Retro fitting of Passenger air bag cut off switch
Discussion
Hi,
New baby has arrived, and my wife has now decided she wants to put the seat in the front. She has a 2006 Focus ST3. I contacted the local Ford dealer to enquire about having the air bag disconnected, and they now retro fit the key switch in the glove box. they want £190 for the priveledge!! I understand that it comes as a kit.
My question is, has anyone fitted this type of thing themmsleves. It can't be that difficult as I presume the kit is a case of putting a switch into the circuit. But, it's an air bag and that's the part that your always told to steer clear off. I'm reasnobly handy with the spanners (or wire cutters!)
thanks
New baby has arrived, and my wife has now decided she wants to put the seat in the front. She has a 2006 Focus ST3. I contacted the local Ford dealer to enquire about having the air bag disconnected, and they now retro fit the key switch in the glove box. they want £190 for the priveledge!! I understand that it comes as a kit.
My question is, has anyone fitted this type of thing themmsleves. It can't be that difficult as I presume the kit is a case of putting a switch into the circuit. But, it's an air bag and that's the part that your always told to steer clear off. I'm reasnobly handy with the spanners (or wire cutters!)
thanks
We looked into this as the Sister-in-law has just bought a Ford Focus and has a 6 month old baby and we're due one in May.
From the horror stories that I found on the web, my child won't be going into the front seat, airbag or not and after reading them, the Sister doesn't anymore either.
But...... If you really want to put a switch in there, it won't be as simple as cutting the wire and putting a switch in.
Usually when you remove an airbag or seatbelt control, it will bring a warning light on. This is bacause the ECU monitors the signals from all the airbags and seatbelts etc. To get around this, we put a resistor (or sometimes a little IC) in circuit to simulate the resistance of the airbag circuit. The switch that you put in will have to:
In position 1, link the ECU to the airbag as normal
In position 2, link the ECU to the simulator resistor and not to the airbag.
It's quite a simple fix once you know what you need in the way of a simulator.
But as I said above, put the little one in the back, it's much safer.
From the horror stories that I found on the web, my child won't be going into the front seat, airbag or not and after reading them, the Sister doesn't anymore either.
But...... If you really want to put a switch in there, it won't be as simple as cutting the wire and putting a switch in.
Usually when you remove an airbag or seatbelt control, it will bring a warning light on. This is bacause the ECU monitors the signals from all the airbags and seatbelts etc. To get around this, we put a resistor (or sometimes a little IC) in circuit to simulate the resistance of the airbag circuit. The switch that you put in will have to:
In position 1, link the ECU to the airbag as normal
In position 2, link the ECU to the simulator resistor and not to the airbag.
It's quite a simple fix once you know what you need in the way of a simulator.
But as I said above, put the little one in the back, it's much safer.
I became aware of this only after buying our Focus estate. Although the little ones spend almost all the time in the back, there have been the odd occasion when it would have been useful. But for £190, I'll rather make 2 trips if I have to.
O/T After having to use Mrs Pints' Focus as my daily runner this week, while the Golf awaits new brakes, I won't be rushing out to buy another Ford anytime soon. It really doesn't have a patch on VW.
O/T After having to use Mrs Pints' Focus as my daily runner this week, while the Golf awaits new brakes, I won't be rushing out to buy another Ford anytime soon. It really doesn't have a patch on VW.
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