This link on miata.net says that all 1990-1997 miatas have four crash sensors. I think that this may be in error.
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I found the sensors and the blue box on the 1990 model that I tore down, but can not find them on the '96 model. The control box looks diffferent and I suspect that it contains the crash sensor using the same design as the 1999+ models.
Can anyone verify this? This isn't my auction, but this is exactly what I have pulled from the car and I am ready to get rid of them, though I will start them considerably lower than $600.00.
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I have heard that the passenger side airbag and the airbag control module for 1994-1997 miatas are very expensive at the dealership, but have never checked on it.
However, generally, the users on miata.net are American. Those articles are commonly written by US people, so they might forget their MX-5 cousins overseas...
I know this much: the control module for airbags in the US cars continually changed. I don't think it was the same in the Miata for more than 3 years at a time (89-91?). There is (somewhere) on miata.net a "blink code" chart that describes the errors indicated by various blinking codes on various years of Miata. Mine is steady on...in a 96 that's: "Need New Control Module."
No one hit me, OK?
I think it's different again in the NBs, though, too. When I priced out airbag components a while ago, people told me "get exactly the right year, or get harnesses/seats/new wheel."
Thank you sir, that jogged my ever-failing memory. I think that the airbags themselves are universal for '94 to '97, but I do remember that the control module was year-specific now that you mention it.
Here is the difference that I am talking about as far as the sensors. The change happened universally in the mid-90's, so it makes sense that there are no external sensors on my '96 model.
"The airbag sensor is a MEMS accelerometer, which is a small integrated circuit chip with integrated micromechanical elements. The microscopic mechanical element moves in response to rapid deceleration, and this motion causes a change in capacitance, which is detected by the electronics on the chip, which then sends a signal to fire the airbag. The most common MEMS accelerometer in use is the ADXL-50 by Analog Devices, but there are other MEMS manufacturers as well.
Before MEMS, the primary system used to deploy airbags was called a "rolamite". A rolamite is a mechanical device, consisting of a roller suspended within a tensioned band. As a result of the particular geometry and material properties used, the roller is free to translate with very little friction or hysteresis. This device was developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The rolamite and similar macro-mechanical devices were used in air bags until the mid-1990s when they were universally replaced with MEMS."
So, it looks like the airbags will be compatible with any 1994-1997 U.S. miata, but the control unit needs to be year-specific.
You say your miata is a 1996? This control unit is also from a 1996 model. I will either put it on Ebay, separate from the airbags, or we might be able to come to an agreement if you are interested in it.
I listed the airbag control module and started it at $75.00. There are 5 days left in the auction, with one bid so far.
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I should have the airbags up tonight as well. It looks like even the passenger side airbags are specific to '94/'95 and '95/'96 models if the other auction listings are correct, I never did look up part numbers on them.
Does anyone know whether the trim level matters for the controller? I do not have an M-edition, let alone R or LE, so would this guy work for me? Anyone know?
I don't think that the trim level matters, the "M" editions tended to be fully loaded, a special color, and the interior enhancements were things like leather & wood shifts knobs, the "M" emblem on the instrument cluster, embroidered into the seats, and on the door sills. Otherwise, they are just tan/leather interiors for the most part. Anything else special about them were things like the '95M seats, (separate headrests), and the stereos of various years.
The under-dash area where the controller is located is the same as on a non-M edition miata.
The only possible factor that I see is that the car has/had ABS. This probably is not a factor, because the airbag sensor in not supposed to trigger under any level of braking, but there could possibly be something different about it. It is a bit of a pain, but you may be able to get your exact part number from the dealership to compare to this one.
Replacing this thing does not look fun. I had the luxury of having the dash out. Are you planning on giving it a go yourself?
I can do anything. :-D ...erm...that is, unless it requires a hoist and/or impact tools or other fancy pansy things. This should be interesting, but do-able.
I don't know if you can see it from underneath the dash or not, I had too many things removed to remember, but it is located in the very center of the dash area, right next to the blower unit, and actually attaching to body of the car with 3 bolts, iirc. There is a group of cables with a blue plug attaching it to the wiring harness.
That's the spirit! Now please bid high, & bid often! ;-)
the enthusiasts shop manual shows airbag replacement as pretty straight forward... with all precautions taken (battery out, fused removed, bag pointing away from face, etc) the passenger air bag is held in place from the underside, and has a wiring harness. you do have to remove the glove compartment to gain access to these bolts. seems very straight forward. the drivers airbag is also pretty straight forward and doesn't require removing anything else.
Yes, the airbags are fairly easy to remove, I have taken out 5 of them now with no problems, all driver side except for one.
His airbags, however, are intact. It is his control module that has gone out. That part is located in a position under the dash that is not easy to get to.
Lots of people watching my control module all of a sudden, it will be interesting to see what it goes for. I never did check the factory price, I can only assume that it is very high.
Sounds like a good call. Any chance you (or anyone else reading this) can hook me up with a scan of those pages? I don't have the manual, unfortunately....though I'd certainly like one. I have seen where the location is, though, as someone on Miata.net had linked to this picture:
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. That picture doesn't show myyear, but it does show where the older years had their S-sensor...now,that's where the control module is for me (in the middle, bolted to thefirewall).
This picture had scared me a bit...would I have to remove the whole dash??? But no! According to you, I can get at it through the glove box opening!
Who would pay $1100 for the parts and labor to a dealer? NOT I! But some people have, just for the control module.
What are you trying to do Chris, scare off my customers? ;-)
Actually, I do want the person who buys this to know what they are getting into. Now I just need to get those airbags up. Not much else to do today, so I should have them listed soon if the power stays on.
actually i thought since i helped in identifying the part i was going to get a commission... so i am trying to help you sell it. but now given the price i think that i will remove the part and sell it on ebay if i ever sell my car. of course i would also pull the fuse on the airbag light no one would notice it was gone. ;)
but seriously, i think that removing the dash is not that big a deal for anyone that wants to resolve this problem.
and after reading the enthusiasts manual and their reference to the part as a 'sas' i find it funny to see that it is clearly marked 'sas' right on the part! perhaps you want to add the letters 'sas' to the title and the description to help those looking for it find it... there is still time to append the listing. if you can't change the title because there is already a bid you could probably add a second title.
Ahh, I see. Well, thank you then. We'll have to discuss commission. ;-)
I'll have to think about adding the second title, it doesn't show up in the search engine so I don't normally use it. It does have a bid so I can't change it without canceling their bid, which I try not to ever do, it really pisses people off.
There are 7 people with it on their watch list right now, so it might get some last-minute snipes, we'll see.
Yes, and it would have gone out yesterday if my summer tires could have climbed that icy hill. I am about to send your package off East today.
Things are slow now, but I have about 100 more of those Sterling forks to list. There is definitely no niche, just about anything that will sell. Here is an example.
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I still haven't lived down my bulk sales of fuzzy yarn or the adjustable dress form model, but it will mainly be miata parts for a while, most likely. :-)
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