How to temporarily disable air bags?

[digitalmarker]

Searched for this a bunch but only came across one thread with some unclear conclusions, so posting this again.

I am taking my toddler son to our first off-road adventure next week, and would love to put his car seat in the front seat of the truck so he can see the action better.

Obviously with ANY risk of the passenger airbag deploying, this idea is a no-go.

Two questions:

1. I currently have the driver side airbag out of the car to get the steering wheel re-centered after I get an alignment. The airbag light is now on all the time on the dashboard. Does this disable the entire SRS system and would prevent the passenger bag from deploying?
   
   
2. Once I reinstall the driver side airbag, and the system is back intact, is there a more elegant on/off way to disable the entire system for off-road driving? Don't care about the light being on during this time, just need a way to completely disable the system for periods of time as needed.

Thanks in advance!

 

[LINUS]

IIRC, the light tripped for the SRS just means there's a fault, not that the other wired bag couldn't deploy.

If you do make changes, I do remember a disclaimer in the hard copy about a capacitor that meant you needed to wait 90 seconds from battery disconnect to make any changes (logic was a battery smashed in a wreck wouldn't disable ability to fire the sqib/deploy bag).

To question #2 - Nobody in their right mind would offer a solution for fear of litigation.
I wouldn't even speculate on a 'switch' solution like newer vehicles. Sorry, it's just not smart.

I'd put the lil' fella in the RHS rear seat, and leave the bags alone. It seems like as hard as I've landed the FR bumper or the fat ass of the old 450, my bags have never punched out. Had armor on both ends, YMMV.

 

[ppc]

Two questions:

1. I currently have the driver side airbag out of the car to get the steering wheel re-centered after I get an alignment. The airbag light is now on all the time on the dashboard. Does this disable the entire SRS system and would prevent the passenger bag from deploying?

Thanks in advance!

Messing with the steering wheel is not the proper way to re-center the steering wheel. The steering gearbox is designed to "return to center" so the adjustment needs to be done via the steering linkage instead.

 

[digitalmarker]

Messing with the steering wheel is not the proper way to re-center the steering wheel. The steering gearbox is designed to "return to center" so the adjustment needs to be done via the steering linkage instead.

Thanks and agree with that, but the steering wheel had been messed with previously and I want to have the alignment shop dial in both.

 

[digitalmarker]

IIRC, the light tripped for the SRS just means there's a fault, not that the other wired bag couldn't deploy. If you do make changes, I do remember a disclaimer in the hard copy about a capacitor that meant you needed to wait 90 seconds from battery disconnect to make any changes (logic was a battery smashed in a wreck wouldn't disable ability to fire the sqib/deploy bag).

The reason I asked this is because in my Civic days, it was a known fact that when the DS airbag was disconnected and there was a fault in the system, it would prevent the other airbag from deploying unless the fault was fixed. Is it different for Landcruisers?

To question #2 - Nobody in their right mind would offer a solution for fear of litigation.

This one made me chuckle. If everyone could sue someone over some dumb s*** they posted on the internet, I would totally pursue a career as a litigation lawyer.

 

[Dave 2000]

Usual disclaimers apply:

If any part of the SRS system has a fault then the entire system on MOST cars is disabled.

For example, in modern cars we know we can disable a passenger bag normally using the ignition key however, turning the key removes power to the bag and at the same time brings in an emulator. So the SRS ECU does not flag a fault and disable the entire system.

Some manufacturers systems san detect that a passenger is present but, the seat belt is not fastened, in this case the airbags can deploy with less force.

The systems are now mega complicated but for the elderly Land Cruiser the SRS system in the event of a fault I would have thought should be fully disabled.

Either way.....kids should be in the back IMO.

Regards

Dave

 

[digitalmarker]

Usual disclaimers apply:

Either way.....kids should be in the back IMO.

That is what I am thinking too. Sounds like he's stuck in the back for at least the next 10 years!

 

[Tedward]

FSM
Look for the section titled:
How to disable enable SRS airbags, or something real close to that. Just saw that in a 97 manual yesterday.

 

[mikedamageinc]

I think part of the equation of kids in the back is just better protection overall, in addition to the airbags, not just. But if that's what you want to do, you should be able to just unplug it from up under the dash.

Also I've found it easier to pull the steering shaft from the steering gear input shaft to get it lined up that way instead of messing with the clockspring and all that.