Passenger Air Bag Off
- Thread starter jonmar
- Start date
I know there was a TSB for the passenger airbag that I got a notice about, not sure if it would pertain to your situation or not. I think it had something to do with people under 100 lbs not registering as being in the seat, or something like that.
Art161
Member
The air bag is designed to be off if a child of a certain weight is in the passenger seat. My light was on when I had a trash bag filled with aluminum cans in the passenger seat, and I was off to the recycle place.
Without getting too intrusive, might I ask for an approximation of the passenger's weight?
Without getting too intrusive, might I ask for an approximation of the passenger's weight?
The recall had nothing to do with the airbag turning off with a light passenger, it was to make the airbag not deploy so hard because they said a light passenger not wearing a seat belt could be hurt by the airbag. I would think any cars airbag would hurt someone not wearing a seat belt but thats what they said. My car shuts the passenger side airbag off with my girlfriend in the seat because she doesn't weigh enough, 110 or so. I don't know if that might be your situation as well.
Art161
Member
I don't know what test devices or tools you have. If you can check for fault codes, I would do that. Absent being able to check for fault codes, I think you're going to have to suck it up and go to the dealer.
mustangmike6996
5 Year Member
airbag off....
this can be caused by many different reasons. does it happen often or with more than one person?
also if the person is sitting off center in the seat the occupant weight sensor will detect this and turn off the squibbs for the passanger bag and indicate this on the dash. if you are buckled in and pick your butt off of the seat it will go off... if you have the car running and you put you hand on the middle of the seat this will also turn the bag off. if it is a permanent problem (every time someone is in the seat the bag is off) take it to the dealer the occupant weight sensor (OWS) may need to have a zero point calibration performed.
this can be caused by many different reasons. does it happen often or with more than one person?
also if the person is sitting off center in the seat the occupant weight sensor will detect this and turn off the squibbs for the passanger bag and indicate this on the dash. if you are buckled in and pick your butt off of the seat it will go off... if you have the car running and you put you hand on the middle of the seat this will also turn the bag off. if it is a permanent problem (every time someone is in the seat the bag is off) take it to the dealer the occupant weight sensor (OWS) may need to have a zero point calibration performed.
The Passenger Air Bag indicator is on all the time (with person in seat or no person in seat). I guess I have no choice but to visit my "friendly" dealer. Thanks for the info.
mustangmike6996
5 Year Member
We have a 2007 GT Convertable. My wife weighs 122 lbs. The passenger off light comes on at times even when she is sitting correctly in the seat. We have had it back 4 times and they at last had an engineer from Ford look at it. The answer was it was performing as designed.
We took this problem up with the Better Business Bureau. They had an arbitrator hear the case. They agreed with Ford.
Last April Hyundai recalled 2006-2008 Sonatas for this exact same problem.
We went to look at a new GMC truck today. My wife got in the passenger seat and it acted the same way. We did not buy the truck.
When she uses a seat cushion it seems to be OK. We were told that her weight is more evenly distrbuted to all the sensor pads with a seat cushion.
We took this problem up with the Better Business Bureau. They had an arbitrator hear the case. They agreed with Ford.
Last April Hyundai recalled 2006-2008 Sonatas for this exact same problem.
We went to look at a new GMC truck today. My wife got in the passenger seat and it acted the same way. We did not buy the truck.
When she uses a seat cushion it seems to be OK. We were told that her weight is more evenly distrbuted to all the sensor pads with a seat cushion.
Art161
Member
If you want to pursue this further, you will probably need to contact a governmental agency. Since you have the same problem with two different brands, your chance of success is somewhat doubtful.
Arbitration can be a joke. My father used to serve as an arbitrator for auto manufacturers. He was eventually told that his services were no longer wanted. It seems he sided with the customer too many times.
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