Hey everyone, SO my 2004 s60 volvo's dashboard was punched last week (on the front, passengers side) and now has a noticeable indent and crease where the punch was. I won't go into details why this happened, YET, I am here to see if any of you have advice about what to do next.

FIRST, I took it to a trusted body repair shop and they said that they had called a few foreign mechanic shops and that due to how the punch was literally right on the airbag area, that simply trying to "push out" the indent and crease would not be possible because of the likelihood that the airbag could be set off. SO, a few of these mechanics said they would not touch it due to this possibility. Yet, of course it could all be replaced, for $1,200!!!

Have ANY of you experienced a similar problem, where your dashboard was hurt on the passenger's side right where the airbag lies underneath?? If so, were you able to FIX it and how did you go about it???

I would REALLY appreciate help and advice with this issue....Thank you!!

 

its essentially foam so it'll will pop back a little but it'll never be perfect again because there is a "pop out panel" so when the airbag goes on it can tear through the dash, that'll never be right again.
last time a guy did something like that in my car I punched him in the face, broke his tooth and kicked him out of the car on the highway

 

Do you know if the airbag can be "turned off" to work in the area at all?

 

Not sure about your model but in the 850's the dash pad with airbag can be replaced as a unit. I got 1 from a junk yard for $20 and installed it in a hour. Maybe you can find one that is being parted out.

 

That oughta teach em!!!!!

 

unplug the battery and it wont go off but be warned that when you re connect it, it may go off there is a very slight chance

just try not to unplug the airbag

 

This thread is no good without pictures

 

Alyssa, if you do decide to work on it, be cautious even when the battery is disconnected. The car battery itself doesn't supply the charge to deploy the airbag, it charges a capacitor that is sparked when you're in a collision. So, when you disconnect the battery, there is still a time period where the capacitor still has charge and the airbag is still hot. Whenever I removed airbags, I was always sure to keep just the right beads of sweat on my forehead before placing the airbag units safely the hell away from me.




Then again there the times we would stick them in pumpkins and fire them off...

 

You may want to consider ordering a dashmat (dash cover). They are quite common out here in AZ and can look nice - it may be a simple effective fix for you.

Take Care,
Scott