Hate the "OFF" light on the pass. airbag switch?

[NorcalPR]

Hey guys. After just taking my stock deck out (FS in the FS section) and installing a aftermarket deck, I decided to do something about the annoying orange light comming from the pass airbag switch. I like it off because I don't want to pay for a extra airbag in a accident. The bright ass orange glow is annoying as hell.

Basically, take off the air controll knobs and lightly tug on the plate. Pull the A/C switch out. Then remove the screws holding down the trimplate. There are some where you just removed the plate, and one under the ashtray. Lightly tug on the faceplate. Now you will see the airbag switch. There is a yellow connector that goes to the keyway, and two white ones that are above it. However, one plug goes from the keyway to the light. Remove that plug and install everyhting back.

That plug lets the light know when to turn off when the switch is turned to the off posistion, hence, the light turning on. Removing this plug does not make the airbag light come on in the dash cluster, it just makes the "OFF" light above the keyhole for the pass airbag.

-Phill

[Rob]

Toyota should have put the air bag switch where the clock is and the clock where the switch is.

[grillmasterp]

I like it off because I don't want to pay for a extra airbag in a accident.
-Phill

I hope your passengers can appreciate your cheap trick.
With the light off...Literally , they may never know what hit 'em. :(

Its your truck , but for your passengers sake- I hope you remember to activate the airbag when needed...(although now it might difficult to realize without the indicator light.)

[NorcalPR]

With passangers it's a different story, but when I'm driving by myself, no need for it to be on.

[grillmasterp]

With passangers it's a different story, but when I'm driving by myself, no need for it to be on.

Yeah - but without the "Passenger airbag OFF" Indicator-
I seriously hope you remember to turn it back on EVERY time you have a passenger-
I wouldn't want to risk facing the consequences of forgetting that one time..........(Airbag deploys for you but does not deploy for your passenger)
..All it takes is that one time

Also - since it it requires the drivers key- A likely scenario would be jumping in the truck , starting the engine ...and being too lazy to remove the key in order to enable the Airbag because ..." you are just making a quick run to the corner store with your buddy/GF/wife"

[SAStoy]

Dude you are comparing cost of saving $300 to cost of saving a human life. Who even knows if your truck will be repairable if you get into an accident? I would hope that you leave it on all the time unless you have a small child in the front seat. I doubt that you will remember every time you have a passenger to turn it on. Anyways, I think it might be wise to re-consider your thinking. BTW, there is a reason that light is so annoying, its to get you to turn the airbag to the "ON" position!

Ryan

[NorCalTRD]

Toyota should have put the air bag switch where the clock is and the clock where the switch is.

couldnt agree more.

[jon_7248]

And there are also reasons why people turn them off. Like what I plan on doing. Hey, I have seen the aftermath of accidents with both airbags installed and not. I would rather not have the airbag. People seem to walk away alive alot more with out airbags. Especially since most people dont wear seatbelts and end up getting their head tossed around by the blast of the bag. On one call, we saw this lady that had a broken neck because the blast of the airbag caused her heard to get piched between the A-pillar and the bag, snapped it like a twig it did.

[ONEWAY]

Especially since most people dont wear seatbelts and end up getting their head tossed around by the blast of the bag.
Well those people aren't too bright in the first place...

[Mike-in-WV]

Hey guys. After just taking my stock deck out (FS in the FS section) and installing a aftermarket deck, I decided to do something about the annoying orange light comming from the pass airbag switch. I like it off because I don't want to pay for a extra airbag in a accident. The bright ass orange glow is annoying as hell.

Basically, take off the air controll knobs and lightly tug on the plate. Pull the A/C switch out. Then remove the screws holding down the trimplate. There are some where you just removed the plate, and one under the ashtray. Lightly tug on the faceplate. Now you will see the airbag switch. There is a yellow connector that goes to the keyway, and two white ones that are above it. However, one plug goes from the keyway to the light. Remove that plug and install everyhting back.

That plug lets the light know when to turn off when the switch is turned to the off posistion, hence, the light turning on. Removing this plug does not make the airbag light come on in the dash cluster, it just makes the "OFF" light above the keyhole for the pass airbag.

-Phill
If your worried about the cost of the air bag you either don't have insurance or you figure the accident will be your fault.The only reason to turn off the air bag is if you have a baby or toddler in the seat so why not leave it on?
It's your truck but this is one cheap trick I'll pass on. Thank's anyway, Mike

[NorcalPR]

Well after seeing my brother nearly lose his life, I'll say no for the airbags. He rolled a car and his face was about 3 inches from the airbag. He couldn't bring his neck back because the force jsut kept bringing it more and more. He pulled the fuse when the got the car. He went to see the car a few days later and say that there were no more airbag sensors. If the airbag would have went off, he wouldn't have been here today.

Most of the time I drive by myself anyway. I go to school, park my truck, in school, come back and go to work, come back home and do homework. On the weekends I go riding but I meet people there so most of the time the truck doesn't have a passanger.

I dont mind at all if you guys bash on it or don't want to do it to your rigs, but in my scenario, it worked out great. Even if I did forget to turn it on and start the engine first and I have someone on the seat, most likely I'm not going to stop the truck to turn it on, regardless if the light is on or off. The light doesn't stay on when the truck is off too...

[grillmasterp]

And there are also reasons why people turn them off. Like what I plan on doing. Hey, I have seen the aftermath of accidents with both airbags installed and not. I would rather not have the airbag. People seem to walk away alive alot more with out airbags. Especially since most people dont wear seatbelts and end up getting their head tossed around by the blast of the bag. On one call, we saw this lady that had a broken neck because the blast of the airbag caused her heard to get piched between the A-pillar and the bag, snapped it like a twig it did.

Actually- If you'll notice- I have not made this an issue of turning off the airbag (for whatever reason)
This is about disabling the dummy indicator light - Its not fair to the passenger -Atleast with the light on- the passenger can question the driver about the light

This is similar to disabling the seatbelt indicators-

FOR those that truly believe chances (as adult drivers/passengers) for surviving accidents /minimizing injury are improved withOUT airbags- please enlighten us with some studies, & statistics-

Perhaps it SEEMS like people walk away from more accidents wiithout airbag deployment is because by nature those accidents are less severe.

[Mike-in-WV]

Actually- If you'll notice- I have not made this an issue of turning off the airbag (for whatever reason)
This is about disabling the dummy indicator light - Its not fair to the passenger -Atleast with the light on- the passenger can question the driver about the light

This is similar to disabling the seatbelt indicators-

FOR those that truly believe chances (as adult drivers/passengers) for surviving accidents /minimizing injury are improved withOUT airbags- please enlighten us with some studies, & statistics-

Perhaps it SEEMS like people walk away from more accidents wiithout airbag deployment is because by nature those accidents are less severe.

You are right about that. Show me where the facts that have been found to backup such a statement as "More people walk away from acidents by not useing an air bag" This is a really dumb statement and one that I'm sure the insurance companies will disagree with.
There will always be a few cases that may be the exception rather than the rule. Maybe you should talk to the thousands of people who had there lives saved by seat belts and air bags.

[WickedOne]

OK you dont want to pay for the airbag... but.. .doesnt Insurance cover that??

[NorcalPR]

You are right about that. Show me where the facts that have been found to backup such a statement as "More people walk away from acidents by not useing an air bag" This is a really dumb statement and one that I'm sure the insurance companies will disagree with.
There will always be a few cases that may be the exception rather than the rule. Maybe you should talk to the thousands of people who had there lives saved by seat belts and air bags.

How many people do you know would ask about the Off light and would actually pester me about having it on? People that ride in my truck could more or less care.

I even think the seat belt indicator is lame too. It's not disconnected, instead I hae a picture of me and my girlfriend in front of it. Does that make me a unsafe driver? Does removing the light make me a unsafe driver?

It's not like I'm forcing anyone here to disable the light, but what's the big huss n fuss for?

[Mike-in-WV]

How many people do you know would ask about the Off light and would actually pester me about having it on? People that ride in my truck could more or less care.

I even think the seat belt indicator is lame too. It's not disconnected, instead I hae a picture of me and my girlfriend in front of it. Does that make me a unsafe driver? Does removing the light make me a unsafe driver?

It's not like I'm forcing anyone here to disable the light, but what's the big huss n fuss for?

Maybe you should care a little more about the people who care about you and your passengers .Not trying to tell you what to do, just a suggestion.
Hope you and your passangers stay safe anyway. Have a good one, Mike

[grillmasterp]

It's not like I'm forcing anyone here to disable the light, but what's the big huss n fuss for?

From my perspective- your "mod" does not really cost-effectively solve any real problems, nor does it provide any inherent benefit

Actually I think it Creates a larger potential problem

What is a "Cheap Trick"?
A "cheap trick" is either free or inexpensive when compared to the benefit it gives.

[WATRD]

I am on the fence about whether this is a "cheap trick" in the classic definition, but since the original post was about a simple way to turn off the light, NOT about disabling the airbag itself, I am leaving the thread in place. I am not a big fan of disabling safety equipment and frankly I like having the light to remind me that the passenger SRS system is turned off using the key, but to each his own.

However, lets take the discussions about whether airbags are a good idea and whether or not they save lives elsewhere, so I don't have to lock or prune this thread.

Okay? Thanks!

[NorcalPR]

Thanks WA, I'm with you on disabling safety setups isn't cool, but it's not like I am. I'm just annoyed by a big orange glow.

[Eztrog88]

I disabled my airbag last week when my little cousin was in the truck (3yrs old), my best friend got in 2 days later and asked me why that light on the dash was on, i ofcourse turned the truck off and the airbag back on... its your choice/responsability (when appropriate), to turn off the airbag... but it's your passengers RIGHT to know if he/she is riding without an airbag. I'm glad my friend metioned it, I don't want a death on my conscience because I overlooked the simple turn of a key.


And for all you guys that say you have a better chance of surviving a crash without an airbag, I have one thing to say to that... "Darwin's Theory of Evolution" The strongest AND smartest survive.

[WATRD]

...and on that note, I am closing this thread. The point has been made on both sides of the airbags save lives fence and that was never even the point of the thread. On top of that, I am tired of deleting posts that don't add anything to the "Cheap Tricks" theme of this folder.

Feel free to continue the debate about airbags elsewhere, but the cheap trick of this thread, such that it is, has been made clear already.