Passenger Airbag

[brakes508]

I've a quick question relating to my wifes 2001 SLK230 she's looking to have a forward facing child seat (Recaro) in it and I wondered if there's any way the passenger airbag can be switch off for safety reasons. Given our nephew is in a forward facing saet (13 months) does anyone know the legislation? maybe there's not a need to have the airbag swithed off or is it a height thing? any info would be most welcome, many thanks.

 

[jberks]

No reputable garage will disable it. There are no instruction from MB on how to do this and if they get it wrong and it goes off, they are in serious trouble for negligence.
But if you're determined then yes it can be disconnected and an appropriate resistor put in place to trick the SrS check system into thinking all is well. There are also knock out switches available from the internet (US sites mainly) but it may be a diy or back street garage job.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
I thought if you used the MB child seat it had a sensor in it to disable the airbag. Also i seem to remember also that you could buy a child seat from mothercare which would do this as well.
Maybe some one else could clarify this.

 

[jberks]

bigasotonuk makes a good point. A transponder equipped seat is the only 'approved' solution.
The law is
Children up to 3 years old


In the Front Seat

The child MUST use the correct child restraint.

It is illegal to carry a child in a rear-facing child seat in the front, which is protected by an active frontal airbag.

 

[brakes508]

Hmm not sure I'm any clearer really, as there's only 2 seats anyway and he will be properly restrained in a 4 harness system in a recaro seat which will sit forward facing with the car seat belt feeding through the back of the seat and locked into clip as normal. The child will be restrained in the correct seat just not sure what the criteria is with passenger airbag? maybe there is no issue as there's not a need to have it switched off any other thoughts gratefully received.....

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
As jberks has said the fact that your front passenger airbag is active it is illegal to carry children under the age of three in a front facing child seat. This is because the airbag going off could seriously injure the child as effectively the airbag is going off in the childs face in the event of an accident.

ACTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG=NO FRONT FACING CHILD SEAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

 

[johno2004]

Hi,

In my manual for my CLK320 w208 is states

Automatic chid seat recognition:
A special child seat is required for the automatic child seat recognition on the front passenger seat. This child seat can be obtained from any MB servive station.
When this child seat is in use on the front passenger seat, the front passenger airbag is deactivated.
The airbag off indicator lamp in the center console lights up.

So best thing to do is check your manual for your model and seek advice on purchasing child seat from your local MB.

Hope this helps

Johno