Recall

[DanaMcGarrh]

Like many here I've been holding off on having it done because I fear the potential for damage done by our small local dealer. He's a good guy but he and his service dept. has "O" experience with GT's or any high end cars. The dealer that Floridaho Chris, Bill Dicky, WilliamS and myself chose to deliver our NFGT is flying his top mechanic to Idaho on his own dime to swap out all our bags, some great service imo. So to answer, yes get it done. I don't believe the job to be too difficult but it takes only one small screwdriver in a back pocket or greasy pair of pants to ruin your day.

Thanks Steve, I live I a small town and the local dealerships Service Manager is the only on that can work on my GT. ( that was their choice) . He went to School somewhere when 05/06 came out. He has serviced the car over a dozen times. He was very hesitant to replace my drivers side bag. He was worried about damage and not being able to find a replacement part(s). I was adament about having it done. And I trust him and he did it. However after all the feed back I got concerning the drivers side, I am going to contact one of these dealers my fellow GT forum have mentioned and take it to a city where they have more experience with GT'S. Thanks again. Dana.

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[tpraceman]

Hmmm in Detroit any kid over 12 can do it in under 3 min. Extra credit in shop class

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[Biginch Blake]

Dealer has PS replacement for my 05, still waiting on one for 06. When it arrives they be at my house to do both.

 

[2112]

Going in tomorrow morning.

Took the lower dash of myself as I had to replace my small gauges again. Should make it a faster process, still nervous tho.

 

[AJK]

Going in tomorrow morning.

Took the lower dash of myself as I had to replace my small gauges again. Should make it a faster process, still nervous tho.

Any helpful hints in removing the lower dash?

 

[2112]

Sure, I used an iPhone to grab pictures which means invalid files. I will have to host them. I will try to get that done today

 

[2112]

Most of the lower panel can be taken off using your fingers. In the pictures below you can see where all the clips are located and the mechanism on the tabs that engage the mild steel backing plates attached to the car.

The hardest ones to disengage are those between the steering column and the air bag panel. For those you will need a plastic prying tool. I have several and found the wide 2 inch version worked best along the top boundary line .

You probably want a microfiber towel between the upper dash and the tool for protection. I don't think blue tape is enough.

You can't reach everything from one side so if someone is there to catch the opposite side as it comes loose, that will help it from bending too much as it lets go. The bottom and sides are all doable with finger pressure.

 

[2112]

Since several have already posted on the driver's side air bag inflator I will show some pics on the passenger side.

The inflator device is nothing like the driver's side. The assembly is removed by taking two bolts out from the underside and pulling the unit straight out towards the seat. Once on the bench, the tube shaped inflator is pushed out from the side. The new one is much smaller and has plastic ends that allow it to seat solidly within the framework of the assembly. Once back in place, the entire assembly can be returned to the dash.

Having the lower panel off in advance was a time saver and the part I was most stressed about.

Of course when I scheduled, the service concierge promised, on the word of the service manager, they already had done 2 FGT's.

In reality, mine was their first. Luckily the tech was their top diesel tech and he let me give him a helping hand when he needed a little assistance.

 

[KMCBOSS]

Which dealer did you use to get it done?

 

[AJK]

Thank you for the post. This will be a great help as I also plan on removing the lower panel myself.

AJK

 

[2112]

Thank you for the post. This will be a great help as I also plan on removing the lower panel myself.

AJK

I think that is smart.

Which dealer did you use to get it done?

Titus-Will in Tacoma

 

[2112]

I just realized the first picture in Post #28 shows the new inflator sitting on his workbench right next to the Laptop. It has not had the plastic adapter cups placed on the ends yet so you can see what it looks like.

The Second picture in the same post shows the plastic adapter cups prior to placing onto the new inflator. The yellow control wire is running thru them.

 

[DanaMcGarrh]

Since several have already posted on the driver's side air bag inflator I will show some pics on the passenger side.

The inflator device is nothing like the driver's side. The assembly is removed by taking two bolts out from the underside and pulling the unit straight out towards the seat. Once on the bench, the tube shaped inflator is pushed out from the side. The new one is much smaller and has plastic ends that allow it to seat solidly within the framework of the assembly. Once back in place, the entire assembly can be returned to the dash.

Having the lower panel off in advance was a time saver and the part I was most stressed about.

Of course when I scheduled, the service concierge promised, on the word of the service manager, they already had done 2 FGT's.

In reality, mine was their first. Luckily the tech was their top diesel tech and he let me give him a helping hand when he needed a little assistance.

Why would the service manager tell you that. I have not had my passenger side done and the drivers side was the dealerships 1st. Luckily I know the mechanic that did it and he said it was easy. I am thinking about taking mine somewhere else for the passenger side.

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[2112]

Why would the service manager tell you that. I have not had my passenger side done and the drivers side was the dealerships 1st. Luckily I know the mechanic that did it and he said it was easy. I am thinking about taking mine somewhere else for the passenger side.

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My guess is to address my concern that they would be learning how to do it on my car. That is exactly how it occurred. Lucky for me. I pulled the lower panel myself, they allowed me to observe and on occasion offer a third and fourth hand and most importantly had a mature knowledgeable tech work on my car.

It wasn't as complicated as I worried it would be.

If you are local, I can give you the name of the tech. I believe he is qualified to do it and a good guy to work with.

BTW the service manager never talked to me directly. He stayed in his office and all communication thru other intermediaries

 

[DanaMcGarrh]

My guess is to address my concern that they would be learning how to do it on my car. That is exactly how it occurred. Lucky for me. I pulled the lower panel myself, they allowed me to observe and on occasion offer a third and fourth hand and most importantly had a mature knowledgeable tech work on my car.

It wasn't as complicated as I worried it would be.

If you are local, I can give you the name of the tech. I believe he is qualified to do it and a good guy to work with.

BTW the service manager never talked to me directly. He stayed in his office and all communication thru other intermediaries

Thank You very much, I am in Northern NM on the CO. border. The chief mechanic at the local for dealership is the only one at the place certified to work on the GT. he was nervous but confident. his concern was if he broke a clip or something, locating the parts. He has serviced my car since new. I have several other cars that have to go to Scottsdale or Denver for service. I live in a very inconveinent place for my cars service or repair. I was just thinking I would let them take the GT on one of the runs and take it to a dealer or mechanic that has done some already. I hope I get to meet some fellow FGT owners, I plan on attending rally 13 when it gets scheduled. Those pictures will be helpful if my guy does mine.

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[DanaMcGarrh]

My guess is to address my concern that they would be learning how to do it on my car. That is exactly how it occurred. Lucky for me. I pulled the lower panel myself, they allowed me to observe and on occasion offer a third and fourth hand and most importantly had a mature knowledgeable tech work on my car.

It wasn't as complicated as I worried it would be.

If you are local, I can give you the name of the tech. I believe he is qualified to do it and a good guy to work with.

BTW the service manager never talked to me directly. He stayed in his office and all communication thru other intermediaries

What's wrong with this picture, fgt shining & Lambo on jacks.

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[Taylor04]

Any advice on dealers in Orange County or Palm Springs? I have two cars that still need airbags. Whoever the tech is that performs the repair will have to read some notes and study pictures gathered from this thread. Thanks for the info guys!

Andrew

 

[junior]

Andrew, I have mine scheduled next week (house call). I'll update you shortly afterwards and hopefully all will go well and you may use the same tech/dealer. :cheers

 

[JCO1966]

Not sure how many people are close to Greenville SC but I just had both of my 06s air bags changed. Fairway Ford did an incredible job. Don, the GT specialist, is really really great. No problems with dash lining back up or anything. They let me watch while he was doing it but after he did the first car there was no need to watch on the second one. Chris Zorn and the rest of the service dept. are awesome!!

 

[Johntpr]

Still no parts available in my region for pass side. The more humid areas are being supplied first. My dealer showed me a supply chart by region yesterday.