I have a 96 accord ex that I bought wrecked, both driver and passenger airbags were deployed, and I need to replace them. I went to the wrecking yard and not one of the 10 yards in town did they have a 96 accord! I knew that the 94-97 were the essentially same so when I came across a 94 (that was the same interior color to boot) I took its airbags out and replaced my deployed ones! I thought I was being smart and saving $100's...except when I went to install them... The connections are different, close enough to look similar when apart but as soon as they are next to each other it is obvious it is different.

So my question is this, is there any way to rewire the connections of the 94 airbags to work with the 96 electronic system or do I HAVE to buy either a new airbag or find a 96 set of airbags online somewhere?

I still have the connections for my original airbags and could rewire the new (from the 94) airbags to match my wiring pretty simply except I have no idea what two red wires together mean. Are they both hot or are they color coded this way to prevent adventurous souls such as myself from tampering with them? If I cannot rewire the new airbags can I go back to the wrecking yard I bought them at and grab the older connector and rewire my cars connection instead of the the airbag? I would have to spend likely $10 for the two clips...but if it saves my life, what is the charge for two clips? lol

Oh, I still have the receipt and I have another 20 days to take the airbags back if they end up not working.

Any information or advice would be most appreciated!