Air bag bypass switch?

Jeff396 · Apr 30, 2003

Does anyone have personal experience with getting an air bag bypasss switch put in? My wife has a 2001 Chrysler LHS sedan (which we love) that can only carry three children in the back. We ar now getting into Scouts where it would be nice to carry four kids. Is this something that can be done or does the **** govt prohibit it? I seem to remember something about submitting an application to have this done. Otherwise, she is looking for a new car which I'm not too keen on at this point in time.

Jeff

Egon · Apr 30, 2003

Is there a dedicated fuse you could pull ? Mechanics have to be able to bypass the air bag when doing certain work.

Egon

Jeff396 · Apr 30, 2003

I've thought about disconnecting it but worry about the liabilities if someone gets hurt in an accident and they find it that way. I would sure rather do it legal and proper....if it's possible.

Jeff

JDGREEN4ME · Apr 30, 2003

A friend of mine had an air bag in her Honda Civic disconnected. I do not remember the whole story, but I do remember her contacting her insurance company and the local Honda dealer. She no longer owns the car but I can check to see if her conversion was a "legal" project.

Bird · Apr 30, 2003

Trade it for a Ford. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Our Windstar has a switch to disable the right side air bag.

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Apr 30, 2003

Jeff.......We had a switch installed by the dealer on our jeep grand cherokee...........Got a form from the dealer to send to the govt stating why we needed the switch(Lots of kids carpooling various destinations).....Sent it in got approved .........went back to dealer for installation.........They did it but didn't really want to...............charged us what I thought was way too much ($400.00)..........I feel that the mfg should give you the option of having the switch if the vehicle is intended for family use. My 2002 dodge truck has it installed from the factory.............Good luck.........Tom

thcri · Apr 30, 2003

Tom,

It was my understanding the reason pickups have the switches is because there is not an option for the kids to go to the back seat.

My partners new Ford has one. My same pickup but only crew cab does not have one. Because the kids can go in the back seat.

murph

Jeff396 · Apr 30, 2003

Where did they put the switch? I stopped by the Ford dealer looking for a Taurus wagon (seats 8) and I couldn't find one where I'd have put it. I also didn't see any mention of it in the brochure.

Jeff

Jeff396 · Apr 30, 2003

Ouch, $400.00....I would have guessed more around $200.00. I guess I 'll drive by the Chrysler dealership tomorrow and see what they have to say.

I was talking with a guy who bought a new Avalanche. He said that GM has put a weight sensor in the passenger seat and the airbag will not deploy unless someone weighing more than 50 lbs is sitting there. I thought that was pretty slick!

Jeff

Jeff396 · Apr 30, 2003

I would really rather not disconnect it entirely. It just doesn't seem like it would be that difficult for the dealer to break a wire and install a switch. Biggest problem is remembering to reset it when different people get in the car.

Jeff