Passenger Airbag Isolation

[Ashley]

Hi
Can anyone help by letting me know if A2s have the facility to be able to isolate/switch off the passenger airbag? My local Audi Dealer couldn't help with this one, and I'm hoping someone can!
Many Thanks
Ashley.

[Skipton01]

The option to turn off the passenger airbag was a part of the Isofix child seat preparation.

On most other models, there is a retrofit kit available, which is basically a key operated switch in the glove box.

I don't think that there is one available for the A2, but I would imagine that an A3 (old shape) could be modified to fit. You would obviously need a key barrel to suit.

Cheers,

Mike

[bretti_kivi]

if there's no keyswitch in the glovebox, then it wasn't standard. It IS doable, but the legalities are different depending where you are.

Which dealer was it? where are you located? Some are more competent than others....

Bret

[Ian with A2]

I didn't realise the key switch was an extra! I assumed the key switch in mine was a standard fit (wife has A6 Avant and that has one too) - where they can make money Audi make money :-) (ps - everyone assumes A6 is mine and A2 is Elaine's - how's that for an ego boost :-( )

[spike]

Hi Ashley
If you don't have the key switch fitted, the passenger side airbag can also be turned off by the dealer for about £20 or free if you know someone with a VagCom diagnostic kit.
See link for more info
http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5100&highlight=passenger+airbag

Cheers Spike

[Ashley]

Thanks for the replies. We don't have an A2 - looking to buy one for my wife. The Audi dealer in Wakefield (UK) had a car which didn't appear to have an isolation switch (although it was a 54 plate). I'm a seasoned Audi owner and so thought I'd know wher to look - but no joy!
I contacted Audi UK who ran a search on the car and claimed that it can be isolated through the glovebox (as I thought). Now, either it's an invisible lock on this particular car - or I need to go to specsavers (could be the latter!).
Essentially, my wife wants to run the baby seat in the front and so to do so safely - the airbag has to be isolated.
It's good to know it can be switched off for £20 anyway though!

[ULP]

Cars with the Isofix pack (and thus passenger airbag de-activation) have the key to the right hand side in the glovebox; it's easy to see without peering! They also have the airbag-off light up by the interior light where there is a funny little grill thing; when the key is turned, this is illuminated.

Personally, I always think kids are better-off in the back anyway and once they are on a front-facing seat seat then they can sit in the front with an active airbag, so long as the passengers seat is pushed-back; the risk is from the airbag hitting the rear-facing seat and snapping a baby's neck and crushing them against the seat-back.

[andyman]

ULP dont mean to hyjack this post but sadly Ollie doesnt have the on/off key switch as my previous A2 did so is it safe for Tegan to sit in the front now she is in a booster child seat,??,
Seat has boaster base and a back to it like a bucket seat.
She hates going in Ollie cos she cant sit in the front like she can in mine.

Regards Andy.

[ULP]

ULP dont mean to hyjack this post but sadly Ollie doesnt have the on/off key switch as my previous A2 did so is it safe for Tegan to sit in the front now she is in a booster child seat,??,
Seat has boaster base and a back to it like a bucket seat.
She hates going in Ollie cos she cant sit in the front like she can in mine.

Regards Andy.

Yes it is safe for her - there is an awful lot of misconception and misinformation in respect of airbags.

The risk of an airbag in respect of children relates to rear-facing seats being forced towards the seat backrest at speed; babies lie rear-facing because their neck muscles are not sufficiently developed to hold the weight of their head in an impact, the baby seat spreads the babies weight. The end result of a forward-facing crash on a baby would be like having a bowling-ball in a stringy sock - to be blunt, the head wouldn't stop...

The main issue of rear facing is the proximity of the section of baby-seat behind the babies head to an inflating airbag - the airbag will smash into the seat, whipping the babies neck and bludgeoning them (that was the only word I could think of, but hopefully gets the message across) into the seat-back; the same result of bowling-ball in stringy sock would be the outcome.

There is nothing at all about an airbag that is inherently safe to impacting with a restrained childs face and torso - the caveat to having the passengers seat pushed back is that booster seats mean a childs legs may actually be in the path of an exploding airbag, either snapping the legs or forcing them up; accordingly, so long as the seat is pushed as far back as possible then it is perfectly fine for a child in a booster-seat (be they base or base and back) to sit in the front.

A perfect example of the safety of airbags and children is that whilst the front airbag is deactivated, the side one isn't; and if you think front airbags explode, you want to see a side-one at full-chat; vicious...

For what it's worth, here is a link to the 'Think!' web site that might be of help, if less explanatory :)

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/childcarseats/faq03.htm

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/childcarseats/faq15.htm

EDITED TO SAY:

I'm always mildly amused seeing people in the passengers seat with their feet on the dashboard; in such circumstances the airbag would inflate forcing the legs (at amazing speed) up towards the passengers head; at best they will get ripped-muscles and tendons in their back, but in reality Paralysis or death from damage to the abdomen is the only outcome...

I'm still not sure people really understand the force in an inflating airbag - it needs to have completely inflated and already be deflating slightly when the person hits it to manage the bodies decelleration effectively; all in a matter of 30 milliseconds (side airbags inflate in less than 5 milliseconds :o ). It is a violent explosion that requires liberal-use of four-letter expletives...

[andyman]

Ah that great thanks bud, Tegan is very pleased:)