I made one out of some stainless tubing. It is basically a tube in a D shape. Doesn't take much torque to turn the firing pin.

Personally, I'd just leave the old bag in place as is.

 

scarbro2011,

You don't need to get the genuine tool to remove the drivers airbag. It's quite feasible to make one. What you're trying to do is create a thinwall socket that enables you to fit over a half-moon shape. I just used a socket (6mm or 7mm, can't remember?) and just glued a sliver of wood to create a half-moon recess. I even did one bag where I just used some thin needle-nose pliers and turned it.

It's very important to understand how the airbag works and how it can be safely removed before you start work. I really recommend that you read through the whole section in the Service Manual so you understand how the firing pin is actuated.

On the drivers bag, it's not a locking tool. It's a tool that just backs off the firing pin to disengage it. (On the passenger side, there's a mechanism that you push to lock it safely).

To disengage the pin on the drivers side, you access it via a plastic catch that you open. However, from memory, once you start to disengage it, the plastic catch is wedged open and then you wouldn't be able to fully turn the steering wheel. However, I think you might be able to back it off a few turns without the catch jamming open.

Personally, I would leave the bag armed and in situ. After all, there's 000's of XJS around with "out-of-date" airbags (and all of us!) and I don't think there's ever been a reported case of inadvertent detonation.

As I said, if you're very quick you can buy a replacement one.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Paul

 

Thanks to all for the info.
I've decided to leave the bag in situ.
I thought it through and decided that if the bag fails to deploy properly
I would probably die behind the wheel of an XJS! What a way to go, eh?
I wonder if all XJS's go to heaven?
I would like to see it again after all is done. Just cruising from cloud to cloud
with the top down. Yeah. . .
POR - Press On Regardless

 

I would like to know how the airbag is actuated. and where the actuator is located.
PS: Hitting another object is not an appropriate answer!

 

The airbag is a self contained unit. It works l guess like a gun, it has a firing pin and an explosive charge. If you want to play with 1, they come up for sale on fleybay every now and then.


I made the tool by drilling a 5 mm hole in a bolt and them hitting it with a hammer to make the "D" shape ...simples

 

I don't want to play with it; I just don't want to actuate it accidentally. I was working on the front bumper cover and did not see any trigger there. Could it be inertia operated?

 

It is. It's entirely mechanical and self contained. Both passenger and driver airbags are mechanical. If you wanted to, you could retrofit it to an earlier Jaguar with the same steering wheel splines, like a Series III XJ6/12 since there are no electronics involved.

In the manual is a procedure for disarming them, and then makes it so it can't go off.

 

I would suggest you don't lock it up. It provides added protection if you have an accident and it should work.


You should be careful with the bags; On some recent TV shows I have seen some dummy's sitting on an air bag, actuating it, and raise up three to five feet from the force. Each one holding their crotch after the experience, ouch! There's a lotta force there.