Passenger airbag deactivation

aceman · Post by **aceman** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 6:42 pm

OK, I have a Lanos that I need to deactivate the passenger airbag so we can put a rear facing baby car seat in the front passenger seat.
Does anybody know how to do this and can a switch be fitted so it can easily be reactivated.

Your help would be appreciated.

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:53 pm

I believe there is only one connector that goes to the airbag. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Take out the glovebox (2 screws) and somehow torque your body into a way that you can see up into the cavity you should be able to see the airbag housing and a harness (I believe yellow) heading to it. It has only one connector. Disconnect it, connect the battery, and it should be disengaged. Your airbag light might come on as a precaution to tell you something is wrong, but thats all. Just make sure that the insurance people don't know you are driving without and airbag.

aceman · Post by **aceman** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 10:02 pm

Thanks for the reply but I was wondering if you can connect something instead of the airbag like a resister so the airbag indicator does not come on.

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz · Sun Mar 13, 2005 11:20 pm

Just a thought...

What about splicing a wire and switch or key-lock style switch to activate & deactivate the airbag?

If it is only 1 connecter, you could interrupt the wires with a switch so it could be activated when you needed to use it again.

Cliff

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:38 am

That might work, but again, if something goes wrong or there is some kind of electrical short somewhere in the car, it could cause your airbag to go off. Thats why I hate any electrical work in the dash area, cause 1 f*ck up, and my head is smacked by an airbag

Coudn't you just put the baby seat in the back and still have your airbags, or is it absolutley necessary to have it up front? I know insurance companies and cops frown upon front child seats.

aceman · Post by **aceman** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:51 pm

Well here in the UK it is quite common to put baby seat in the front seat as long as it is rearward facing and the airbag is deactivated. It allows you to check on your child if you are on your own. My other car (SEAT) has a key operated switch which turns the airbag off but activated a large "Airbag Deactivated" sign in the middle of the dash so you can't miss it.

It would just make things a little easier if it could be done but thanks for the help guys it is much appreciated.

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 7:57 pm

I would only trust a "key switch" if it was safely installed by a dealer.

Like BosnianLanos said, you really don't want to know what happens when you mess like an idiot with the AirBag system. That might even mean a disabled driver side airbag, or one that goes off for nothing.

I think the dealer will get a resistor in place to avoid getting an Airbag fault light, but THEY know how to properly mess with this.