Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

Hunter98TA · 09-03-2003, 08:09 AM

A co-workers father just purchased a 1999 C5 vert. Black on Black with 8100 miles.
He has 2 small Grandkids ages 5 & 7. They will be heartbroken if they could not ride in it. The laws state that no child under the age of 12 (I thought it was a height issue, not age) can sit in the front seat of a car that has a passenger airbag.
Is there a way to temporarily disable the airbag?
Matt

case2307 · 09-03-2003, 08:26 AM

Check the glove box. That's where it is on the Z.

NYCHASM · 09-03-2003, 08:39 AM

Just to expand a little on the previous post, you need to find the passenger side airbag switch that uses the ignition key to disable. As posted, it should be in the glove box.

Good luck,
Charlie

Hunter98TA · 09-03-2003, 09:00 AM

Thank you Gentlemen. The RugRats will be happy.
Matt

EvanZ06 · 09-03-2003, 09:57 AM

FYI, I don't think that year had the airbag disable. Even if it's not there, you can get the wiring kit from any GM dealer and install it. The other option would be to pull the airbag fuse, which will of course set a code and turn on the warning light in the dash cluster.

Backlash · 09-03-2003, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EvanZ06
FYI, I don't think that year had the airbag disable. Even if it's not there, you can get the wiring kit from any GM dealer and install it. The other option would be to pull the airbag fuse, which will of course set a code and turn on the warning light in the dash cluster.

That is consistant with what I have heard. Switch did not become standard in the glove box until 2001 (I think).

TexasRedZ06 · 09-03-2003, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Backlash
That is consistant with what I have heard. Switch did not become standard in the glove box until 2001 (I think).

It was added late in the production of the 2000s........ I believe January 2001. The upgrade kit has the switch in the glovebox and the indicator light on the console. The kit is around $115 and is not a quick install. Here is a link for the only information I could find on installing this kit:
http://97vette.com/howto/airbag/index.html

As a temporary fix, you can pull SDM fuse#16, which kills the entire airbag system......... including the driver's airbag. I would only pull and replace this fuse with the ignition off.