Disable Passenger Airbag?
03-05-2004, 05:43 PM
#18
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I just did a quick check on the internet and this was in the first site from the search. I am posting it because it gives an address that people who have disabled airbags, especially drivers side might want to contact to ask questions. I have also attached the rules for these on off switches.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4
Q: Can I disable the air bag(s) in my vehicle? How can it be done? Who do I contact?
A: Disabling an air bag is difficult and can be dangerous. Federal law currently prohibits automobile dealers and repair shops from disabling air bags. Further, state inspection laws may require air bags to be fully functional. More important, because air bags have been credited with saving more than 1,100 lives between 1986 and 1995, NHTSA strongly discourages disabling except in special circumstances. NHTSA is reviewing its policy to determine if and what types of exemptions from the statutory prohibition against disabling safety devices, such as air bags, should be granted. The agency’s current policy is to grant exemptions in cases where a child in a rear-facing child seat with a medical condition requires close monitoring by the driver, or a vehicle has no rear seat in which to install a child safety seat.
Q: To whom can I speak about disabling the air bag?
A: The agency has authority to exempt persons from the prohibition against disabling air bags if it determines that the exemption is consistent with safety. NHTSA asks that persons requesting exemptions put their concerns and comments in writing and appropriate agency personnel will respond. Any petition for exemption should be addressed to the NHTSA Administrator. Upon receiving a request, NHTSA will mail a copy of the agency’s position on air bag disabling once it becomes available. Write to NHTSA at: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 400 7th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590
Q: Can I have a cut off switch installed in my car?
A: A few new vehicles have factory installed cut off switches for the passenger side air bag. This is allowed only in new vehicles that have no rear seat or a rear seat that is too small for a rear facing infant seat. Cut off switches may be installed by dealers or repair shops for a passenger side air bag in used vehicles that have no rear seat or a rear seat that is too small for a rear facing infant seat. However, cut off switches cannot currently be installed in any other used vehicles. Cut off switches are not permitted for driver side air bags in any vehicle, new or used. NHTSA is currently reviewing its policy on cut off switches.
Steps which must be taken if an air bag on-off switch is installed pursuant to the exemption from the make inoperative prohibition
1. Make sure the vehicle owner presents an authorization letter from NHTSA. The dealer or repair business may also require the owner to fill out a form devised by the dealer or repair business. That form may include a waiver of liability.
2. Install a retrofit on-off switch for each air bag covered by the agency's authorization.
3. Ensure that each on-off switch meets all of the following performance requirements-
a. Be activated solely by a key.
b. Cause the air bag to remain turned off until manually turned back on using a key and the on-off switch.
c. Be accompanied by a telltale light in the vehicle interior. The telltale must indicate when an air bag has been turned off and be visible to an occupant of the driver's seat, in the case of a light for the driver air bag, and to all front seat occupants, in the case of a light for the passenger air bag.
d. Not affect the ability of the required air bag readiness indicator to monitor an air bag that is not turned off. The indicator must show whether the air bag is functioning properly.
e. If a single on-off switch is installed to control both the driver's and passenger's air bag, the on-off switch must be capable of turning off one air bag without turning off the other. For a single on-off switch controlling both air bags, the telltale light must indicate which air bag is off.
4. Provide the owner with an insert for the vehicle owner's manual describing the operation of the on-off switch, listing the risk groups on the request form, stating that the on-off switch should only be used to turn off an air bag for a member of one of those risk groups, and stating the vehicle specific consequences for using it for persons who are not members of any of those risk groups. Those consequences must include the effect of any energy managing features, e.g., load limiters, on seat belt performance. NHTSA anticipates that the inserts can be obtained primarily from the vehicle manufacturers, although in some cases, they might be available from independent on-off switch manufacturers.
5. Fill in information about your dealership or repair business and about the installation on the form included in the authorization letter and return the form by mail to NHTSA within seven days of your installation of an on-off switch pursuant to that letter.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4
Q: Can I disable the air bag(s) in my vehicle? How can it be done? Who do I contact?
A: Disabling an air bag is difficult and can be dangerous. Federal law currently prohibits automobile dealers and repair shops from disabling air bags. Further, state inspection laws may require air bags to be fully functional. More important, because air bags have been credited with saving more than 1,100 lives between 1986 and 1995, NHTSA strongly discourages disabling except in special circumstances. NHTSA is reviewing its policy to determine if and what types of exemptions from the statutory prohibition against disabling safety devices, such as air bags, should be granted. The agency’s current policy is to grant exemptions in cases where a child in a rear-facing child seat with a medical condition requires close monitoring by the driver, or a vehicle has no rear seat in which to install a child safety seat.
Q: To whom can I speak about disabling the air bag?
A: The agency has authority to exempt persons from the prohibition against disabling air bags if it determines that the exemption is consistent with safety. NHTSA asks that persons requesting exemptions put their concerns and comments in writing and appropriate agency personnel will respond. Any petition for exemption should be addressed to the NHTSA Administrator. Upon receiving a request, NHTSA will mail a copy of the agency’s position on air bag disabling once it becomes available. Write to NHTSA at: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 400 7th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590
Q: Can I have a cut off switch installed in my car?
A: A few new vehicles have factory installed cut off switches for the passenger side air bag. This is allowed only in new vehicles that have no rear seat or a rear seat that is too small for a rear facing infant seat. Cut off switches may be installed by dealers or repair shops for a passenger side air bag in used vehicles that have no rear seat or a rear seat that is too small for a rear facing infant seat. However, cut off switches cannot currently be installed in any other used vehicles. Cut off switches are not permitted for driver side air bags in any vehicle, new or used. NHTSA is currently reviewing its policy on cut off switches.
Steps which must be taken if an air bag on-off switch is installed pursuant to the exemption from the make inoperative prohibition
1. Make sure the vehicle owner presents an authorization letter from NHTSA. The dealer or repair business may also require the owner to fill out a form devised by the dealer or repair business. That form may include a waiver of liability.
2. Install a retrofit on-off switch for each air bag covered by the agency's authorization.
3. Ensure that each on-off switch meets all of the following performance requirements-
a. Be activated solely by a key.
b. Cause the air bag to remain turned off until manually turned back on using a key and the on-off switch.
c. Be accompanied by a telltale light in the vehicle interior. The telltale must indicate when an air bag has been turned off and be visible to an occupant of the driver's seat, in the case of a light for the driver air bag, and to all front seat occupants, in the case of a light for the passenger air bag.
d. Not affect the ability of the required air bag readiness indicator to monitor an air bag that is not turned off. The indicator must show whether the air bag is functioning properly.
e. If a single on-off switch is installed to control both the driver's and passenger's air bag, the on-off switch must be capable of turning off one air bag without turning off the other. For a single on-off switch controlling both air bags, the telltale light must indicate which air bag is off.
4. Provide the owner with an insert for the vehicle owner's manual describing the operation of the on-off switch, listing the risk groups on the request form, stating that the on-off switch should only be used to turn off an air bag for a member of one of those risk groups, and stating the vehicle specific consequences for using it for persons who are not members of any of those risk groups. Those consequences must include the effect of any energy managing features, e.g., load limiters, on seat belt performance. NHTSA anticipates that the inserts can be obtained primarily from the vehicle manufacturers, although in some cases, they might be available from independent on-off switch manufacturers.
5. Fill in information about your dealership or repair business and about the installation on the form included in the authorization letter and return the form by mail to NHTSA within seven days of your installation of an on-off switch pursuant to that letter.
03-05-2004, 06:21 PM
#19
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The car in question is a 1990 C4, and airbag laws did not go into effect until 1991 (See e.g. this link ). For the 1990 model year at least, airbags were optional equipment, not required under U.S. federal law. Therefore removing or disabling them in the 1990 C4 is not illegal and does not require special permission from NHTSA, etc.
However, all the points raised above regarding insurance, possible liability if one sells a car with airbags disabled, and actual reduction in safety, remain cogent.
I disabled both airbags with the plug Cupcar mentions so I could put my daughter's carseat in the front. Statistics indicate that my risk of injury increases slightly without the airbag (I always wear the seatbelt). I can live with it.
A curmudgeonly note: all the part numbers cited in this thread are already in the archives... search the archives!
However, all the points raised above regarding insurance, possible liability if one sells a car with airbags disabled, and actual reduction in safety, remain cogent.
I disabled both airbags with the plug Cupcar mentions so I could put my daughter's carseat in the front. Statistics indicate that my risk of injury increases slightly without the airbag (I always wear the seatbelt). I can live with it.
A curmudgeonly note: all the part numbers cited in this thread are already in the archives... search the archives!
03-05-2004, 08:36 PM
#20
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Is it possible to replace the steering wheel with a non air bag wheel and retain the passenger side air bag?
03-05-2004, 11:12 PM
#21
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A question and one quick point:
Question: is there a diy test that can be done to see if an airbag in a newly purchased car is active?
Point: In Massachusetts (one of the most litigious and legally constipated states in the Union), an owner can disable the driver-side airbag and still get the safety equipment sticker at annual inspection. The rationale? That the system is supplemental (SRS), not primary (seat belt), and is therefore the owner's option. J
Question: is there a diy test that can be done to see if an airbag in a newly purchased car is active?
Point: In Massachusetts (one of the most litigious and legally constipated states in the Union), an owner can disable the driver-side airbag and still get the safety equipment sticker at annual inspection. The rationale? That the system is supplemental (SRS), not primary (seat belt), and is therefore the owner's option. J
03-06-2004, 02:14 AM
#22
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Bill,
Does this mean that if you just installed the wheel without the special Porsche test tool & horn contact that the Pass. side bag would be disabled? The reason I ask is that on my RSA (track only) I have installed a wheel. Hopefully this disabled the pass. airbag in the process since it isn't necessary now. Thanks!
Does this mean that if you just installed the wheel without the special Porsche test tool & horn contact that the Pass. side bag would be disabled? The reason I ask is that on my RSA (track only) I have installed a wheel. Hopefully this disabled the pass. airbag in the process since it isn't necessary now. Thanks!
03-06-2004, 02:57 AM
#23
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Dear Joe,
If you are talking a 964 the answer is no. You need the Bosch Hammer to check the system. The fact that the airbag warn light and seat belt lights are not "ON" is one indication. The fact that you are not getting the master warn (!) and no other warn lights coming on is a good indication that bulbs have not been removed to mask the problem.
From what I have read on the net, new cars require some visual indication of airbag system serviceability.
On your point: There are 50 state governments and 1 Federal government in your nation and from what I can see none have the same set of rules.
There are lawyers on this forum. I am sure one could check these out and see which states for instance allow disabling of mandated safety systems and those that do not. I am sure there are also insurance experts here as well who could do the same for the rules within the insurance industry.
The point behind all of this is simple: A person in Maine may not be able to do what a person in Texas does. Somebody I hope may take up the challenge and provide at least a basic guide.
Here in Switzerland mandatory safety systems may not be disabled.
Optional safety systems must be operational for inspections. If the safety system is logged on your insurance policy it must remain active because you get a premium reduction for airbags.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4
If you are talking a 964 the answer is no. You need the Bosch Hammer to check the system. The fact that the airbag warn light and seat belt lights are not "ON" is one indication. The fact that you are not getting the master warn (!) and no other warn lights coming on is a good indication that bulbs have not been removed to mask the problem.
From what I have read on the net, new cars require some visual indication of airbag system serviceability.
On your point: There are 50 state governments and 1 Federal government in your nation and from what I can see none have the same set of rules.
There are lawyers on this forum. I am sure one could check these out and see which states for instance allow disabling of mandated safety systems and those that do not. I am sure there are also insurance experts here as well who could do the same for the rules within the insurance industry.
The point behind all of this is simple: A person in Maine may not be able to do what a person in Texas does. Somebody I hope may take up the challenge and provide at least a basic guide.
Here in Switzerland mandatory safety systems may not be disabled.
Optional safety systems must be operational for inspections. If the safety system is logged on your insurance policy it must remain active because you get a premium reduction for airbags.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4
05-03-2004, 10:35 AM
#24
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Will this (the 928 part number) work on a '96 993? I tried taking the passenger side console cover off this weekend but could not locate the connector mentioned in this thread. Does anyone have a picture of what it looks like? TIA.
George
George
Last edited by George A; 05-03-2004 at 11:01 AM.
05-03-2004, 09:53 PM
#25
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I looked for the connection on my friends 993 and could not find it although the access port on the side of the console is the same as 964.
This makes me doubt the 993 has the 964 capability to bypass airbag, at least at the same point in the wiring.
This makes me doubt the 993 has the 964 capability to bypass airbag, at least at the same point in the wiring.
05-03-2004, 10:40 PM
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I looked at this a few years back - and found a vendor in the US that sells a kit that enables the passenger airbag to be disabled selectively with a key - as in the newer miatas.
He does install - and travels....
... now where did I find him?... I think the corvettia people face the same issue.
He does install - and travels....
... now where did I find him?... I think the corvettia people face the same issue.
05-03-2004, 11:04 PM
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05-04-2004, 12:18 AM
#28
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Darn, that was my fear. I don't feel comfortable letting someone hack up my wires. I wish someone had some experience with this on pcars around here.
Thanks again,
George
Thanks again,
George
05-04-2004, 07:24 PM
#29
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I read someplace, that I can't reference right now, that it was against federal law for an agent to remove an airbag, however a car owner could do it themselves legally.
My rationale for removal is that I only drive my car to track events and have 6 point harnesses in the car for both passenger and driver. Mainly I wanted to install a MOMO steering wheel.
In doing a little web search, I found this from Wisconsin:
"You should not remove an airbag. It's against the law.
If you remove, change or tamper with an airbag, you can be subject to the Wisconsin Defective Air Bag Law (2001 Wisconsin Act 28). Any person who unlawfully removes or tampers with an airbag can be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year in a county jail or both."
I think one should check their state laws before removing airbags.....
My rationale for removal is that I only drive my car to track events and have 6 point harnesses in the car for both passenger and driver. Mainly I wanted to install a MOMO steering wheel.
In doing a little web search, I found this from Wisconsin:
"You should not remove an airbag. It's against the law.
If you remove, change or tamper with an airbag, you can be subject to the Wisconsin Defective Air Bag Law (2001 Wisconsin Act 28). Any person who unlawfully removes or tampers with an airbag can be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year in a county jail or both."
I think one should check their state laws before removing airbags.....
