 00-05 one.
Hope that helps
...j
Hate to threadjack here, but if I am reading right what you are saying John, is that with the 03-05 clockspring, I could utilize the 03-05 steering wheel and airbag in my 2000 and it would stay functional? What exactly is the SDM? Would that be the module under the passenger seat? Would I need to swap that out too?
Not sure what the SDM is but we have used 98 air bags with a 04 body harness and it worked. All we did was switch the plug so it could plug in.
FU Tuning
Greg Z. wrote:Hate to threadjack here, but if I am reading right what you are saying John, is that with the 03-05 clockspring, I could utilize the 03-05 steering wheel and airbag in my 2000 and it would stay functional? What exactly is the SDM? Would that be the module under the passenger seat? Would I need to swap that out too?
Yup. You might have to change the plug under the dash to match the 03-05 clockspring connector with your 00 dash one... but it's an easy swap. Assuming that the 03-05 splines on the steering column are the same as the earlier ones.... IDK about that...
...j
WTB: 03 Cavalier centre trunk silver bowtie bar... email me!
Yea, good point. I'm not sure if anyone has ever been able to confirm the spline count/spacing yet or not.
Quote:
Assuming that the 03-05 splines on the steering column are the same as the earlier ones.... IDK about that...
They are not. It really is not the spline count, but the size is smaller. You would need to swap sterring column's.
FU Tuning
Figures. Oh well, I've been wanting a tilt column anyway, so this is a good excuse to search one out.
Also nobody mentioned on that 95-99 work on full powered airbags while the 00-05 are depowered.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
Sorry to resurect this tread from the dead but I am left with a question still. If the 01-05 SDMs are the same and assuming you change the Clockspring and steering wheel would an 01 or 02 bag and old style wheel work in an 03? reason is I have an 03 with a cracked bag cover and I hate the 03 steering wheel. I want to just get the 01/02 wheel and bag and swap back...
If you swap the column too, yup. The splines on the 03-05 steering wheel are different than the 95-02.
just to clear the air, i have delt w/ the airbag swap issue w/ building my car. both air bags, module AND clock spring MUST match or you will have an airbag light on.
Looks at my passenger air bag and SDM module I snagged off Joey Baggs's 03 cavalier....
Kris above me is right about needing the matching bags, or you need to get your SDM module reflashed to get it all to work right without the damn air bag light.
So do what I did and find an .org member not running them and get it all for a steal!
