Another Tigga hits Adelaide Roads

[Arctra]

No, we're lacking in the "switch off the passenger air-bag in the glove box" switch department. At least on my 2010 TDI we are.

I could be wrong, but I'm told by law in Aus you cannot put a child seat in the front passenger seat, which is the main reason you turn off the front passenger airbag. So for the Aus models, because the functionality isn't there, they just slap a blank plate in.

[Tensixty6]

Card holders - fuel card, VW Roadside Assist card, EFTPOS Card, whatever you want. The blank bit on the right of the hazard light has an airbag (or airbag switch) in the US, but in Aus it's just a blank plate. Would have been nice to have another card holder IMO.

With the all too frequent "smash & grab" robberies going on these days, you'd have to be a bit of a dill to leave any sort of "card" in plain view IMHO.

[NZTiguan]

I could be wrong, but I'm told by law in Aus you cannot put a child seat in the front passenger seat, which is the main reason you turn off the front passenger airbag. So for the Aus models, because the functionality isn't there, they just slap a blank plate in.

The good thing about the switch is that you can use a rear facing child seat (particularly for babies) in the front which is evidently the safest seat you can get for the very little ones !!

Cheers

[clip]

The good thing about the switch is that you can use a rear facing child seat (particularly for babies) in the front which is evidently the safest seat you can get for the very little ones !!

It's the law in Australia to have these now for the little ones:
Effective from the 9 November 2009, children under seven years of age must use a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car.

These rules require that:

* Children aged under 6 months must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing restraint.
* Children aged between 6 months and under 4 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing child restraint OR a forward facing restraint.
* Children aged between 4 years and under 7 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted forward facing restraint OR an approved booster seat which is properly positioned and fastened.

There are also new laws for where children can sit in vehicles:

* If a car has two or more rows of seats, than children under 4 years must not travel in the front seat.

[mickofoz]

I thought it was children under 12 years must sit in the back seats??? Can someone double check that please...

[clip]

I thought it was children under 12 years must sit in the back seats??? Can someone double check that please...

This is taken from QLD Transport site http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home...lt_laws#Babies(pretty much mirrors the one I quoted above):

Interesting point about front airbags and rear-facing restraints too.

Babies and children

Seating children in the front passenger seat

If the car has one row of seats only (for example, a ute):

* a child of any age can sit in the front seat if the vehicle has only one row of seats provided they are properly restrained. If the vehicle has a passenger airbag fitted, a rearward facing child restraint should not be used.

Where there are two or more rows of seats:

* a child under four years of age cannot sit in the front seat of a vehicle that has more than one row of seats, even if the child is three years of age and large enough to sit in a booster seat

* a child aged between four and seven years of age cannot sit in the front seat of a vehicle that has more than one row of seats, unless all the other seats are occupied by children under seven years of age.

[clip]

here's a link to SA:
http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/roadsafety...aint_laws_faqs

[mickofoz]

Hmmm. I thought it was 12 years of age. Better not tell my kids... LOL

[Sanman]

I could be wrong, but I'm told by law in Aus you cannot put a child seat in the front passenger seat, which is the main reason you turn off the front passenger airbag. So for the Aus models, because the functionality isn't there, they just slap a blank plate in.

ADRs do not permit disabling of airbags. It's an American thing mainly for economic reasons.
Next time I'm at a VW dealer, I will buy one of those slot card holder things to replace the blanking plate

[Arctra]

Next time I'm at a VW dealer, I will buy one of those slot card holder things to replace the blanking plate

Good luck with that. When I enquired about it they didn't have any. In fact, in the system, the guy couldn't even pull up the part number. If you do manage to get one, please let me know where and how much so I can get one too.

Cheers!

[Sanman]

Good luck with that. When I enquired about it they didn't have any. In fact, in the system, the guy couldn't even pull up the part number. If you do manage to get one, please let me know where and how much so I can get one too.

Part Number 5M0 858 373 - its written on the side. Google shows it for $32, which seems a bit steep.

http://www.worldimpex.com/parts/genuine-part-bin_912007.html

[Sanman]

Part Number 5M0 858 373 - its written on the side. Google shows it for $32, which seems a bit steep.
http://www.worldimpex.com/parts/genu...in_912007.html

I went to the dealer, the above part was $40, though it appears I have ordered the last one in Australia