Hello All: I have a new 2004 250 crew cab and the vehicle manual references a key switch to turn off the passenger airbag. Was this switch an option? I cannot find this switch location on the dash or in any compartments. Any info appreciated.

2004 SD 250 Crew Cab 6.o Diesel

 

It's only for reg cabs and extended cabs which do not have full size seats in the back. (My reg cab's rear seat is very small) You're only "supposed" to install a rear-facing child seat on full size seats (even though they may fit fine in an ext cab rear seat) which means the front seat on a reg or ext cab. Since you have a full size seat in the back, Ford doesn't want you to install a child seat in the front and therefore don't need to de-activate the passenger side airbag.
Quote from the manual:
If your vehicle has rear seats, always transport children who are
12 and younger in the rear seat. Always use safety belts and
child restraints properly. If a child in a rear facing infant seat must be
transported in front, the passenger air bag must be turned OFF. This is
because the back of the infant seat is too close to the inflating air bag
and the risk of a fatal injury to the infant when the air bag inflates is
substantial.

 

Thanks n578md. I thought the airbags are also to be off if a pregnant adult was to ride on passenger side also. I quess since there is no switch on the crew cabs they would have to ride in the backseat also. It looks a little funny like you are a chauffeur if it is just you and the wife traveling.

F250 SD CC PSD

 

pull the fuse i believe it is number 26 under the dash check owners manual to be sure then the air bags are disconnected

 

The air bag should be turned off for pregnant women, small-statured women (or men) (under 5'2" or thereabouts), people with physical disabilities that would make forcefully getting hit with hot plastic a bad thing, etc.

Someone here, or the diesel-stop, said the following, but not sure if it applies to '03 and up...

The CC can be retro-fitted with the air-bag disconnect switch in the dash. You have to find the switch (can be ordered new), and have the ABS computer re-flashed with a RC or SC program. THIS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY FORD, and unless you have a friend at the dealer, they will probably NOT do this for you. Or, you'd have to find an ABS computer from an RC or CC and that's a little expensive. Or, you'd have to convince the dealer that you can not use the truck as it is, without the switch. Like you have two (captain's chairs) or three (bench seat) kids in the back seat and your wife is pregnant (or will be soon

My 7 and 10 year olds love it when I turn off the airbag and let them sit in the front seat in my SC.

Note: In my case with an SC I think the extra safety of putting a child in the rear seat (for front-end collisions) is negated by the extra side-impact safety of the front bench seat, but only in my Supercab. The CC has good seating all around.

 

Thanks Krewat and 14u2nv The added switch with computer flash or computer module from RC sounds like something to pursue. Ford definitely did not think this switch thing through on the crew cabs IMO. Unplugging the fuse is an option but it probably shuts the driver air bag off also. It would be nice to just turn it on and off with a switch and not have to fuss with the fuses .

2004 250SD PSD CC 4X4

 

It's one of those things that they are requied to provide an on/off switch for the front passenger if there is no other seat they can use.

I can't think of anything that would preclude you from using an RC or SC abs module in a CC. But...

Oh, the switch is a key-switch, don't know if just anything will work in it, or it matches the ignition key - doesn't feel like it, but if you're gettnig a switch and module from a junkyard, make sure your key works in the switch first