Disable passenger airbag

[parker]

In NSW it is legal to have a child seat in the passenger side of a ute, because there are no other seating locations available, but, I would like to be able to disable the air bag on that side if I have my daughter in there.
If I disconnect the pretensioner checking cable (yellow plug under the seat) and cause the airbag fault light to display on the dash, would that disable both airbags, or only the passenger one?

[T3man]

To get a definitive answer on the legality you'd need to contact the RTA; and Ford for the second part, because I have a feeling that if there is a fault detected then the whole system is disabled.

[GK]

This is a good question.

My wife and I don't let our 8 year old sit in the front of the AU2 for that reason. The AU1 of course, doesn't have the passenger airbag, so she enjoys the front seat ride!

Let us know what you find out.

GK

[parker]

Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety...nts/index.html

If the car has one row of seats (for example a single cab ute or sports car with a front anchorage point) a child of any age can sit in the front seat provided they are properly restrained. However, most car manufacturers recommend against the use of rearward facing restraints in front passenger seats.

A child in a rearward facing restraint should not be placed in the front seat of a vehicle where there is an air bag.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety...laws_faqs.html

[rowan194]

Originally Posted by GK

My wife and I don't let our 8 year old sit in the front of the AU2 for that reason. The AU1 of course, doesn't have the passenger airbag, so she enjoys the front seat ride!

I'm in a similar situation, my girl isn't far from the age where she's legally allowed to sit in the front seat, but my AU3 has a passenger airbag. Might stick with "chauffeur style" seating arrangements for a couple more years.

Can the seats in a ute go as far back as those in a sedan?

[parker]

Originally Posted by rowan194

Can the seats in a ute go as far back as those in a sedan?

yeah, so a fair distance from the bag if right back. Would prefer fully off though.

[an10as]

Originally Posted by parker

In NSW it is legal to have a child seat in the passenger side of a ute, because there are no other seating locations available, but, I would like to be able to disable the air bag on that side if I have my daughter in there.
If I disconnect the pretensioner checking cable (yellow plug under the seat) and cause the airbag fault light to display on the dash, would that disable both airbags, or only the passenger one?

You can only remove an airbag legally if it was a factory option and not factory standard in a vehicle. You cant just disable it either, it has to be removed entirely.
As also said, The child has to be a certain age to be allowed in the front seat.

[Bushbasher]

Is there some sort of simple circuit board attached to the bag that gives a signal or is the system just a "dumb" system relying on a live circuit to the bag? If it's just a "dumb" system what would happen if you were to put a breaker switch in line to the passenger airbag that when activated just killed power to the bag but bridged the wires so the system still appeared ok?

....Just a thought.


Bushbasher

[james22]

Any error detected in the Airbag system will disable it completely (for safety reasons) how ironic is that lol. I'd rather one airbag go off in an accident than none at all, but I suppose they don't want there to be any chance of a miss-fire

[mik]

did all series 2`s get the passenger air bag , i was under the impression it was an option on some models, my xr6 has it.

[Armageddon]

Originally Posted by GK

This is a good question.

My wife and I don't let our 8 year old sit in the front of the AU2 for that reason. The AU1 of course, doesn't have the passenger airbag, so she enjoys the front seat ride!

Let us know what you find out.

GK

My AU1 Forte Option 20 sedan has a passenger airbag

[fordomatic]

I’ve got the issue at the moment in my AU ute. Legally my son can travel in it but it has a passenger airbag. You can only disable both airbags, I’m unsure what to do.

I’m happy to forward face him (2 and a half) but I’ve heard if the airbag goes off it risks shattering his face.

[Citroënbender]

1.5 ohm resistor, the defeater plug for single-baggers is about $60+ from Ford but you should get one off a wrecked ute for peanuts.