I had the cradle drop out awhile back and shortly after getting it back from the shop I noticed my airbag light was on. I've wondered if it was a coincidence or if the motor dropping might have pulled a wire. During a search I found an article on the newer cars and they talked about all the airbag connectors having yellow on them. Can't find any yellow connectors anywhere on mine. I don't have cash to deal with scans .

Any ideas?
Also the shop said they wouldn't be willing to splice in a new fuel line going to my fuel filter. My old school mind says cut out a foot or two and connect the new line piece to the old one with a gas rated rubber hose and o'ring clamps. The shop guy says there is 40 lbs. pressure on the line and it would leak . Do I really have to replace the whole line from the motor to the filter? All the lines down there are rusted pretty good in that small vertical spot in front of the rear tire.

What sucks is I could be driving a 97 GP GT for the money I've had to put in this one. Still need a headlight switch, coolant flush, and maybe all new fuel lines, throttlebody cleaning, sheesh. Woulda been okay except for the cradle drop bill with two tows.

I've not heard of the cradle dropping out before. How did all those heavy duty bolts get loose? The only thing I can imagine is that someone must have worked on the cradle and didn't properly re-torque the bolts.

On the cradle drop out and airbag issue. When the cradle is dropped it is imperative (assuming the rack stayed on the cradle) that the steering wheel not be allowed to turn. If it turns too much in one direction or the other the clock spring can be damaged causing an airbag issue.

My mechanic buddy is quite insistant about this as it can be a big problem. All the airbag connectors/wires you fill find are typically inside under the dash.

The retainer washers rust out, the bolt stays bolted but the cradle drops. All 4 bolts went when the light turned green; wasn't even acellerating hard. The older w-bodies were famous for it but I hadn't read anything about the H-bodies doing it. From the two shops that met my car I now know the H'* are just as famous for it. So check!!!!!! The first shop tried to bugger me with a $1200 price. I ended with $648 total including $190 in two tows.

Ok.. Your cradle FELL out.. wasn't mechanic removed for some other project. Or was it removed to swap something else at the same time..say bushings?

Ouch! I can see the crux of your complaint then. That hurts right in the ol' wallet.

So Bill, do you know of a reasonable way to repair the clock spring if it gets damaged?

Let'* estabilsh if the rack was disconnected from the steering knuckle before we assume my belief to be true

Oh yeah!!!! the steering knuckle was disconnected from the rack n' pinion. The whole thing was hanging about 1/2" above the ground and the steering was freewheeling. I didn't do any big steering wheel spinning but being through two different shops it'* possible it got spun.

So therewas no steering from the moment of the drop. It happened at about 2 mph, just leaving a stop light.

Thanks for your time on this.

Sorry to say, they probably need to operate on the steering wheel to fix the part for the air bags.