I just realized my 2006 E350 cargo van does not have a selector switch on the dash for the passenger side air bag. Here is the problem, I have a 6 year old son and now this is a vehicle I can't drive with him - this is a big problem. Is there a fuse or breaker or more manual way to disable the SRS on that side until he gets older?

 

I believe that in your owner's manual there is a section that talks about the situation you have. I think you may be able to add the deactivation switch.

 

Strange, the manual shows only a dash with the deactivation switch. Since I have a young child and every other truck I have ever owned (Ford's by the way) all were regular cab and all had the deactivation switch, and the web site shows that as a feature, I did not give it a look. My van does not have one, just a power point where the manual shows the deactivation switch. I am screwed. I guess I'll have to call the dealer, but I know where that goes. I hate the dealerships....

 

I placed a call to the dealership the other day which was returned today. They said on 2005 and 2006 vans, there is a sensor in the passenger seat which will determine if the air bag is deactivated or not. They said the weight was about 80 lbs.

It sounds cool, but I have never heard of such a thing. I read the manual from cover to cover. They say it is in the service books and source books. I hate to say that I need to see it myself, but I almost do.

Ever hear of this?

 

I was going to mention that but I looked in the shop manual and owner's manual and I couldn't find anything on it for the E-van.
Most of the new trucks and cars use that system now but I'm not sure if a van does.
I think it's only about 20 lbs to turn the airbag off. The weight of our shop's WDS scan tool will do it. So will a firm push with my hand.

 

That is interesting... sorry for the confusion, I think the 80 lbs I was told was the weight to turn it ON. (i.e. by the time a kid or passenger is 80 lbs they are air-bag safe) How do I know that it was inactive or deactivated - or won't I?

 

On all the ones I've seen there is a light on the dash that says when the airbag has been disabled. Again, I couldn't find a picture of that in the manual for your van.

 

I do believe the air bag disable switch is provided for when using rear facing child seats.

 

I had a dealer service guy tell me that 05 and 06 Vans have the sensor and the only real way to know it is activated is that the airbag light will stay on for a few seconds ( he told me how many but I already forgot) when the key is in the run position or the engine starts - but if the sensor is not activated the light goes off in cycle with all the other dash lights. I wish there was a lamp that stayed illuminated or something cute, but they say it has that feature so I am OK.

 

The only van I know of with that sensor is the 04-up freestar 4.2L

 

the e series does not use that feature and yes it only needs 20lbs or so to turn on even your hand will do it. that feature is only in the freestar van. so the air bag is on all the time in your 06. also i think your dealer is feeding you some bull to make you happy.

 

The owners manual shows a switch to disable it, like the one I have in my F350, but I don't have the switch. Any chance they are all wired for it, and if I get the dash panel and switch from a van that has it, I can just plug it in, or do you think the problem is deeper than that? I am disappointed that I don't have the switch and can't take my kid anywhere in that van.

 

I'm not sure if a van has the wiring for the switch but most of the trucks do. On a truck that didn't have the switch you install it and then the Restraint Control Module has to be configured with a dealer's WDS or NGS scan tool and then it works.
You might find more info on NHTSA's site too.

 

If I was you I would go to the dealer with the owner's manual and say "Here it is in the manual, where's mine" or words to that effect. Unless there is something that identifies it as an option you didn't get I would think you should have one and Ford should put it in. If this really is available in the vans then all the vans should have the wiring already there at some point in the harness just like the trailer wires were. The real question is where does it terminate? There is no airbag deactivation switch in the 05 Wiring manual but it looks like its controlled by a two pin connector C256 (under the passenger side dash, wire colors for 05 are pin 1: light blue/orange, pin 2: pink/black) and you may be able to just unplug it. If that causes an error I wouldn't recommend just jumpering it back without knowing if a particular resistance is required to keep from blowing the controller. BTW, you should disconnect the battery before touching any of this and I won't guarantee the bag can't still go off somehow.

 

I'm so tired of being protected from my self! Every car should have switch!