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Not an ordinary tech question

mtnman210

mtnman210

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After all I've seen and read I am really against airbags in vehicles. My daily driver is a 2001?? Suzuki Sidekick with driver and passenger airbags. The driver coming from the steering wheel and the pass out of the dash. Does anybody know of a way to remove them? I can live with the pass if it would mean tearing up the dash but really want the drivers gone. They don't have the on/off switch and I really just want it out of the car. So what do you think doable?
 
I would suggest leaving them as they are. The bad things you have seen/heard of airbags is the minority. They do more good than bad. If that was a trail only vehicle, that would be different, but being dd I would leave them alone. Besides, not knowing your system in particular, anything I say to disable them just might get you killed.
 
I didn't plan on just going in and poking around. I've played with them in demonstrations and am completely aware of their force. Also it's just like anything else, me not liking them is just personal opinion. So I was just curious if anybody had any experience with taking them out and what would be involved.
 
My best suggestion would be a chilton, or call the service tech at a local dealership. There might be some quirk to that vehicle I don't know about. Most of them is just a matter of killing power and drinking a beer while you wait for residual power to drain out, but who knows, yours might have a back up battery somewhere. I do know you don't want it going off while you're taking apart the steering wheel. I'm skeared of them. :(
 
what are these bad things you've read? my sister's airbag probably saved her life. that said, neither of my trucks have them and i don't care.

there are places that will disable them for you, but i think they have to submit a form to the government or something. they treat airbags and catalytic converters like the most important things in the world. weirdos.

Edit: i doubt that bouncing around offroad would trip the sensors properly, so i don't see them deploying randomly on the trail.
 
vortec said:
what are these bad things you've read?
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Just like most safety devices, the good outweighs the bad, but bad things still happen on occasion. When they do happen the bad is worse than it would have been w/o the device in the first place.

One of the things I don't like about airbags is that you have to be in proper position for them to be effective. If you're short and sit too close to the steering wheel it's likely to cause damage. If you don't position your hands in the right spot on the steering wheel something will break. Those are facts, they have nothing to do with bad things that could happen, just my dislikes.

There's also the problem on gen 1 air bags that inflate too quick. Some go off just by kicking the right spot on the bumper. Problems that have been remedied, but still exist on older vehicles.
 
i'd rather have a broken nose and wrist than permanent brain damage...

millions are spent to protect you an you want to undo that?
i suppose you dont wear your seat belt either?

It's actually a crime to disable things like safety belts, and air bags in most states..

Not trying to be a jerk, but it's there for a reason...
air bags save lives..
seeing your in california i'm guessing it is there...
 
:eek1: dang. I was just curious if anybody had gotten rid of them in their car and if it was something easy or not. I never said I don't want to be safe or anything about laws or seatbelts, it was just a question. I didn't realize this would be such a touchy subject:haha:
 
I don't have where I got the stats anymore (they are about 5 years old) I do remember that airbags accounting for injury make up less than 1% of the injuries recieved in crashes. An airbag probably saved me from some injuries when I wrecked several years ago and yes my whole face hurt that airbag and I hit hard. I don't understand why you would want to remove them.

That being said, its your choice you probably wouln't have any problem unless there is an airbag light on your dash it will be permantly lit up.
 
I am aware they're there for a reason but it was just a consideration because the car is such a tight fit and how close I sit I don't like the idea of it going off.
 
Keep them

I can tell you've never had to pull someone's chest off a steering column. I have and don't recommend it. Keep the seat belt on and the damn bags where they are.
 
mtnman210 said:
I am aware they're there for a reason but it was just a consideration because the car is such a tight fit and how close I sit I don't like the idea of it going off.
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You will be fine I am 6'3" tall and near 300 lbs and when I crashed it was in a Geo Metro. A tighter fit you will not find. :D

Come to think of it the airbag did hurt me, all the dang powder made me think the car was on fire and I went out the window and cut my hand.

Or mabey that was me just being dumb and not thinking
 
I'm not trying to jump yer crap...
I'm just sayin.. it's there for your protection...

Your more likely to die from the big stereo box in the back hitting you in the back of the head than your airbag doing major damage to you...
 
I've been to wrecks with friends who drive tow trucks...
It's not pretty when there is no air bag... with or without a seat belt...

Having the fire department hose the vehicle out and mark it a biohazard is disturbing...
finding hair in the windshield is more disturbing...
 
I never said I don't want to be safe or anything about laws or seatbelts, it was just a question. I didn't realize this would be such a touchy subject:haha:
Click to expand...

you're right. we're not pirate4x4, on here. so, i'll get this thing back on topic...safety aside. yes, you can get rid of them, but as i said before, i think it has to be done by a certified shop and documented to still allow you to pass inspection (at least in texas). i've seen people drive cars that have just been in a wreck and had the airbag deploy, so apparently it doesn't deacivate the ignition circuit or anything (to keep people from starting it up and driving it around in lala land with a concussion or something). so, you may just be able to remove it yourself, though i wouldn't get right in front of it during removal, and go from there. better option than smashinginto a wall to make it deplow. :wink1:

Having the fire department hose the vehicle out and mark it a biohazard is disturbing...
finding hair in the windshield is more disturbing...
Click to expand...

yeah, that's nasty. i saw a car roll on the highway on the way to Austin, got out to help, and stepped on part of a dude's head in the grass. really annoyed me because those shoes were almost brand new. i went to the bars with a friend of mine, but his sister, who was with us at the wreck, couldn't sleep for 4 days. chicks are different.
 
I say find the air bag sensor (prolly an accelerometer) and hit it with a hammer. Air bags go off. No more danger. Remove said bag, reinstall airbag cover (steering wheel cover and dash pad). No more air bags!

Not sure where to find the sensor, but i think on the 96-99 chevy's ive seen them on the front frame rail behidn teh tire.
 
Just to add gas to the fire.......I would like to remove the ones in my 97 as well because I want a super bling steering wheel and a TV monitor on the pass side dash.

EDIT: ALSO Im broke and would like to sell the airbags so setting them off isnt the route Id like to take
 
you're right. we're not pirate4x4,...
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with Pirate or anything else. Generally speaking, most on this site will recommend safety.

Airbags will deploy at a near instantaneous speed change of around 14 MPH in the direction of travel. The airbag sensor (ECM) for the Chev is generally located under the passenger seat, driver's seat or center hump.

The first generation airbags deploy with a mechanical switches. These can be unpredictable. These are the ones you read about popping when curbs and other objects were hit.

I would NEVER mess with factory airbags. I personally believe that these should never be removed.

Seat belts stretch and you can still smack the steering wheel or other objects during crashes w/out an airbag.

just my $0.02
 
I would keep the air bags too. I was in a minor wreck and they went off in my DD (95 POS Neon). I didn't hit that hard, had my belt on and was in the correct position. The air bag didn't even hit me. It drove home just fine once I packed the airbag mostly back into its hole - I was more concerned about the leaking coolant. It did smell like somebody was BBQ-ing a bunch of electronics though. In general air bags do more good than harm for people who wear their belts, keep kids in back, and sit properly (ie no ghetto slouch or hugging the wheel).

If you are dead set on removing them look for a fuse that only powers the airbags, my car had one (used mine to replace a blown headlight fuse after the wreck). Just pull the fuse and don't hassle with removing the explosive part. You may need to check a schematic to make sure there is no other source of power to the explosive charge.
 
should be

an air bag specialist in the area that services body shops,i see no reason to sweat having or NOT having airbags,yeah my wife wanted me to have rig WITH duel airbags but i wouldn't be HERE if i bought one,and i have rigs all over the yard without em i'm dieing to drive,that's right=~die~ing to jump in that `67 GTO and hammer it:D,Harleys don't have em,,when it's your time it's your time>my02
 
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