Disable passenger air bag in SLK

[Snowqueen]

Can anyone help please? Can the passenger air bag be disabled in an SLK? I have a small dog that has to sit on the passenger seat. Someone said the air bag should be disabled as it could cause injury. The dog wears the correct safety harness whilst travelling and she only weighs 5kg so not much weight on the seat. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[AMGeed]

Welcome to the forum.

It can be done but consider it very carefully before doing so. The car will also fail the MOT with it disabled and there may be insurance implications if you had an accident with a front seat passenger.

https://www.slkworld.com/threads/disable-passenger-airbag.281930/ Read all the replies before going any further.

I'd play safe and put the dog on the rear seat (or the boot........joking)

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

You should be able to disable the airbag as you can fit a rear facing child seat, mine are older so I’ve not looked at doing it. My pax airbag has a warning light on the centre console in front of the gear lever advising if it’s on or off

 

[EmilysDad]

Hello and welcome

You should be able to disable the airbag as you can fit a rear facing child seat, mine are older so I’ve not looked at doing it. My pax airbag has a warning light on the centre console in front of the gear lever advising if it’s on or off

but you'd need a silly expensive MB seat with transponders to 'talk' to the car. But I believe that the option to turn the seat off with transponders is as other MB fitments ie an option. There's a blank above the rear view mirror of my 451 Smart where the airbag on or warning light would be.

IIRC there's a stand alone transponder available to fool the airbag

 

[bembo449]

isn't there something in the end of the dash when you open the door or is it in the glovebox ?? just turns off with the emergency key ?

 

[Snowqueen]

Welcome to the forum.

It can be done but consider it very carefully before doing so. The car will also fail the MOT with it disabled and there may be insurance implications if you had an accident with a front seat passenger.

https://www.slkworld.com/threads/disable-passenger-airbag.281930/ Read all the replies before going any further.

I'd play safe and put the dog on the rear seat (or the boot........joking)

 

[Snowqueen]

Thank you everyone, there isn’t any back seat in the SLK not even a small shelf. I would hope to select to disable or enable according to whether dog or passenger in car. I’ve looked for a ‘key’ to disable, which I’ve had in other cars usually in the places suggested by other responses here. I will get someone who knows more than me to look. Thanks all

 

[mersum1es]

Mercedes did not do that as easily shunted as key in end of dasboard. If it is still 'DAS' car, I think bag can be coded out. Never done and never will do that because it is extremely dangerous. Because it is not easily on/off thing. So if your dog is precious to you, get those transponders, they are sometimes available in ebay.

 

[mioba]

What does the manual say.

Imagine you have a passenger in the seat and the airbag is off, You are unfortunate to have an accident and the passenger gets hurt seriously as no airbag. Thats not good at all.

I know it doesnt help the question but maybe another perspective.

Maybe they cant be deactivated for that very reason.

Airbags causing injury???
I think they do the damn opposite.

 

[Blobcat]

What does the manual say.

Imagine you have a passenger in the seat and the airbag is off, You are unfortunate to have an accident and the passenger gets hurt seriously as no airbag. Thats not good at all.

I know it doesnt help the question but maybe another perspective.

Maybe they cant be deactivated for that very reason.

Airbags causing injury???
I think they do the damn opposite.

They kill babies in rear facing child seats which is why you disable the airbag. A lot of manufacturers have a keyswitch, Mercedes rely on a transponder in the child seat.
The airbag light in the centre console comes on to advise the airbag is off

 

[mioba]

They kill babies in rear facing child seats which is why you disable the airbag. A lot of manufacturers have a keyswitch, Mercedes rely on a transponder in the child seat.
The airbag light in the centre console comes on to advise the airbag is of

Then thats the answer surely!

 

[Snowqueen]

Mercedes did not do that as easily shunted as key in end of dasboard. If it is still 'DAS' car, I think bag can be coded out. Never done and never will do that because it is extremely dangerous. Because it is not easily on/off thing. So if your dog is precious to you, get those transponders, they are sometimes available in ebay.

Brilliant response thank you

 

[Snowqueen]

They kill babies in rear facing child seats which is why you disable the airbag. A lot of manufacturers have a keyswitch, Mercedes rely on a transponder in the child seat.
The airbag light in the centre console comes on to advise the airbag is off

Thanks for that. I would only drive with the bag off if my dog is in the car. Another posting advised Air bags cause injury to animals. This transponder has been mentioned couple times so I will investigate thank you

 

[Snowqueen]

isn't there something in the end of the dash when you open the door or is it in the glovebox ?? just turns off with the emergency key ?

I’ve tried to find but no luck

 

[mioba]

Anything in the manual.
Did you ask a dealer. May need coding with STAR