Airbag Defeat

[scottjk]

After searching the forum for items related to airbags, airbag switches, and airbag defeat...the "last" post on this subject seems to be 2006.

My general question is the same as the older ones and perhaps two years has stirred up some new answers.

2005 TJ Unlimited - want to install airbag defeat switches - anything out there new for this problem?

Thanks...

[Jeep Virgin]

Why defeat the air bags ? Aren't they there to save you?

[scottjk]

A fair question...and maybe I don't need to defeat them at all...

Newer cars, and Jeeps are included, come with the ability to turn off the passenger side airbag. This is to allow the operator, for instance, to have children ride in the front seat. My 2005 does not do that.

I have not looked extensively - this was my first place to look - but the owner's manual does not indicate exactly how much force is required to activate the driver's side airbag. It uses definitions of moderate-to-high speed and moderate-to-severe collisions.

My basic issue is - if I am off roading on one of the mining trails I live near, and I slide off a rock on to my front end - am I going to get punched in the face unnecessarily? I already have a seat belt and humiliation at my side - do I need racoon eyes from a broken nose to make everything complete?

There you have it...

What do you think?

[flatpoint]

Mining trails, what mines, different thread.

[Materdaddy]

A fair question...and maybe I don't need to defeat them at all...

Newer cars, and Jeeps are included, come with the ability to turn off the passenger side airbag. This is to allow the operator, for instance, to have children ride in the front seat. My 2005 does not do that.

I have not looked extensively - this was my first place to look - but the owner's manual does not indicate exactly how much force is required to activate the driver's side airbag. It uses definitions of moderate-to-high speed and moderate-to-severe collisions.

My basic issue is - if I am off roading on one of the mining trails I live near, and I slide off a rock on to my front end - am I going to get punched in the face unnecessarily? I already have a seat belt and humiliation at my side - do I need racoon eyes from a broken nose to make everything complete?

There you have it...

What do you think?

The mining road isn't going to set it off. I've seen much more 'hardcore' stuff go down (including sliding off rocks) not set off air bags. They're pretty dialed in.

As for turning off the passenger side one for a youngin' to get in, I'm of no help to you... sorry!

[Shadly1]

You don't have to worry. It's not a force meter that sets off the air bag. It's a little box with contacts in it. When the box is physically crushed, the airbag goes off. Police cars get theirs disabled because they need to continue pursuits even if they get smashed up. You won't need to disable yours because, chances are, if you physically crush your front end to the point you get to that unit, you will most likely need it.

[scottjk]

Well that makes sense...pulled the service manual and took a look at what you were writing about. Really don't need to have a passenger side defeat because I don't have any little people riding there.

Just wanted to see what everyone thought.

Thanks...I'll just put my new front bumper on and not worry about it...

[mrblaine]

You don't have to worry. It's not a force meter that sets off the air bag. It's a little box with contacts in it. When the box is physically crushed, the airbag goes off. Police cars get theirs disabled because they need to continue pursuits even if they get smashed up. You won't need to disable yours because, chances are, if you physically crush your front end to the point you get to that unit, you will most likely need it.

That hasn't been true in probably forever. The location of the sensor on a TJ for example, is right under the dash on the floorboard in front of the center console. Do you really want that to be crushed before the air bag deploys?

[scottjk]

Well - hijacking :hijack:my own thread - I haven't done anything with the airbag but the new front Shrockworks bumper is on...so I have that going for me...

[Shadly1]

That hasn't been true in probably forever. The location of the sensor on a TJ for example, is right under the dash on the floorboard in front of the center console. Do you really want that to be crushed before the air bag deploys?

You win. You'll have to excuse me, I have square headlights. The only vehicle I've ever owned with an airbag had a crush box. I had to go educate myself on Jeep SRS systems.

To the OP, from what I have read on the interweb, pull the airbag fuse before you go off-road if you are concerned about it.

[Kodiak Spirit]

First off, that bumper looks sweet! good looking steering box skid to... :thumbs_up

as for the airbag, the reason there isnt more about them is that they really are not an issue offroad. I wheel with alot of TJ's (and some of their owners) and there has never been a problem. I believe that the SRS has a speed sensing element to it, so you really have to be moving to set those things off, and if you are moving that fast you prolly want the airbag to save yer bacon.

:2:

[Jerry Bransford]

The TJ's airbag sensor consists of a steel ball inside a tapered slot and only a forward impact will set it off. No amount of up-down jarring/potholes/bumps/dips will set it off. It takes a pretty major forward impact to set it off too, I have had trail impacts that really hurt my teeth but the airbag was nonplussed. I've yet to see an airbag go off on the trail, even the really rough ones.

[Shadly1]

The TJ's airbag sensor consists of a steel ball inside a tapered slot and only a forward impact will set it off.

Does that mean the sensor is trashed as well after deployment?

[scottjk]

It takes a pretty major forward impact to set it off too,

Jerry - The owner's manual uses language that seems to be similar..."medium-to-high speed" and "moderate-to-severe" collision.

My OP was based a bit on urban myth and a bit on the potential vagueness of the terms "moderate" and "medium."

Thanks...