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MG MGF Technical - Deactivting passenger airbag

Hi,

Does anyone know how to deactivate the passenger airbag and if it has to be done by a dealer , how much etc ??

Many thanks
Karl
Karl

Do you have an import? Passanger airbags were not fitted as standard on the passanger side in the 'F'
If you are not sure then remove the glovebox (open the box remove the two screws now visiable, then losten the two screws underneith ) slide the glovebox out and you should see an obvious hole where the airbag should fit or lots of bright yellow stuff.

Removeing the airbag has been mentioned here before, and the feedback from the dealer was (as I remember) that it couldn't be done without changing the electrics and so it would be very expensive.
Unfortunatly it is not just a case of unplugging the airbag as the system does a regular check on the SRS system (airbags and seatbelt tighterners) and compleatly disables the system if it finds anything wrong, it then lights up a warning light on the dash.

Will
Will Munns

This question comes up from time to time and the answer is it can not be deactivated.

Ted
Ted Newman

A simpler way is to look at the 'blank' if it has SRS on it then you will have an air bag. Also on the passenger door jam will be transfer stickers saying that rear facing baby seat MUST NOT be fitted.

Ted
N11KRT - The Green Squirrel - with passenger side air bag.
Ted Newman

I thought this might be the case, however as I don't have one I didn't know for sure.
Also if I were going to fit a baby seat I would want to know damn sure that there was no passanger airbag- and the only way to be that certain is to look under the dash.

Will
Will Munns

Guys,

Thanks for the info, its not an imnport either, its my bosses car and he is gutted as hes been telling his missus that he will get the airbag deactivate so that junior can travel as well. Ooooops Gutted is an understatement! watch out for it in the autotrader.

Thanks again
Karl
Karl

The blank actually forms a part of the air bag so if it does not have the SRS symbol on it then it is just a blank and of course it can be eased out of the dash to show the void.

Word of warning do not try and ease out a blank with SRS on it.

Ted
Ted Newman

He could always strap the baby seat to the luggage carrier... ;o)

Might need to invest in some suitable baby clothes though... fleece, flying helmet and goggles! White silk scarf is an optional extra ;o)
Rob Bell

Nice one rob :)

I suggested dumping the infant in the foot well , didnt go down too well though, he is considering selling it now as the main selling point he used with his missus was that she could drive it alot with the youngster in the passenger seat!, he is not looking forward to going home tonight!. I suggested glueing the childs hands & feet to the front windcreen and trying to pass him off as one of those 'brat on board' things.

Cheers
Karl
Karl

ROFL!

I suppose that you could also glue sprog to the bonnet, and use it as a mascot?

May not go down too well with his missus though!

Ar*e. Only real, viable alternative is if he can swop the car with a non-airbag equipped MGF. I suppose the upgrade to a TF is not an option? (Passenger airbags are still an optional extra on these cars, surprisingly)
Rob Bell

Possible way is to insert a resistor in the connector, this can be done on some cars(Fiat?) why not on the MG?
Mike.
mike

exactly my thought - how many pins on the connector ?
if its just two - surely its a case of measuring
the resistance across the pins and selecting the
correct value resister to convince the system the
airbag is still plugged in.

Maybe this is too much of a simple solution ?




bill

>>surely its a case of measuring the resistance across the pins <<
There are several warning against using resistance measuring devices in the SRS circuitry - it could set off the airbag.

You could try measuring voltage across and current through this part - both measurements are passive, but you will need to make up a test cable.

Steve
Steve

There was a letter about this in a tech section of one of the MG magazines sometime last year. It can be de-activated, Rover can tell the dealer how to do it 9they will need some persuasion), however it requires replacement of a section of the loom and was expensive, (£300-£600 i seem to remember).
Paul

This thread was discussed between 21/03/2002 and 25/03/2002

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