Pyrotechnical Tensioners

  • Thread starter Thread starter ipellew
  • Start date Start date
I

ipellew

Hi All;

I have a 95 960 Saloon and on the drivers (UK) door pillar is a
warning:-
Pyrotechnical tensioners need changing after 10 years.

Any one know any details about this?

Is it a Non Vovlo trained job, IE can us dumbo Diyers do it.

What is the cost?

I cannot even imagine what this is.

Regards
Ian
 
Pyrotechnic Tensioners are part of the seatbelt system and are
activated on impact and apply great force to reduce the belt slack. As
the name implies I believe they use a small explosive charge like the
airbag would so they can exert force rapidly.

I also believe that you're supposed to have the airbag similarly
serviced/checked every 10 years, possibly sooner.

blurp
 
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
blurp said:
Pyrotechnic Tensioners are part of the seatbelt system and are
activated on impact and apply great force to reduce the belt slack. As
the name implies I believe they use a small explosive charge like the
airbag would so they can exert force rapidly.

I also believe that you're supposed to have the airbag similarly
serviced/checked every 10 years, possibly sooner.

blurp
Click to expand...
Interesting name for them! Sounds like you get a free firework display if
you crash! <g>
 
The change period has been upped to 15 years. If you know what you are doing
changing the pyrotechnic part is surprisingly easy. You need to know what
precautions to take when handling explosives as you could get a nasty burn
or worse from misuse. You need to unplug the electrical connector with
electrics dead. Do not switch on electrics until you have completed the
task. Once unplugged the detonator (which is what it is) can be unscrewed
from the housing. It is best to arrange for a short circuit to be present
across the detonator's pins before removal and during replacement. When
safely installed the connector can be refitted to the detonator. When the
task has been completed and before replacing the panels and carpet switch on
the electrics to make sure that detonation is not triggered. After a
successful test you can then replace the carpet and panels.

It is important to keep in mind the fact that if you haven't a clue as to
what you are about to embark on take it to the dealer or seatbelt
specialist.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).
 
This is rather nasty as my wife has a friend who was very badly burnt
in the face and arms when the airbag was fired in an accident, as it
turned out she suffered far more injury from the airbag than she would
from the accident.

Poor women is still suffering after 12 months and has vowed to not use
Airbags, but then what happens in an insurance claim?

Regards
Ian
 
This is rather nasty as my wife has a friend who was very badly burnt
in the face and arms when the airbag was fired in an accident, as it
turned out she suffered far more injury from the airbag than she would
from the accident.
Click to expand...
What was the year, model, make of the car?


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"
 
This is rather nasty as my wife has a friend who was very badly burnt
in the face and arms when the airbag was fired in an accident, as it
turned out she suffered far more injury from the airbag than she would
from the accident.

Poor women is still suffering after 12 months and has vowed to not use
Airbags, but then what happens in an insurance claim?

Regards
Ian
Click to expand...
Well, as my uncle is fond of saying,
an airbag only means the difference between an open or closed coffin.

www.karnutz.com
 
She is still alive isn't she? That's what the airbag is for, to prevent loss
of life.

All the best, Peter.
 
The change period has been upped to 15 years. If you know what you are doing
changing the pyrotechnic part is surprisingly easy. You need to know what
precautions to take when handling explosives as you could get a nasty burn
or worse from misuse. You need to unplug the electrical connector with
electrics dead. Do not switch on electrics until you have completed the
task. Once unplugged the detonator (which is what it is) can be unscrewed
from the housing. It is best to arrange for a short circuit to be present
across the detonator's pins before removal and during replacement. When
safely installed the connector can be refitted to the detonator. When the
task has been completed and before replacing the panels and carpet switch on
the electrics to make sure that detonation is not triggered. After a
successful test you can then replace the carpet and panels.

It is important to keep in mind the fact that if you haven't a clue as to
what you are about to embark on take it to the dealer or seatbelt
specialist.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).
Click to expand...
The gold plated pins inside the orange connectors on all Volvo's are
self shorting when unplugged. The charge cylinder and the seat belt reel
assembly are one piece and replaced as a unit.

Bob
 
I can assure you that they are not self shorting. Why else would Volvo go to
the trouble of providing a special shorting link for when the steering wheel
is removed (for, say, tracking purposes or horn button replacement) and when
replacing front seat belts. I have just had six of the seven seat belts
fitted to my car replaced and can assure you that the dealer used his
special shorting links and disconnected the battery during replacement.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).
 
Hi;

I have no idea what the car was, Just that wifes work colleage is still
suffering.

I would like to think that todays Airbag have overcome this problem as
I have heard several stories of folks being burnt by airbag
detenations.

I have a 1995 Airbag in my Volvo 960, so I keep my fingers crossed.

Regards
Ian
 
Peter said:
I can assure you that they are not self shorting. Why else would Volvo go to
the trouble of providing a special shorting link for when the steering wheel
is removed (for, say, tracking purposes or horn button replacement) and when
replacing front seat belts. I have just had six of the seven seat belts
fitted to my car replaced and can assure you that the dealer used his
special shorting links and disconnected the battery during replacement.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).
Click to expand...

The components (e.g. airbag) are self shorting, so random static won't
set them off. The car harnesses aren't self shorting, and what you call
shorting links, are actually component simulators - something to install
in the system in place of an airbag for testing purposes. If you're
just removing an airbag or seatbelt for another reason, there's no need
to use these devices as long as the airbag system is not powered up.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
I would like to think that todays Airbag have overcome this problem as
I have heard several stories of folks being burnt by airbag
detenations.
Click to expand...
Supposedly, newer bags are "progressive" so they are more gentle at lesser
impacts.

I worked with a man and a woman who were injured by airbags in separate
incidents. The woman looked like she had been severely beaten - her entire
face was badly bruised and the skin was scraped from the inside of both
forearms. Still, she was grateful for the protection. Okay.... The man had
also been making a left turn when he was hit head-on. The airbag broke both
arms across his face; an object lesson in not using cross-over hand action
when turning in airbag equipped cars.

Mike
 
I worked with a man and a woman who were injured by airbags in separate
incidents. The woman looked like she had been severely beaten - her entire
face was badly bruised and the skin was scraped from the inside of both
forearms. Still, she was grateful for the protection. Okay.... The man had
also been making a left turn when he was hit head-on. The airbag broke both
arms across his face; an object lesson in not using cross-over hand action
when turning in airbag equipped cars.
Click to expand...

Also a good idea to never put anything on the airbag'd steering wheel,
keep your hands at the proper (different from the previously recommended
non airbag'd recommendations) positions, thumbs on the outside of the
wheel, and WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Without a seat belt, an air bag can turn
a minor accident into a very serious one, very quickly.

Air bags are work with violent force, such force should not be
underestimated.
 
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