Just kidding some on the title of this post, but I need some suggestions/ideas here. My new truck is a single cab early 99. This wont be an every day deal here, but I would like to be able to haul my son and his car seat in the truck with me. I havent tried to put it in the middle because its a standard trans and I have read already that you wont be able to shift, plus it would be very unhandy even if you could.

So you probably know what Im getting at already, is there any way to disable the passenger air bag to put the car seat in the passenger seat? I have read some threads about having the PCM reflashed and finding the air bag on off module at a junk yard. I really dont want to try and do that because for 1 I would have to talk a dealer into doing it and they would probably screw something up, and two good luck finding a SD in a junk yard around here.

Im good at electronics but dont have a clue at air bag systems. I have heard bad stories about people screwing with them, the last thing I want is for the thing to go off while Im messing with it.

So, anybody have a safe way to disable an air bag without spending a ton of money? I know there is a way to do it, but I figured Id better get some more experienced opinions first.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

I thought all the single and super cabs from '99 on had a keyed switch to turn off the passenger airbag? My truck has it. When did Ford start that feature?

 

My 2000 has the key on off switch

 

My '01 doesn't have the on/off either. I'm actually wondering why it doesn't. Most trucks of all makes of that era had the key on/off.

Was this an option in the Ford SD's?

 

are you sure you have a passenger airbag?
maybe it was an option for commercial vehicles only expecting one driver?

down under the glove box should be a yellow connector for the passenger airbag...you can disconnect it there...I believe there is a test plug available so the system still works.

pull the airbag fuse and let the truck sit for 10 minutes before working on the system.

 

dknouse, I don't think the crew cabs get that switch. It's only for trucks that have to put the baby seat up front.

(I'm assuming that is your '01 in your avatar.)

 

there should be a red 10 fuse for just the passenger airbag.

 

I have an on/off switch on mine for the passenger side airbag. I have a 99.5 club cab dually

 

My '02 crewcab doesn't have the on/off key for the passenger airbag. I think the person that stated above about the crew vs. the std cab trucks is correct in the on/off airbag........ Not sure why your truck doesn't have it???? It sure makes allot of sense to me anyway.....

 

If the airbag connection is disconnected, or the fuse is left out, does the dash warning stay on?
Bob

 

No airbag key on and off switch here either but see them on a few FTE fellas trucks that stopped by and hung out. I would like to know why now.

 

Crew cabs don't get the on/off switch because the car seat should be installed in the back seat. The Ex cabs and single cabs to my knowledge are all supposed to have the switch...
If you want to unplug the airbag but are worried about it blowing when you do just disconnect the batteries and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before unplugging the bag.

 

I have an early 99 supercab and I have the switch

 

Take the dash off and just unplug it. I did that to my dodge.

REMOVE BATTERY CABLES FIRST just incase you bump it. I dont think you want it blowing up in your face.

 

My e99 XL supercab had the switch.
If your reg cab does't have the switch, its possible that the dash was swithced out with one from a crewcab. the wiring is still there.
I have a dash from an 02 supercab in my crewcab, so I have the switch, and the wiring was also there in the crew also.
pop it off and look, there is a place where the wire harness will attach on the back of a crewcab dash so its not just hanging.