Airbags

[geezerbiker]

I need to remove the steering wheel in my 97 Chevy truck as part of the process to replace the turn-signal/multi-function switch.  The first step is to take out the airbag.  The thing is, I don't want to put it back.  Anybody know of a way I can leave it disconnected with out messing with the rest of the electrical system.

I've done some searching but I haven't found any good answers.  Fortunately the truck has a key switch to turn off the passenger side bag but no such luck for the driver's side...

Tony

[Ranger99]

Lots of negatives involved.
I'm not aware of anything to put
back in place of the airbag.
If you just take it out,  the electrical
system is going to show a fault and
light up the instrument panel warning
lamp until it's properly fixed. I don't
know about other states, but here
you won't be able to get a state inspection
with the truck in that condition.  No
inspection here means no registration.
If you have a traffic accident,  and the
insurance company finds that any safety
system has been disabled,  they'll deny
any claim you have.
Not worth the trouble. 

[Argent 88]

I saw a lady who had two black eyes and a broken nose due to an airbag.

[Graybeard]

And I saw one walk away from a wreck that totaled her car with no injuries due to air bags and seat belt/shoulder harness.

She hit the back of my old '88 F150. I drove my truck on down here to the house and kept on driving it with the bent up rear bumper. Her little red car of unknown brand was totaled. I wish that old truck had a soft head rest for me to have bumped my head on rather than that hard glass back window. My head ached for days afterward.

I know there have been a bunch of instances of air bags not working as they should in the last few years but I don't think I'd want mine disabled.

[geezerbiker]

If I lived in the People's Republik of Portland, then I'd have to have it smog tested but out here in the sticks there's no such thing.  So there's no problem with licensing.  I was hoping for something I could do to fool the system into thinking the airbag was still plugged in.

I'm not to worried about crashes.  This is the first truck I've had that was airbag equipped.  The old lady's cars have had them but nothing I drove on a regular basis.  I still have my 78 Ford F150 and now my 97 Chevy Silverado.

BTW, my old lady recently bought a Honda Ridgeline.  I call it a TSO for truck shaped object.  She doesn't always get my humor but this gets this one but the funny thing is the Silverado gets about 2mpg better than her Honda. 

The plan is to take it apart later today and hopefully get it all done before dark since I've taken the Ford off my insurance until I can get some things done to it.  The plan is to pass the Ford on to my daughter or grandson.

Tony

[Lloyd Smale]

I think if it were mine and its operational id put it back. I could see not replacing it if it was deployed because it isnt cheap. I even wonder how your insurance carrier would react if you got hospitalized after a wreck and they found out you pulled the bag out and tossed it. Bottom line is they have saved MANY people and personaly id rather get rid of my seat belts then my air bags that are out of sight out of mind. I think its total bs that i can ride a harley down the street with no helmet wearing shorts and a t shirt but when i get into my 5000 lb truck with 6 air bags i have to buckle a seat belt.