How do you disable passenger air bag?

[jackson2]

Sorry if this one's come up before, I couldn't find it, so happy to be referred to another thread.

Picked up my brand new GTI yesterday, trying to work out how to disable the passenger side airbag. Owners manual shows key operated switch in glove box that's not there... some other trick that I'm not seeing?

[Corey_R]

You can't disable it in Australian delivered cars. Our goverment doesn't allow it. So if you have a pet, child, or child seat etc, you MUST put them in the back.

Since it's not allowed here, the key socket, and the "airbag disabled light" are not present in Australian delivered cars.

[jackson2]

Interesting... just traded my 2002 Alfa for the Golf & it had it. Cheers.

[JPanDAX]

That is interesting. I just sold a 2008 triton GLXR and it has the key disengage and light on the dash.


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[barrenjoey owl]

Interesting... just traded my 2002 Alfa for the Golf & it had it. Cheers.

I believe Corry is correct. Did you ever turn it off?

[JPanDAX]

I had turned it off in my triton as my daughter use to like sitting up front. When you turn it off the symbol and light on the passenger side dash lights up permanently to indicate it is off. The key to turn it off-on was in the glove box compartment. Perhaps Mitsubishi is doing something illegal? I'd doubt it though as there are a lot of 2008 Tritons on the road. maybe it is a newer thing. I will ask my mate who has a 2010 model if his has the option.


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[Corey_R]

Hmmm... the 2002 alfa didn't surprise me cause it's so long ago that most cars didn't even have passenger airbags yet, and regulations weren't as strict. These days you can't even sell a car without ESP etc. Yeah, ask your 2010 mate to see whether it's still on his Triton. Also, maybe it's different for "4WD work vehicles"? I mean, they're only a 2 star car after all

[Matchew]

My father has a MY11 Triton which has the key switch in the glove box to disable the airbag, and a light on the dashboard. My R32 has the key switch in the glove box too, but there is no light on the dashboard like there is in the euro models.

[ICEDIST]

Any reason why you would want to disable it in the first place? I can understand the thrill of turning off traction control, but turning off something that might save your life? I don't get it. Please explain.

[hentaiboy]

Any reason why you would want to disable it in the first place? I can understand the thrill of turning off traction control, but turning off something that might save your life? I don't get it. Please explain.

They're baby killers
News - Mom On Trial After Airbag Kills Infant Daughter - InsideEdition.com

[Corey_R]

It's for putting children in the front seat, especially in rear-facing baby capsules which sometimes don't fit in the back seat etc. That's the primary reason.

The other reason is so that Jack Bauer can escape being held at gunpoint by driving straight into another car or wall, killing the terrorist holding the gun in the passenger seat, but being unharmed himself due to the driver's airbag!


Edit: Whilst I was typing this hentaiboy posted a link to a real-world example. But in all seriousness, why would you have your children in the front seat anyway. Even my parent's generation knew that the front seat is dangerous for children, why do it now 30 years later?

[ICEDIST]

They're baby killers
News - Mom On Trial After Airbag Kills Infant Daughter - InsideEdition.com

If you follow the rules they are not... National child restraint laws effective 1 March 2010 - FAQs

"Can my child sit in the front seat?

This depends on whether there is more than one row of seats in the car and the age of the child.

Where there are two or more rows of seats:

A child under four years of age cannot sit in the front row of a car if there is more than one row of seats, even if they are large enough to fit in a booster seat.
A child between four years of age and under seven years of age cannot sit in the front row of a vehicle that has more than one row of seats unless the other rows are occupied by younger children in an approved child restraint.
Note: you can only fit a booster seat in the front row of a vehicle if that booster seat does not require a top tether strap.

If the car has one row of seats (for example a single cab ute or sports car with a front anchorage point) a child of any age can sit in the front seat provided they are properly restrained. However, most car manufacturers recommend against the use of rearward facing restraints in front passenger seats.

A child in a rearward facing restraint should not be placed in the front seat of a vehicle where there is an air bag."

[Corey_R]

Thanks for the link ICEDIST.

So this brings up a good point about the Mitsubishi Tritons. Are they a "single row" (2 / 3 seat) work vehicle? Was the 2002 Alfa mentioned a 2 seat?

[pologti18t]

Thanks for the link ICEDIST.

So this brings up a good point about the Mitsubishi Tritons. Are they a "single row" (2 / 3 seat) work vehicle? Was the 2002 Alfa mentioned a 2 seat?

I don't believe a current MX5 (or older models) have the passenger disbable switch in this market either.

[JPanDAX]

The triton GLXR is a dual cab.

I believe children under 7 cannot sit in a vehicle without an approved child restraint. Nor can they sit in the front seat unless perhaps as mentioned in this post there is only one row of seats as in a single cab ute.

My daughter is 7 and sits in the front seat.

I think the laws are not that effective as some 7 year olds can be much smaller than a 5 year old for instance.

As for why put a child 7 or over in the front seat.....well, I drive safely and sedately when I have my children in the car as we all should! Also cars and safety of 30 years ago compared to today is a very different scenario.

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