SeanR

Here's one I don't see pop up very often, or at all.

I've got a customer who wants his airbag system disabled, the control unit is faulty and he's been wanting to disable the passenger side bags for a while and we never got around to it. Now that the control unit has gone **** up he wants to get rid of the airbag warning. Now one would think you could just unplug the system and the warning control system would just think it was a missing component.

Nope, Porsche was smarter than that. if you unplug the airbag unit it disables the car via the alarm system. Following it through the wiring diagrams is pretty simple but bypassing it is not easy. I figure Alan has looked at this before and am curious to know if anyone has actually done this.

Now before anyone pipes off and says "just fix the system" and use it as Porsche intended, don't bother as that's not an option the owner wants to do. It's not a money thing either as he's rather well to do. He just wants the system gone.

docmirror

Don't do it. Liability if he hits something and your name or prints are on this car, will expose you to HUGE liability. I don't care why he wants it done, send him somewhere else. If he's gone certainly his heirs will come after you with a vengeance.

SeanR

I must have missed in my post where it said I was doing this.

System doesn't work now anyway.

docmirror

Right back at ya Scrappeedoo

SeanR

Geezus you are dense Doc. You are a customer too but do a good portion of your own work too, correct? Can you answer the ****ing question or are you just trying to **** in another thread?

soontobered84

Sean, Not that you would but could you compare '89 versus newer wiring diagrams?

SeanR

Good idea, didn't think about the 89 vs 90. Thanks John. Back to the books.

Randy V

Just bungee a pillow to the steering wheel and call it a redneck airbag.

SeanR

Got to think better than that Randy, how about all those females who like to put their feet on the dash. This could really save lives.

Rob Edwards

Always wondered how that sort of airbag yoga ends up looking in the Emergency room.

GregBBRD

I understand you want to do this.....just know that Doc is 100% correct. (And I don't think I've ever even remotely thought that, before now.....so I better add "on this subject.")

You own the liability for anyone that gets hurt in an accident in this car.....forever. If the current owner sells it to someone else, you own the liability....forever. Someone riding on the passenger side gets hurt....you are now his/her medical provider.

Remember: Even if you have a written document from the client saying he understands and it is OK....he can't sign away the liability from another party. And the dumbest attorney in the US will know that whoever got hurt....will be living in your house before it is over.

It's taken me a long time to learn all the lessons that every person that works on cars should know, long before they start.
One of the biggest is: Don't make the client's problem yours.

Fix the airbag system or leave it alone.

77tony

Or take the chance of having a 28 year old airbag (aka: bomb) not detonate pushing the wife's legs (always on the dash) through or around her back. That said, would consider disabling both pass and drivers side airbags-or go with Randy's method and ride around with a pillows in between your legs ready to go. Might be time to speak with an emergency room Doc for there opinion(s) ? T

James Bailey

True funny story was car that Mark Anderson bought wrecked.....couple years later he got a call from an attorney defending Porsche. Seems the car had been stolen and in a subsequent pursuit the thief crashed the car and was badly injured. So the convicted felon ( having lots of time on his hands) sued Porsche claiming the airbag failed to deploy......Mark still had the steering wheel and the bag hanging out of it which he gave to the investigator. You just NEVER know how things play out.

docmirror

Negative ghostrider. Your pattern is always full when I call. Always. So yes, I'm doing all my own work. Further, I wouldn't call asking how to disable my airbag. Further, if someone called me asking how to disable the airbag and make the car run, the minute I give specific instructions - I own it. Even if there was no bill. Even if it were all theoretical. Even if I 'advise' not to do it. Lots of aviation case law to back it up. Remember Oklahoma?

So, the answer is - in your first thread, notwithstanding the egregious mangling of the English language, "I've got[sic] a customer....", followed by "...and am curious to know if anyone has actually done this. ".

I humbly offered advice trying to help you save a situation where you were headed right in to the danger zone, headed into overdrive. So in closing, I guess I apologize for sticking my big bazoo where it didn't belong. I will now eject,eject,eject. Doc - out.

linderpat

absolute unfettered bull ****. Not true at all if you are not a professional mechanic.

PS - I am a lawyer too, and ain't just shootin from the hip. Anybody can sue anybody for anything, but winning is something else entirely.