To deactivate the front passengers’ airbags, utilize the front passengers’ airbag ON-OFF switch.
airbag. If your rearward-facing child safety system cannot be installed,
Make careful you switch off the front passengers before transferring to any other seat.
Before using the airbag, flip the ON/OFF switch. (See To deactivate an airbag.) The glove compartment houses the ON/OFF switch for the front passenger airbag.
In This Article...
front passenger airbag indicator lamp being off
How do I activate the passenger airbag?
When the passenger door is open, you may access the switch for the passenger airbag on the passenger side of the instrument panel. Verify that the switch is set to the appropriate position. All front-facing passengers, including children and adults, can securely sit in the passenger seat when the airbag is ON.
My passenger airbag off light is on; why is that?
If your passenger is light enough for the weight sensor to notice that they are in the seat but not so light that it would be prudent to deploy the airbag, your passenger airbag will not deploy. The airbag’s deployment would be risky for the person in this chair, according to the sensor, because they are too light.
Where can I find a passenger airbag?
When an adult-sized individual is spotted in the passenger seat, the front passenger air bags will immediately deploy.
The illuminated word ON on the PASSENGER AIR BAG control on the center console will indicate this. Even with an adult-sized person seated in the passenger seat, the air bag may not deploy. The word OFF will appear on the control in this situation. Do not operate the car if the air bag control cannot detect the person in the passenger seat. Do the following instead:
Once the air bag control has signaled ON after starting the car, keep the passenger and their seat in place for one minute.
The air bag will remain on for one minute after which the passenger may modify their seat and seating posture.
How should the passenger airbag light be set?
Only when there is an issue with the airbag system in the car should the airbag warning light remain illuminated. The car’s computer runs a system check each time you turn the key. In order to demonstrate that it is functioning, the light briefly illuminates before turning off.
Can my passenger airbag be turned off?
infant on board? Putting them in a child seat that faces backwards? Then, to help keep them safe, learn how to deactivate your front passenger airbag.
When traveling with a rear-facing child seat, you might need to deactivate the front passenger airbag.
Behind the front passenger visor is a handy reminder sticker. However, if you’re utilizing a front-facing child seat, DO NOT deactivate the front passenger airbag.
What to watch out for and how to deactivate the airbag are listed below:
- The deactivation switch may be located in the glovebox of some cars. In certain vehicles, it is located at the passenger door’s end of the instrument panel.
- Search for the deactivation lock if the switch is located in the glovebox.
- Enter the car key. Turn it till the white mark indicates that it is off.
- Lock the glove box. And start the ignition from the driver’s seat.
- Examine the dashboard. The warning icon for airbag deactivation ought to be shown.
- Always activate the front passenger airbag again after removing your child from the front seat.
- When utilizing a rearward-facing child seat in the front seat, you must turn the airbag off.
- When a kid seat is not being used in the front seat, you must turn the airbag ON.
However, you can always consult your Owners Manual or call your local Ford Dealer if you have any questions.
If you like this video, you might also like the others in our How to series, which are meant to help you maintain your Ford and get the most of all of its capabilities.
My side airbag is not on; why?
The instrument panel houses the warning light for the side air bags being off. The passenger side air bag is momentarily deactivated when the light turns on. When the front passenger seat is empty or the passenger is not seated safely, the passenger side air bag deactivates. Tip When the automobile is turned on, all warning lights, including the Side Air Bag Off warning light, temporarily come on. Only if the light remains on after starting the engine is it a concern.
How is the passenger airbag light reset?
The airbag light (also known as the SRS light) should ideally only turn on after an accident, after the airbag has been deployed and filled with either argon or nitrogen. The airbag light can, however, remain on due to other conditions, such as a component or sensor problem. Having said that, automobile owners would benefit from using the following instructions and a handheld airbag light reset tool.
Turn Your Ignition on and Off.
When you experience the same problem, you should start by following this technique, which is identical to resetting the airbag light on a Toyota Camry. It needs timing the airbag light and has four straightforward stages that are simple to complete.
First, activate the ignition. Wait for the airbag light to turn on next; it typically illuminates for seven seconds before turning off automatically. After waiting three seconds, immediately flip the ignition switch off. Before starting the engine, go through the basic procedures a couple of times. Your car’s airbag light should illuminate for seven seconds before turning off permanently if everything is done correctly.
Restart Your Vehicle and Do a Test Drive.
Your car can require a power cycle, just like your cell phone. But not all automobiles will be compatible with this. But it might for individuals who occasionally seem to experience issues. If the airbag light does not stay on for too long, you would be aware to do this action. Start your ignition again, then take a little drive. If the airbag light eventually stops flashing for good, the issue has probably been resolved. If not, carry out the remaining tasks on this list.
(TIP: Check the wiring system under the driver’s and passenger’s seats before starting your car. Check the connector plug for any corrosion or loose wires. If none, spritz an electronic cleaner on the connecting plugs.)
Examine the Passenger Airbag Switch.
When attempting to turn off the airbag light, one of the first things to check is the passenger seat airbag on/off button (only present in some vehicles). It’s possible that someone accidentally switched it off, leaving the airbag light on. Normally located on the passenger side dashboard, this button can occasionally be seen by opening the glove box or passenger door.
Inspect Whether Seat Belts Are Fastened or Working Correctly.
Since the SRS is concerned with driver and passenger security, it can detect ill-fastened seatbelts and turn on the airbag light. The airbag can even be turned off automatically if the seatbelt is not used. To that end, make sure the appropriate operation of seatbelts and seat belt sensors is on your list of things to rule out. The same advice would be given by mechanics to those performing a Jeep Wrangler airbag light reset.
It may seem absurd, but even seemingly insignificant items like spare change can cause seat belt sensors to malfunction. A tiny bump or pothole can cause a small coin to fall near the seat belt fasteners and get lodged between the sensor and the buckle. When this occurs, the sensor might not detect when a seat belt is fastened, which could result in the airbag light turning on.
Check the inside of the buckle to see if anything is stuck there before replacing your sensors. Usually, it is not as expensive to remove any obstructions from inside the seat belt fastening as most car owners believe. If your seat belt’s components can’t be changed separately and the sensors are built into the seat belt, the opposite is true.
Verify That the Passenger Seat Sensor Is Not Applied.
Some cars have a passenger weight sensor that is overly sensitive. The issue with these particular vehicles is that placing a big box or container on the passenger seat is all it takes to trigger the sensors. The airbag light therefore comes on.
There are two ways to deal with this.
Either take the item out of the backseat, or fasten the seatbelt. If the latter fixes the issue, it will demonstrate that the sensor was used, resulting in the airbag light turning on. When the seat belt is buckled and the airbag light disappears but nothing is in the seat, the passenger seat sensor is likely malfunctioning. The decision to keep the seat belt fastened while driving or to replace the sensor is then yours to make.
Use a Scanner With an SRS or Airbag Light Reset Option.
If you enjoy working with your hands, you can get a scanner with SRS capacity to reset your airbag light. Just be aware that not all OBD-II gadgets can automatically reset airbag light. It’s wise to do some study before buying an OBD-II scanner with the capability you require. I’d suggest the Foxwell NT634 OBD-II Scanner (see on Amazon). This device shows error codes that assist you determine how to remedy the problem or when it’s best to have your car serviced.
Address Faulty Airbag Sensors.
Particularly with more contemporary vehicle makes and models, sensors are crucial to a car’s operation. For starters, sensors make sure airbags inflate in the case of a collision. In specifically, the SRS functions with the help of several sensors placed in various parts and/or components of the vehicle. You will undoubtedly notice the airbag light turning on if any of these sensors corrode, fail, or stop functioning.
Airbag sensors occasionally suddenly activate and for no apparent cause. If the automobile has experienced water damage, they may potentially malfunction and turn on the SRS light. Additionally, there are instances where the airbag system control unit may have just failed. If any of these things happen, the issue might be resolved by replacing the faulty sensors, control unit, or water-damaged parts.
Fix or Replace a Non-Working Clock Spring.
The clock spring, sometimes referred to as a spiral cable, coil assembly, contact reel, or cable reel assembly, is a significant part that, if destroyed or damaged, can result in the airbag light turning on. Not only is it one of the most frequent causes of a flashing airbag light, but it is also one of the most costly to fix (at least $400). If you change the clock spring yourself, you can save money as long as you use extreme caution and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
You will need to get inside the steering wheel to fix it if you think that is why your airbag light is triggering (see on Amazon). This shouldn’t be a cause for concern because the full procedure just requires 10 stages and takes under 20 minutes to complete:
How to Fix a Clock Spring
- Wait for the capacitors to drain for at least ten to fifteen minutes after removing the negative battery line from the terminal. (Note that merely disconnecting the battery terminals from the car will not cause the airbag light to turn off.)
- Hold the center of the wheel (where the airbag is located) in place while the wheels are straight and look for the screws. After that, unscrew them.
- Pull the airbag away from you to remove it, then unplug the connectors (you may use a pick to slide the yellow clips out when doing this). The screws holding the steering column trim in place are also visible while turning the steering wheel from left to right.
- Mark the location between the steering wheel and steering column trim with two pieces of painter’s tape when the steering lock is activated. When later putting the steering wheel back in its original position, this reference point will be useful.
- With a breaker bar, loosen the steering wheel nut without taking it off entirely.
- Once the wheel is free, take off the nut and wheel to reveal the clock spring.
- Disconnect the harnesses at the bottom or back to remove the clock spring. Put a fresh clock spring in its place. Bend the tab until it snaps to release it.
- When reinstalling the steering wheel, use your tape marks as a guide to align it correctly.
- Install the harnesses and the airbag after tightening the steering column nut with a torque wrench (or your hands and a breaker bar).
- Reconnect the negative battery terminal and reinstall the trim piece on the lower steering column (see on Amazon). After completing the last step, your airbag light should stop flashing.
Make Sure the Airbag Is Not Defective.
Although uncommon, malfunctioning airbags do happen. It might be the cause of your inability to reset the airbag light. If it does prove to be the offender, be aware that you cannot solve this problem by yourself. It will cost several hundred dollars and professional assistance to solve this issue.
Replacing airbags normally costs between $200 and $1,000, depending on the type, model, and complexity of the SRS in your car (without labor fees). Depending on which airbag is broken, labor expenses change. Compared to side or passenger airbags, driver-side airbags have proven to be simpler to replace. As a result, working on the latter results in higher fees. Both can be pricey, but neither is something you should put off.
Seek Assistance From a Professional.
If everything else fails, have a mechanic work on your car. The cost of taking this path will be more, but the mechanic should correctly determine what is causing your airbag light to flash and fix the issue long-term. New vehicle owners, in contrast to tech-savvy drivers, would largely think about this as their first option.
When the airbag light is on, can you drive?
When the airbag light comes on, the vehicle’s airbag system is malfunctioning. Due to this flaw, the airbag is unlikely to deploy after an accident. As a result, it is not advised that you use the car until the system has been fixed.
Never disregard the important caution. There’s no need to gamble with the car, even though it doesn’t make it unsafe to drive.
The light does, however, show that the SRS parts are not functioning properly. This may potentially indicate that the airbags won’t activate in the event of a collision. You shouldn’t wait until you are involved in an accident to determine whether the airbags will keep you safe.
With an airbag, can my kid ride in the front seat?
- Always check to make sure your child is securely buckled up in a child car seat that is acceptable for the vehicle it is being used in. A kid seat harness or seat belt must be used to keep the child safely in place.
- It is safer for kids to ride in the back of the car, if at all possible.
- If the passenger airbag is deployed, never install a child seat in the front.
- Unless there is no other option, avoid installing a forward-facing child seat in the front. If you must, ensure sure the child seat is installed securely, the child is safely restrained by the seat belt or child seat harness, and the youngster is as far away from the dashboard as feasible. Find out from the car’s manufacturer how far the airbag extends when it deploys and whether using a child seat is okay.
- Side airbags are typically curtain airbags that deploy downward to protect the head and are typically less effective than front airbags. They should offer additional safety rather than present a risk to a youngster riding in the back in a child seat.
- Make sure your child is using the child seat correctly and that it is properly installed. Aim to keep the child seat from leaning up against or against the window or door. Children frequently do fall asleep in child seats, but having side wings will assist prevent a sleeping child from having their head rest against the side window.
- If the vehicle has additional airbags, consult the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer to find out how far they extend during deployment and whether a child seat can be used in close proximity.
When should the passenger airbag be turned off?
Children under the age of 12 “are the most at danger when the frontal airbag deploys in a crash,” claims Child Seat Safety in a Facebook post. The article also emphasizes that it is legally required to deactivate the airbag before installing a rear-facing kid seat in the front passenger seat.