Disabling the passenger airbag - Diesel Forum

scubudo · 01-19-2006, 10:59 PM

There are times when I need to pull out the third seat. Since I have captains chairs in the back, there is no other way to put three kids in the car. So, without starting a debate as to the legality and safety of it all...Can the passenger side airbag be disabled by unplugging and pulling the bulb? If so, would anyone care to share which plug needs to be pulled? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] If you don't want to post the details, just PM me.
Thanks in advance.

AJ'sDad · 02-04-2006, 02:03 PM

People have posted in the truck forums about installing the factory override switch. After it is installed, the PCM needs to be reflashed to let it know that the bag can be turned off. You can get permission from the government to do it. People say the hard part was findind a shop willing to do it.

This was discussed a long time ago and is probably in the archives by now, but it did include links to the paperwork that you can submit.

If I had the technical know-how, I'd do it myself.

scubudo · 02-07-2006, 12:23 AM

Thanks for the information. Actually, I found a link to the Government site for permission to install a switch. I also found a place that sells a switch to install. Have not had the time to order a switch as of yet. Am not sure what the pros and cons of using an after market switch vs. factory switch.

AJ'sDad · 02-07-2006, 12:31 PM

I think the pros and cons are purely aesthetic.

Do you have a link to those sites?

I'm still interested in doing this.

scubudo · 02-07-2006, 11:39 PM

Here are a couple of sites. You can do a google search and find more.

http://www.airbagsystems.com
http://www.airbagonoff.com

Has anyone just unplugged the passnger side? Other than for the dash light, are there any beepers or other alarms?

YT90SC · 02-09-2006, 01:01 AM

when the bulb is disabled, the module will chime... do it right, install the switch you mentioned.

short_stuff · 02-10-2006, 06:58 PM

I had my 2000 F250 passenger airbag switch installed right after I bought my truck in 10/99.
A company from Dallas came down and met me at my work, and 1 hour later he was complete. What I like about it is that there is a key switch installed inside of the glove box so nothing was done to the front of the dash board. I leave the key in there, but you could pull the key out and take it with you if you needed to. The information that I found out from Ford at the time (on why the 4-door trucks didn't come with the factory key passenger airbag switch) was that the fed government required supercab trucks to have a keyed dashboard switch to turn off the passenger airbag, in case you had to carry small passengers up front. But since you could conceivably NOT have to carry a kid up front if you had a full four door vehicle, the government didn't require the manufacturer to put in the switch.
So the manufacturer (Ford) saved the $25 cost of the switch.
At the time, you could also get a switch to turn off the driver's side air bag, from this installer, if you needed to.
Oh, and on my 2000, it did not require any reflash of the pcm.
I think the wiring plug is tucked behind the center part of the dash, just below where the factory switch would mount.