Airbag mounting problem

[MPWR]

I just spent much of the weekend disassembling and reassembling the steering column on my wife's '97 GA. One of the tilt steering hinge pins had worked its way out, and had to be reinstalled. Wonder why there's no mechanism to retain them?

Anyways, everything has gone back together fine but the airbag (obviously the driver's side module, which sits in the steering wheel). There are two bolts on the back of the wheel that hold the module itself in place. These are apperently supposed to be torqued down to 20ftlbs. I screwed in the left side bolt just fine. The right side bolt, however, seemed to engage OK, and seemed to pull the module (which ironically is about the same size and shape as an antipersonel mine) into the wheel ok, but could not be tightened. The bolt seems to turn without end. It can't be untightened, either- there's the same amount of resistance on it (easily turned with a small ratchet, difficult to turn with a small screwdriver), whichever way it's turned, and it can be turned indefinately, with no change in module position. However, it seems to be holding the module rather firmly in place. The left side bolt can be disengaged, and the left side of the module wiggles free a litte, but the right side is still stuck firm, apperently by this free to turn bolt.

Any ideas what could be causing this, or how I can free the airbag module to try to reattach it?

Thanks.

[skibum1111]

I do believe there is a nut on the back side of the mounting plate on each side of the air bag. To get at it you have to take the steering wheel off, or get the plastic cover off the back side of the wheel. It's held on by several torx screws, and you might be able to pry it back enough to get at the back side of the screw. If that fails, try cutting the head off the bolt at the air bag, just be careful not to damage the bag in the process. Once the bag is out of the way, the wheel can be removed. Hope this helps.

[catback23]

I hope ski is right otherwise the threads are stripped. you don't need to cut the head of the bolt just apply a little pull when your unscrewing it. good luck with this.

[Hoags]

I think that Cat is on the right track...you will need to get some pressure pulling out on that bolt you may be able to get a small screwdriver or something behind the bolt head to pull out on the bolt as you try to back it out with any luck the pressure will bind the nut enough to get the bolt out so you can take it apart and make a perm.repair.
God luck.