[bheinen74]

turning the steering wheel will not damage the ribbon cable in itself, if the steering sector is connected to the column. Continual rotation if the steering free wheels would. yours was not free-wheeling.

Also, you can check the diagnostics. If you turn key to on, and you see airbag light, and then it goes off when you start car, the Airbag system checked out fine and is active. If the light stays on, then you have a fault.

You just didn't hit the frame rail hard enough to trigger the sensor for deployment.

The system either works entirely or you have nothing and a airbag light on meaning the system fault somewhere.