2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Airbag disabling

[WadePatton]

Without getting into the aguments for and against airbags, has anybody actually utilized the TSB on airbag disabling? I saw one listed somewhere.



First and foremost I want to disable mine without deploying them.



I'm going to disable mine, and you can't change that, I ground the steering lock off my Ford--remember the good ol switch-key in the dash days?



I don't really want to beat the dead horse, but I know that some folks won't understand so here are my reasons.



1. I believe in seatbelts. If you don't wear them-you may be next for a Darwinian Award. I like rollcages, nomex, helmets, and fire suppression systems too!



2. I've been in three major crashes. I have experience with and without seatbelts. I still don't want a bag. Luckily I wasn't injured when not wearing the belts. I experienced a full-frontal with belts, an all-arounder with the final impact from the rear, and third- a glancing blow off a dumptruck and through some steel posts and 6x6's in concrete fencerow-cracked rib from rifle stock. AIRBAGS would not have helped in any of these--would have worsened the second two.



3. Airbags complicate the crashing process. Sometimes a crash is all over with the first frontal impact--many times it is not. It's hard to bring a crash to a simple ending when an airbag has knocked you silly and filled the cabin with smoke.



4. Airbags don't do a dang thing for any impact after the first one. In two of my accidents there were multiple impacts.



4. Airbags can be triggered by things other than crashes. Like me probing around for guage installation or two-way radio gear or etc.



5. Airbags deployment screws up your truck and is expensive to repair. self explanatory



6. Side impact bags make sense to me--but that's not the issue here. Frontal crush area and seatbelts do a great job reducing injury in head-on impacts. But there is very little crush area on the sides and OEM seatbelts don't help much there.



7. IT'S MY TRUCKOo.



Okay, UPS just brought my manual--there goes the rest of the day!

 

['956Wheel]

Just do it. I will spare you my opinion. Delete your post to keep your insurance down!



Mike

 

[WadePatton]

Gallager ? said it...

Strap knifes to the dashboard, that'll make people drive safer!:--)













and my insurance rates didn't go up after a 96 in a 65 speed violation or a my fault rear-ender claim for $1300 -to the sheetbox-barely a scratch on the phord. Nice folks.



I remember seeing the TSB in the Buyer's Guide, where's the best place to get a copy? It's not in the manual.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Hmmm... good question



The trick would be to disable it and not have the computer light up the "air bag" light.



Here in VA if the airbag light doesn't cycle upon startup it won't pass inspection.



Let us know how you did it.



Dan

 

[WadePatton]

found the TSB number

TSB 08-37-99 11/12/99



quote from Buyer's Guide:



Airbag On-Off Switches

This bulletin supersedes technical service bulletin 08-17-98 Rev C, dated December 30, 1998. This information-only bulletin identifies the parts and procedures necessary to deactivate airbags authorized by NHTSA [medical necessity]. Airbag deactivation is a customer pay procedure. NOT covered under the provisions of the warranty.

 

[illflem]

Wade, I know it is a dealer only disable, they won't sell you the parts and you must sign a waiver. It's not as simple as and on/off switch unless you don't mind the airbag light on all the time. If you don't mind the light just pull the fuse.

 

[WadePatton]

found more info at:

http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1999/08-37-99.htm

 

[Blakers]

Wade,



You don't have to defend your desire to disable your airbags - it's your truck and I believe you have the right to do whatever you want to in it. I certainly don't want an explosive going off in my face!



What about just pulling the fuse? Will that disable it?

Strap knifes to the dashboard, that'll make people drive safer!

Strapping or velcoing a knife to the dashboard is a great idea for anyone who wears seat belts in case they are in a wreck and can't get them off. A sheriffs deputy once told me he carries a knife for two things - skinning deer hit on the road and cutting people out of seat belts.



Blake

 

[WadePatton]

I reckon

I haven't gone looking for the fuse on the truck yet, but have looked it up in the wiring diagram. Looks like a push/pull on/off switch to me.



Another use for electrical tape is blotting out all those warning lights you don't want to see.



If NHTSA had _any_ idea what I've done in/on/around/to MY trucks

:--) :--)



Hey, if I can make 'em think that I'm five-feet tall, I can get a letter for the Dealer installed 50-cent cost/$500 charge switch.



Belts can difficult to release under tension, but inside the vehicle is generally safer than outside--especially considering the common method of exit.

 

[WadePatton]

Pulled the fuses

Now I'm going to get some window tint and use a small circle of it to dim the "airbag" light.

 

[Scot]

I had an airbag safety class for firemen that was put on by GM some years ago. I do not know how applicable this is to DC products but:



Beneath the column and dash is a bright yellow wire that is labeled SRS or air bag. There is a shunt in the connector that shorts the industry standard blasting cap in the column. We were told the safest way to deal with one was to disconnect the battery and wait 5 minutes or as long as possible before monkey fisting stuff, then pull the connector. I asked the question if the yellow wire was standard across all brand names. The instructor said that it probably would be in the future.



As a side note, there is a video of an extrication of trapped persons that caused the airbag to go off. They have the roof off and are trying to push the dash with a hydraulic ram. They use the floor console as their rear purchase point. The sensor inside the console was crushed and it fired the bags. The firemen was thrown out of the car like a rag doll and sustained a fair amount of injury.

 

[Missouri Mule]

If you wish to disable airbags to so they won't deploy pull battery ground cables off (both of them) for two minutes and leave them off while you work on system (before you go disable them for good).



You can use this method any time you want to work underdash or around airbag components.

 

[Blakers]

But the question is... how do you disable them permanently or how do you put a switch in to disable them temperarily?



Suppose you are a small person, or suppose you want to have your little kids seat in the middle, or suppose you just don't want an explosion going off in your face...



Will the fuse kill it permanently? Where would you put a switch if you want to be able to turn in on and off.



I wander if anyone has set one off plowing snow and hitting the pile too hard?



Blake

 

[WadePatton]

Officially

The "legal" switch install by the dealer is for short, elderly, or handicapped folks. I think more details are the link I posted earlier.



You've gotta jump through some hoops, but if you quailify, they're (DC)supposed to sell and install a switch like on the passenger side.



I'd really like to remove the explosives from my dash.



I hope the fuse really kills it. I'll have to double check the wiring diagram. The advantage of the fuse pull is that it's quick, easy, cheap, and reversible for inspection. The disadvantage is the light comes on (bright at night) and the bell chimes 4 extra times on start up.



There are companies that sell aftermarket switches, but they have to install them and I don't know what they require in the NHTSA file.

It's NHTSA's way of putting a BOMB in your car.

 

[Blakers]

Well they have no right to make you have a bomb in your vehicle. It's YOUR vehicle. Unless the government wants to supply us with a vehicle at no cost - then I guess they have a right to say what can and can't be in it.



Blake

 

[Missouri Mule]

1. The sensors for airbag deployment are inside your fenders.

Go out and open the hood. Look straight down behind your headlights. Those boxes with wires running to them are your sensors.

For a plow running into snow bank to deploy air bag it would have to be pushed back all the way to your fenders at (as I recall) 15 mph.

More likely your airbag would deploy if wires coming from sensors or ACM shorted/grounded out.



Your Airbag Contol Module as two power supplies with seperate fuses.

Senors have two paths(circuits) that go to the ACM.



Looking at wiring diagrams it looks as this system has only one ground (z-6/g-108 black/orangewire). Looks like pin 11.



Ground 108 is near PDC, looks like rear of and on inside fender.

But g-105 and g-107 are there also, g-108 is in the middle.



Put a switch on ground wire. Would be better if inside the cab.



Good Luck



Not responsible for any misadventure . . . . :{ :{

Diagrams are from 96 service manual.

 

[Fast 1]

Just wondering, To dissable the air bag don't you just take the four screws out of the back of the bag (steering wheel) , pull it out enough to unplug it and cover up the air bag light so it's not so bright at night? I believe you need to remove any static from the electrical system with the batterys dissconected to plug the bag back in so it doesn't employ.

 

[WadePatton]

winder blackin

I'm going to apply some 5% window film to the light. Report later.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you are removing the steering column, there is a two-wire lead with yellow connector running down the column. It is for the airbag. It gets its signal from the sensors feeding the module (module is below dash mounted on the transmission hump, at least on earlier years). Disconnecting that yellow connector would prevent the airbag from firing because it could not get an electrical signal.

Therefore, when reinstalling a steering column, be sure to connect that yellow connector so your airbags work as Big Brother wants them to!