Airbag bolt won't come out during combi-meter repair

I don't remember if this is one of those small machine screws that has ~6mm hex head or not. They sometimes get stripped by overzealous tightening. If it is, I have a set of magnetic nut driver fittings that I use for times like this. Many times, the magnet will allow you to turn the screw slowly while gently pulling outward. This can help the screw get a bite to thread itself out.

If it uses a torx, or you don't have a magnet style, you can always superglue the torx/socket to the nut to simulate a magnet.

 

I think the op is talking about one of the 12mm bolts goes in from the bottom of the dash near the cabin air filter.

I can confirm that some of those bolts can be extremely hard to break loose. I use a ratchet with about an 18” extension and a 12mm socket. This will allow you to be working in an open area and apply the necessary leverage to get it loose.

Just make sure you’re turning it the right direction. I’ve seen more than a few good mechanics forget lefty loosie when working upside down like those bolts are.

 

I don’t think that you’re going to be able to disconnect the airbag from the dash without removing the dash from the car. Unfortunately that’s the order that they go together in and forcing them apart will probably end up doing damage to one or the other.

I think I understand now what’s going on. Sorry I didn’t read your first post close enough. The bolt is turning in both directions but getting no tighter or looser. If that’s the case I think the threads on the bolt or the nut (maybe both) stripped out. There are only two ways I see to deal with that. Back the bolt out slowly while applying as much pressure between the pieces as possible, probably using a flat screwdriver or pliers like you mentioned. Or cut the head off of the bolt with something like a dremel tool. I think either way your going to need to get a new bolt and fix the threads on the nut. I’d hate to risk an airbag deployment without that thing securely attached to the structure of the car.

Did you notice any signs of somebody else having removed the dash from the car before. It makes me wonder if they might have cross threaded that bolt and just kept on cranking on it until it was in. We have seen that before.

 

Perhaps it could be just a fastened nut broken loose and spinning with the bolt? Most of times you can use screw driver or pliers to stop those types of nuts from spinning and get the bolt to loosen.

If not just go with the advices of Texas Hybrid Batteries

 

Here are pictures of the way the airbag module goes in the dash.

There are 5 tabs on the front side (opposite from where you're working).


And five more tabs on the back side. Nothing else holds the airbag to the dash, it just floats in there. If you were to remove the airbag module you would have to pry that plastic back far enough for the tabs to clear those holes. Even with the dash out takes some doing.


That's the nut in question. I always figured it was tack welded to that bracket (never really looked that close) but Valde made a good point about the possibility that the nut was also spinning.


They are pressed in like a rivet. I tried making one spin with a pair of vice grips and a lot of force and it didn't budge.

 

Wedging a screwdriver to keep it from spinning should be possible. If the bolt is not cross threaded that should give enough force. Just wedge it from the side that feeds / sinks in when turning. Or locking pliers would also work if you can fit them.

Removing the airbag from the dash is basically impossible with the dash in place. Even with the dash out bending the tabs makes it a lot easier. But could you actually bend the tabs in place?

 

The nuts are round on the back which makes it tricky. Wedging something in there still might add some resistance but nothing like having a flat surface to lock onto.

I've probably taken a thousand of these things apart and I've never had one of those nuts try to spin. I use an impact driver which may be the reason why. They deliver a fast heavy blow that will break nuts and bolts apart before anything can have a chance to start moving around.

 

Great news!

Did you replace the rivnut, or just hope the loosened one won't be too loose next time?