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Showing posts with label passenger. Show all posts

Friday, January 31, 2014

How to Remove Passenger Airbags From Grand Am

You can remove the passenger airbags from your Pontiac Grand Am. These days, airbags are considered to be essential safety features of a car. Airbags are designed to prevent head injuries during a crash, but sometimes airbags may actually cause injury, especially in children and frail people. For this reason some people may want to disengage the passenger airbags. Disengaging the airbags is a fairly easy procedure but be cautious to prevent accidental deployment.

Instructions

Remove the battery cables from both sides of the Grand Ams battery using a socket wrench set. Wait for 30 minutes to let the electricity drain out. This is a very important step to prevent accidental deployment of the airbags.

Read the Grand Ams owners manual to find the exact location of the airbag fuse. Open the fuse panel cover located on the drivers side dashboard remove the fuse pullers. Pull out the appropriate fuse.

Open the glove box and remove the straps that hold it open. Remove the glove box from the dash by locating the screws and unscrewing it. This will allow you to access the passenger airbag. Very caully unbolt the airbag with the socket wrench and unhook the power cable that is connected to the back of the airbag. Make sure your body and face are out of the way of the airbag at all times while you do this in case of accidental deployment. Remove the airbag from the compartment.

Put the glove box back in and screw the screws back in place. Reattach the straps. Put the airbag fuse back in place and close up the fuse panel cover. Reconnect the cables to the battery.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

How to Replace the Passenger Side Mirror on a 2005 Camry

Replacing a damaged or non-working powered mirror on the passenger side of a 2005 Toyota Camry requires removing the interior door panel to access the wire harness connection. Removing the panel and replacing the mirror is a fairly benign procedure that can save do-it-yourself enthusiasts both time and money. After-market mirrors may fit the Camry directly, but do not come painted (if the Camry is equipped with painted mirrors). Paint it prior to installation, or order one from the dealership with the correct paint code.

Instructions

Open the passenger door and then power down the window. Turn the ignition key into the Off position.

Pry off the sail trim piece (opposite the side mirror above the door panel) using the plastic pry tool.

Pry off the door handle trim piece (surrounding the door handle) using the plastic pry tool.

Pry off the small rectangular trim panel in the arm rest pull cup with the plastic pry tool.

Pry off the small, round vanity plug from the door panel (located near the top front section of the interior door panel) with the plastic trim tool.

Remove the five screws from the interior door panel with the Phillips head screwdriver. One is located under the small, round vanity cap (removed), one is located in the door handle assembly, one is located in the arm rest pull cup (revealed from trim removal) and the last two are located at the bottom of the door panel (visible).

Pry the window control module upward away from the arm rest of the interior door panel with the plastic pry tool and then unplug the wired connectors from under the module. Squeeze the plug clips to release it from the mating plugs of the module.

Remove the last screw holding the door panel (revealed underneath the window control module) with the screwdriver.

Pry the door panel away from the door frame with the plastic pry tool. Start at the bottom and then work up the left and right side of the panel to unseat the hidden panel clips from the door frame.

Pull slightly upward on the door panel, but do not try to remove it. Pull it far away from the door frame to reach behind and disconnect the door handle rod and locking mechanism near the door handle. Remove the door panel and set aside so no damage can occur to it.

Disconnect the wire harness coming from the powered mirror (approximately 4 inches below the mirror).

Remove the three mirror nuts from the studs with the 10mm nut driver, but brace the mirror with one hand (through the open window area) when removing the last one. The mirror may stay connected (stuck) to the door, but if it does fall loose, bracing it will prevent if from incurring damage to the exterior door and paint.

Install the new mirror and then replace the interior door panel by reversing the procedure.