Bypassing passenger airbag

[eltax91]

Hi all

I have a UK spec MK2 1.8iS on a 98 (R) reg. I have seen a guide online (here:- http://www.jonathansblog.net/mx-5_mazda_how_to_dis... about removing the passenger airbag.

Since I have a 11 month old boy, the wife has refused to allow me out in the car with him until the passenger airbag can be over-ridden.

So, has anyone carried out this mod? If so, any experiences to share? It seems fairly simple to achieve to be honest. What I'm mainly concerned about is the legitimacy as far as the system is concerned. For example, is it going to dislike a switch being thrown on a regular basis and randomly set the airbag off?

Also, is this mode DEFINITELY disabling the passenger airbag and the passenger airbag only?

Cheers in advance for any help

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'm pretty sure the passenger airbag only needs to be disabled if you use a rear facing child seat. A forward facing child seat with the seat pushed back will be nowhere near the airbag if it goes off. I think the advice is something like a minimum of 10" of space being needed.

[renaultgeek]

I al;ways thought there had to be a way of turning it off, is there no label somewhere hidden by the passenger door when it closes?

[Mr MXT]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I'm pretty sure the passenger airbag only needs to be disabled if you use a rear facing child seat. A forward facing child seat with the seat pushed back will be nowhere near the airbag if it goes off. I think the advice is something like a minimum of 10" of space being needed.

Would you want to take the risk though?

OP the link in the post doesn't work. Personally, I'd remove the passenger airbag altogether and stick a resistor in to keep the light off.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Mr MXT said:

Would you want to take the risk though?

If I had a kid with a front facing child seat, yes I would. The only reason the child would be getting anywhere near the airbag would be either that it has come out of the chair, the chair has come away from the seat or the dashboard is moving towards the child. In all of those circumstances I think an airbag would be a good thing to have.

It's different in the states. They have bigger airbags as in many states they still don't have to wear seat belts which means the airbags have to be big enough to stop an unrestrained adult. Over here we have smaller airbags.

[PaulMoor]

First, a front facing child seat is fine with an airbag. You can swich them off in modern cars for rear facing child seats.

Second, removing or messing about with air bags is never a good idea. It's not unknown for the explosive to go off by accident if you don't know what your doing.

Also if you remove it that means passengers will not be as safe. Same with seat belt tensioners.