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Turning off airbags on a Golf.

555 Views 14 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  jaydub, 
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Is it possible to turn off the passenger's side airbag on a MKIV Golf? Anyone know? Thanks for your help.
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (caracterevw)

Good question. I want to know how to disable the driver side curtain air bag?!?
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (A-Money)

uhhhhh.. why?
make whoever is worried about it sit in the back..
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (caracterevw)

I think alot of people would like to be able to do this
I myself would love it if one could have a button on the panel do this
for both bags
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (Civic Slayer)

quote:[HR][/HR]I think alot of people would like to be able to do this
I myself would love it if one could have a button on the panel do this
for both bags[HR][/HR]​
But why? i guess i am confused by that idea.
It's not my driving skills that i am worried about. It's the soccer mom/business dad in their SUV talking on the phone who worry me..
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (caracterevw)

Dealers could in theory turn off your passenger side airbag, or even put in a switch like in Ford full-size pickups. However, none will due to potential liability issues. Only good reason to be able to disable an airbag is in a car with no back seat, since you could potentially have children/car seats sitting in front of the airbag. Our cars have back seats...
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O
It's impossible to disconnect some without dissconnecting the other.
If you want to disconnect all of them, just reach under the seat, and unplug it. It'll deactivate all of the airbags. When I put my Sparcos in, I went ahead and (obviously) had to unplug the stock seats. I've been running with no airbags for a while now...
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (Godlike)

Hi - I haven't posted in here before because I haven't gotten my Golf yet! Still trying to decide if I can afford to park it here in the city.
But, I wanted to mention why someone might want to disable the airbags. My 4'10" mom has been driving an older Jetta ('89? '90? don't know). The rest of us really want her to drive a safer car (this one doesn't even have a seatbelt!), but she sits so close to the steering wheel, she'd probably be killed if an airbag ever deployed. So, she's still driving the old Jetta. Both choices aren't very appealing but she's done ok so far without, including one accident that totalled the original Jetta.


[Modified by pilotgrl, 7:17 PM 2-12-2002]
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (pilotgrl)

You dealer (or anyone with a VAG-COM) should be able to turn off your airbags.
As for why? Because they cause more injuries than they prevent, they ARE dangerous and not just to children. Drivers who are short/small are also at risk, as is clearly stated all over the owners manuals. Check out some of the studies/literature. Not only are they dangerous but also unreliable. Using a seat belt is much much MUCH safer than anything any sort of restraint with an airbag. THis is a case of legislated "safety devices" actually being a hazard.
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (Rapt)

This is a subjective opinion. I am 6'3 - 6'4 (depending on shoes
) so size isn't an issue, however, I have had 3 airbags go off in my 4 years of driving, and in every case I can say I am much better having one. I was in the passenger seat of a Civic that got clipped by a Crown Victoria that ran a red light doing 50... the front end of the car was literally torn off of the car, and it was hit from the passenger side... after having to crawl out the driver's side rear door, I walked away... now the people in the Crown Vic, who were wearing seatbelts but had no airbags, had to go to the hospital-- the passenger based his head on the dashboard and the driver broke several ribs by the steering wheel-- all of this from hitting a ricemobile. I understand it is an opinion, with some factual evidence, but look at the statistics for the other side. The percentage of drivers that are harmed are either small of stature, too large (weightwise) to get from the wheel, or elderly.
~D.J.~
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (caracterevw)

I believe there's a cable from VW that can be used to bypass the seat airbag without throwing codes. It's officially only for "diagnostic use". I think Potterman sells it.
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (Rapt)

quote:[HR][/HR]You dealer (or anyone with a VAG-COM) should be able to turn off your airbags.
As for why? Because they cause more injuries than they prevent, they ARE dangerous and not just to children. Drivers who are short/small are also at risk, as is clearly stated all over the owners manuals. Check out some of the studies/literature. Not only are they dangerous but also unreliable. Using a seat belt is much much MUCH safer than anything any sort of restraint with an airbag. THis is a case of legislated "safety devices" actually being a hazard.[HR][/HR]​
I don't want to get this post off the topic, but you are wrong here. If used correctly, airbags do not cause more injuries than they prevent. A lot of people rely on them as their only restraint. You need to wear your seat belt - that's what holds you in place. The airbags then cushion you from hitting or being hit by other parts of the car.
Children are at risk with airbags, especially if seated incorrectly. As are small and very large people. But if people take the time to seat themselves correctly (posture and distance from the steering wheel, etc) they end up being much more safe than without airbags. Why do you think they are required safety equipment now?
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (Godlike)

Sometimes you just want to let someone smaller (gf is 4'10" 98 lbs) sit up front, I agree it should be able to be disabled on the passenger side.


[Modified by MRP2001GTi, 8:34 AM 2-14-2002]
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (caracterevw)

If you turn off those airbags, your insurance company can deny your claim if you get into an accident. I wouldn't suggest it but I would love to do it.
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Re: Turning off airbags on a Golf. (Dubs)

i agree w/ the issue of shorter people sitting up front. we looked into having my wife's airbag in her beetle deactivated because she's only 4'11". there are some devices you can buy which are switched off/on depending on who is driving and so forth.
we actually didn't end up going that route because you have to mount some ugly box someplace under the dash. http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif
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