I want to disable my Air Bags. I did a search and couldn't find anything. I thought newer cars provided a switch to disable the air bags. I would like to install a switch to do this, but would like some help from someone who may have this already done.
At the very least, I'd like to know which fuse to pull. There are three fuses that reference the air bag system. Two of these fuses are linked to another system. Will pulling the stand alone air bag fuse disable the entire system?
Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Frank

actually this is a good question. How do you take them out is what i wanna know, i am preparing my car for rally and i don't want them ion there....if i play with it, will it explode on me or what????\thanks chris

they are not that difficult to remove...

you can disconnect battery and pull airbag fuse if that will make you feel better...

then you need to chase down the airbag main connectors, switches and disconnect then remove the bags entirely...

in your manual there is a nice lil description of how and where the airbag lines flow... shouldnt be too hard...

yet... the passenger side looks tricky...
i havent done that one...

oh and... my airbag light is on.. i guess i could remove the bulb if it bothered me... which it doesnt...

good luck guys.
j. www.subiegal.com (http://www.subiegal.com)

I don't know, but before you do ANYTHING with the airbags, disconnect the battery and let the car sit over night. That way the bag won't go off no matter what you do. I don't know if the Subaru SRS has a backup battery tho.

Also it is a good idea to remain well grounded, don't want to build up any static electricity. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

The backup capacitor for the SRS will completely discharge in about 5 minutes. That's according to the airbag info in the service manual.

Also, if you don't want the red warning light, a 3 (or 3.3) ohm resistor will fool the SRS control into thinking the airbag is still connected.

Airbags save lives...

You should keep them activated.

Although few & far between, airbags also take lives. Mine almost killed me, not the accident.
Those of you that wish do disable your aibags sbould keep in mind that cars factory equiped with SRS systems have lower tolerance (read weaker) seatbelts, at least N.Am market vehicles. The safety devices are made to work together. This info is from NHTSA SRS sytems analyst on another group I am involved with.

Rant mode/ Airbags are mandated by the government at the request of insurance companies and medical institutions, simply because dead people don't pay hospital bills or insurance premiums. If they really want to save lives AND protect people from injury they would mandate roll cages, 5 point safety harnesses and helmets (helmets are illegal for use in automobiles in a lot of states). But then the insurance companies and hospitals would have less income. /End Rant mode.

Sorry about that.

Also doesn't the byproduct of the air bag combustion have something in it that can make you go blind if the car is not ventilated after the impact?

Airbags are another conspiracy to make our cars less safe. The other two big killers are ABS, and daytime running lights. See also the high number of threads asking how to disable those. (sigh) Notice how much clout the US insurance companies and hospitals have, they actually went back in time and made high end European automakers put them in their cars before they were mandated.

Yes, there is something in airbags that can blind you if the car isn't ventilated. Also I heard the kid that used to play Mikey in the Life commercials ate some Pop Rocks and then drank some soda and his stomach exploded and he died.

cheers
mbs

Someone needs to shut off mother mode real quick. People are asking how to disable the airbag for RALLYING. meaning they will (presumably...) have 4 or 5 point harnesses and a roll cage. their lives will not be endangered by removing the airbags under such circumstances, and an airbag going off could be the difference between pushign the car back onto the road and finishing the race and having to take a DNF.

That being said... If you go to your subaru dealer and sign some forms, they will install the switch to disable the airbags.

i have the forms from the fed & state govt that say i do not have to have the airbag active while driving...

instead of installing a kill switch...i simply removed the sucker...

i am 5" tall.. and sit less than 10" from the airbag... i wear my seat belt EVERY SINGLE TIME i am in the car... and dont see the need for a 200mph rocket blasting me in the face if something were to happen...

there are legal ways to get the airbag removed...

j. www.subiegal.com (http://www.subiegal.com)

I thank all of you for replying to my question. I appreciate e your time and energy.

I was hoping that someone has done this modification, and would be able to tell me, step by step, how to install a switch that enables me to turn the air bags on and off. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I was hoping that someone has completely taken them out and could tell me step by step. Thanks thought for repling to these questions though
chris

the "on off" switch has to be installed by a professional...

big $$$$$ - and even tho it's 'approved' not many shops want to do it...

which is another reason i just decided to take the airbag out completely...

j. www.subiegal.com (http://www.subiegal.com)

This is from http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/airbgQandA.html



Can consumers get their air bags deactivated instead of installing a retrofit on-off switch? Generally, no. If a retrofit on-off switch is available from the vehicle manufacturer for a particular vehicle, eligible consumers desiring to disable their air bags must have a retrofit on-off switch installed; a dealer or repair shop cannot simply deactivate (or disconnect) the air bags. If a retrofit on-off switch is not yet available from the vehicle manufacturer for a particular vehicle, NHTSA will authorize air bag deactivation on a case-by-case basis under certain circumstances. If a retrofit on-off switch is available only from an aftermarket company, NHTSA still will authorize air bag deactivation for eligible people.


Straight from the safety commies mouth.

From my understanding you have to have permission to have a shop or a dealer deactivate, or install a deactivation switch for, your airbag. It is my understanding, and this is by no means a definitive answer, that you are allowed by federal law to deactivate your own airbag without permission. Hurray for America, land of the free.

I haven't done this mod, but have seen sites that sell instructions and or kits that allow you to do it yourself.

This is one http://www.autostream.com/airbagdisconnect.html

I have no experience with these people. So I cannot recommend them. However there are more places that are willing to sell you kits and or info on disconnecting airbags.

I personally plan on disconnecting and removing mine as soon as I have a roll cage, some nifty Sparco seats and some real seat belts.

I think do to the nature of airbag laws there are a lot of people who just won't talk about them. And anything I have written here is definitly not with the intent of persuading anybody to do anything that is illegal. I would also point out that I am no expert in interpreting law.

clarification here...

1 - in rally you are not allowed to have airbags... and that's what we're discussing here...

2 - you cannot get in trouble, receive a ticket, etc for removing your airbag... all you will do is lose your 'safety equip' discount on your insurance...

j. www.subiegal.com (http://www.subiegal.com)

I was just about to say that.. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif