Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (mk Iii)

[AndyBee]

Has anyone managed to deactivate the passenger airbag on a mk III yet. The manual says it can be done by a dealer, but I have asked 2 dealers and neither seemed to have a clue what I was talking about. Both promised to look into it and call me back - but neither did (sadly the outcome I expected).

 

Andy

[mumof4]

Why do you want it deactivated?

[seatkid]

He doesn't like his passenger...... :)

[katman]

Why do you want it deactivated?

 

Possibly because he wants to put a child seat in the front ???

[mumof4]

Why do you want it deactivated?

 

Possibly because he wants to put a child seat in the front ???

 

 

Hmm..we just had this discussion over someone else who wanted to deactivate/had deactivated his.....

 

I dont believe child seats should go in the front of a car..

 

SK...nice to see that you are in fine fettle this morning! :)

[Guest wolfie]

and yet again the moral minority have spoken! it's an option on loads of cars now, to be able turn off the passenger air bag! wether or not you like the idea? the guy asks a question and all he gets is a sermon from the pulpit of seatkid and mo4! IT'S his choice for what ever reason? live with it, he can and most likely his passenger will also?

for what it's worth Andy walk into the dealers with the hand book and stick the info under their nose and demand that they find out the info needed to do this! good luck and I hope the moral minority havent put you off posting here? there is a small number of decent members that will gladly help you if they can and a few that will spout crap and take the high ground with the belief that all they type is the gospal according to them and should be followed at all times

 

 

 

I expect this topic to be closed or delete in a short while!

[mumof4]

My opinion is my own..no one elses..we all have our own opinions on everything..if he wants it deactivated..his choice..i do not judge his actions.

I do not believe that what i post is the be all and end all..never have done..yes i know i post crap but so do others..and before you say it...yes i post 90 percent of it.

 

Most of us before now have disagreed with an idea/mod ... What i put is my opinion only..it doesnt count in any decisions he makes.

[seatkid]

Some people just have no sense of humour..... ;) ...or respect for open discussion.........

 

There's no real problem to a user switching off the airbag in a car which has a accesible design feature to do so. Step into a new Corsa, and you can switch off the passengers airbag, but also a prominent light on the dash is lit to remind the driver and the passenger that this valuable safety device is switched off.

Switching off the passenger airbag, removes the airbag deployment danger to a rear facing baby seat installed in the front seat, but on the other hand increases sharply the danger for all other types of passenger in the front seat.

 

ROSPA and many other respected safety organisations all highly recommend that children do not travel in a front seat.

 

Child Passengers

 

 

Edited August 12, 2007 by seatkid

[Guest wolfie]

You go too far wolfie..that is an awfull thing to say.

[AndyBee]

Sorry if I am a bit late coming back on this one, but the reasons for my question are as follows :

 

A the handbook says there is a an option for a dealer fit key operated switch. With this I presume the airbag is still live and activated but with the option to switch it off temporarily if necessary.

B we have a young baby in a rear facing seat (along with 4 older children.. in their own seats!). There is a possibility that having the baby in the front seat would be useful eg if others want to sit together in the back or all the rear seats are folded for carrying something.

C in truth, we can probably manage without it if we have to, but it intrigues me (and annoys me if I am honest) that 2 dealers don't have a clue how to carry out this modification, and more importantly, prefer to fob off a customer with an insincere "I'll find out and call you back".

D I was interested to hear if anyone else has had the same experience with dealers, whether the modification has been carried out successfully by anyone at all, and if so, how much does it cost.

 

By the way, the question obviously relates specifically to the Mk III version, so previous discussions I could find don't address this - although maybe the general principle of carrying a child in a front seat. In fact, I tend to agree with avoiding putting children in the front, although there are occasions where it is desirable or possibly the only option as I have mentioned above and of course if you have a 2 seater car- hence ROSPA references to "if possible", etc.

 

All opinions and responses are very welcome :lol:

 

Andy

Edited August 17, 2007 by AndyBee

[insider]

This information is in the TIS:

 

"Passenger Air Bag Deactivation

A passenger air bag deactivation (PAD) switch can be fitted by the dealer as an optional extra; the PAD switch is installed in the glove box. The driver can operate the PAD switch with a key to deactivate the passenger air bag module.

When the ignition is switched on, a warning lamp in the instrument panel indicates to the driver and passenger that the passenger air bag module has been deactivated.

After installing a PAD switch kit, the RCM must be re-configured using WDS."

 

I suggest contacting Ford Customer Services and highlighting the concern to them that their Dealers appear to be unaware of how to do this. Perhaps they have details of Dealers that have already done it.

[mumof4]

Butis the TIS info relevant for the MKIII???..didnt know there was one for the MK3?

[NikpV]

the mk3 has been out for a year so I would think that recent versions of it would include the mk3