General Replacement passenger airbag - advice please!!

[amanda85]

Hi, just joined this site in the hope someone with a bit more knowledge about cars than me can offer some advice!!
I have a 02 punto which I bought in Feb, and all was fine until the airbag light came on (from what I can gather - not an unusual problem with the punto!) Anyway after many visits to the garage, I was told that the whole passenger airbag and squib would need to be replaced. The dealer that I bought the car from offered to pay for the cost of a replacement airbag from a salvage yard (I think they paid about £30) as a goodwill gesture, as the job of fitting wouldn't cost much.
Well, took the car down to the garage today to book it in to have the airbag fitted, and they reckon it is gonna cost around £200 just to fit. Considering I was told it wouldn't be much over £30-40, are they trying it on, or is £200 a reasonable amount to charge for fitting?????
All advice welcome!!!

 

[a1ant]

Hello mate and welcome to the forum!!

Who did the initial dignosis or the airbag? Was it fiat? As its pretty rare for the unit itself to fail. On the passenger side its normally caused by the connection at the top of the glovebox being caught by some rogue CD's or other stuff in the glovebox.

The fitting is around half an hour to do, and then the airbag ECU needs to be rest. So £200 is very steep.

Hope that helps,
Alan

 

[amanda85]

Hi thanks for your message,

No it wasnt fiat who diagnosed it, it was a garage recommended by the dealer. They initially thought it just needed rewiring, but then couldn't clear the light. Thats when they said the whole airbag and squib needed to be replaced.

I just think £200 and 5 hours wrk is a bit excessive...apparently they need to take the whole dashboard out??

 

[T14086]

secondhand airbag :nono:

 

[a1ant]

apparently they need to take the whole dashboard out??

They dont know what theyre doing then :bang:

Glovebox needs to come out thats it. And as T said, i would be a bit sus of the second hand airbag.

Alan

 

[amanda85]

why's that?!?!

he told me a new one would cost around £500 so he got one from a salvage yard that was 'undamaged' for about £30 i think

 

[a1ant]

Its just a bit risky when you dont know the history of safety/explosive devices. May be fine though, although some garages may refuse to fit it. Although assuming you trust the person who got it for you it may well be fine. Lots of second hand ones are used everyday.

Alan