Disengaging Airbag
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,962
Likes: 7
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
Here's the installation docs:
Airbag Disable Switch
JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW:
This document will not allow you to disable the airbag in a 2000-2003 S2000, it's instructions for the installation of Honda's own airbag disable kit. Honda will not sell you one unless you go get government permission (not a big deal) and follow through the procedure descried in this thread and have a dealer install it.
This is just to show that installation of the switch is relatively complex (as of the amount of panel disassembly required) and they don't hack up the wiring in the car to install it.
Airbag Disable Switch
JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW:
This document will not allow you to disable the airbag in a 2000-2003 S2000, it's instructions for the installation of Honda's own airbag disable kit. Honda will not sell you one unless you go get government permission (not a big deal) and follow through the procedure descried in this thread and have a dealer install it.
This is just to show that installation of the switch is relatively complex (as of the amount of panel disassembly required) and they don't hack up the wiring in the car to install it.
good info
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,962
Likes: 7
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
A followup after a couple of days.
The car was parked Friday afternoon in the garage and I went out this morning (Monday) for the trip to work.
Uh oh. Why is the radar detector on?
Hop in the car with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and inserted the key and hit the start button. Some half-hearted 1/2 crank then nothing. Damn battery is dead. Looks like the tech hooked up the hardwired V1 to constant 12V instead of only when the ignition is on.
Lucky for me I have a battery charger. Reach under the dash to pop the hood and I get a handful of air
WTF?
I look and I don't see the hood release handle. I get out get in the Lewinsky position and can see the driver's side kick panel was installed OVER the hood release. That and a zip tie wasn't put on right and a wire loop (for the switch's 12V lead) was coming loose.
I fixed the zip tie, wrestled off the kick panel (which on my car is really hard to get off) and popped the hood.
Charged the battery for about 30 minutes or about what it took to button up everything again and I was off to work about an hour late.
I did call the service manager and let him know about the issues. I told him I don't really blame the tech for the V1 problem, since it's my toy and I removed the detector when I dropped the car off. Apparently the tech needed that lead on the fuse box and moved my lead. However I did differ on the hood release. It looked like the tech was rushing it buttoning up the car. He offered compensation but since work is flexible and aside from the short time involved and no cost to fix it I let it pass with the minor complaint.
Remember, they were doing ME a favor by installing the switch. The next closest dealer was in the San Francisco bay area - a 6-7 hour drive. A big
for all the L.A., O.C. and S.D. area dealers who refused to do the work.
I did check elsewhere else where work was done and it all looks good, they even fixed the 12V accessory socket that came loose a few months ago.
The car was parked Friday afternoon in the garage and I went out this morning (Monday) for the trip to work.
Uh oh. Why is the radar detector on?
Hop in the car with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and inserted the key and hit the start button. Some half-hearted 1/2 crank then nothing. Damn battery is dead. Looks like the tech hooked up the hardwired V1 to constant 12V instead of only when the ignition is on.
Lucky for me I have a battery charger. Reach under the dash to pop the hood and I get a handful of air
WTF?
I look and I don't see the hood release handle. I get out get in the Lewinsky position and can see the driver's side kick panel was installed OVER the hood release. That and a zip tie wasn't put on right and a wire loop (for the switch's 12V lead) was coming loose.
I fixed the zip tie, wrestled off the kick panel (which on my car is really hard to get off) and popped the hood.
Charged the battery for about 30 minutes or about what it took to button up everything again and I was off to work about an hour late.
I did call the service manager and let him know about the issues. I told him I don't really blame the tech for the V1 problem, since it's my toy and I removed the detector when I dropped the car off. Apparently the tech needed that lead on the fuse box and moved my lead. However I did differ on the hood release. It looked like the tech was rushing it buttoning up the car. He offered compensation but since work is flexible and aside from the short time involved and no cost to fix it I let it pass with the minor complaint.
Remember, they were doing ME a favor by installing the switch. The next closest dealer was in the San Francisco bay area - a 6-7 hour drive. A big
for all the L.A., O.C. and S.D. area dealers who refused to do the work.I did check elsewhere else where work was done and it all looks good, they even fixed the 12V accessory socket that came loose a few months ago.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I had a Miata before my 3 year old son was born. I wanted an S2000, but I was in a saving mode at the time. Now I'm ready to dump my '03 Acura TLS (FWD, auto, what was I thinking) for an '03 S2000. How do I find out if a dealer in Arizona will install the switch before I buy the car? I called one dealer and I might as well have been speaking Greek to the guy. If no one in AZ will do it, it is a long drive to Bakersfield from here.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Oakland, CA
Originally Posted by rworne,Aug 15 2005, 04:37 PM
A followup after a couple of days.
The car was parked Friday afternoon in the garage and I went out this morning (Monday) for the trip to work.
Uh oh. Why is the radar detector on?
Hop in the car with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and inserted the key and hit the start button. Some half-hearted 1/2 crank then nothing. Damn battery is dead. Looks like the tech hooked up the hardwired V1 to constant 12V instead of only when the ignition is on.
Lucky for me I have a battery charger. Reach under the dash to pop the hood and I get a handful of air
WTF?
I look and I don't see the hood release handle. I get out get in the Lewinsky position and can see the driver's side kick panel was installed OVER the hood release. That and a zip tie wasn't put on right and a wire loop (for the switch's 12V lead) was coming loose.
I fixed the zip tie, wrestled off the kick panel (which on my car is really hard to get off) and popped the hood.
Charged the battery for about 30 minutes or about what it took to button up everything again and I was off to work about an hour late.
I did call the service manager and let him know about the issues. I told him I don't really blame the tech for the V1 problem, since it's my toy and I removed the detector when I dropped the car off. Apparently the tech needed that lead on the fuse box and moved my lead. However I did differ on the hood release. It looked like the tech was rushing it buttoning up the car. He offered compensation but since work is flexible and aside from the short time involved and no cost to fix it I let it pass with the minor complaint.
Remember, they were doing ME a favor by installing the switch. The next closest dealer was in the San Francisco bay area - a 6-7 hour drive. A big for all the L.A., O.C. and S.D. area dealers who refused to do the work.
I did check elsewhere else where work was done and it all looks good, they even fixed the 12V accessory socket that came loose a few months ago.
The car was parked Friday afternoon in the garage and I went out this morning (Monday) for the trip to work.
Uh oh. Why is the radar detector on?
Hop in the car with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and inserted the key and hit the start button. Some half-hearted 1/2 crank then nothing. Damn battery is dead. Looks like the tech hooked up the hardwired V1 to constant 12V instead of only when the ignition is on.
Lucky for me I have a battery charger. Reach under the dash to pop the hood and I get a handful of air
WTF?
I look and I don't see the hood release handle. I get out get in the Lewinsky position and can see the driver's side kick panel was installed OVER the hood release. That and a zip tie wasn't put on right and a wire loop (for the switch's 12V lead) was coming loose.
I fixed the zip tie, wrestled off the kick panel (which on my car is really hard to get off) and popped the hood.
Charged the battery for about 30 minutes or about what it took to button up everything again and I was off to work about an hour late.
I did call the service manager and let him know about the issues. I told him I don't really blame the tech for the V1 problem, since it's my toy and I removed the detector when I dropped the car off. Apparently the tech needed that lead on the fuse box and moved my lead. However I did differ on the hood release. It looked like the tech was rushing it buttoning up the car. He offered compensation but since work is flexible and aside from the short time involved and no cost to fix it I let it pass with the minor complaint.
Remember, they were doing ME a favor by installing the switch. The next closest dealer was in the San Francisco bay area - a 6-7 hour drive. A big
for all the L.A., O.C. and S.D. area dealers who refused to do the work.I did check elsewhere else where work was done and it all looks good, they even fixed the 12V accessory socket that came loose a few months ago.
My whole soup-to-nuts time took about 3-4 months - mostly waiting for snail mail and the parts to arrive.
Jim
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
I have two basic questions:
1. In general, at what point (age/weight/height) does disabling the passenger side air bag become a moot point?
2. I'm thinking of doing this eventually myself. My daughter is 7 years old, about 50 pounds and 4 ft tall. If I put her in a child safety seat appropriate for her age (as required by law) and I use it properly with the passenger seat as far back as possible, will she be as safe as I am with both air bags enabled?
I know this vehicle is not designed for children. But like so many other owners, I'd like to be able to take my daughter for a short drive now and then and I'd like to know that she's AS SAFE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE in the car with me. It's my guess, but I'm thinking she'd actually be safer in the booster seat properly synched down with the air bag enabled than with it turned off. Her head will be raised by the seat. And the belts won't let her go forward if they were pulled all the way out when buckling her in. Side impact protection is increased as well. Thoughts?
1. In general, at what point (age/weight/height) does disabling the passenger side air bag become a moot point?
2. I'm thinking of doing this eventually myself. My daughter is 7 years old, about 50 pounds and 4 ft tall. If I put her in a child safety seat appropriate for her age (as required by law) and I use it properly with the passenger seat as far back as possible, will she be as safe as I am with both air bags enabled?
I know this vehicle is not designed for children. But like so many other owners, I'd like to be able to take my daughter for a short drive now and then and I'd like to know that she's AS SAFE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE in the car with me. It's my guess, but I'm thinking she'd actually be safer in the booster seat properly synched down with the air bag enabled than with it turned off. Her head will be raised by the seat. And the belts won't let her go forward if they were pulled all the way out when buckling her in. Side impact protection is increased as well. Thoughts?
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42,315
Likes: 45
From: Central Massachusetts
Strat,
The answer to your question is simple. The airbags in the S2000 were designed for adults. For that matter, airbags of this type are essentially over-designed for adults that aren't even belted in.
How you feel about that is entirely subjective. A properly belted passenger should be aided by an airbag in the event of something bad.
You're asking if she's as safe as humanly possible? In the front seat, that can never be the case. Sorry. I'd love to tell you otherwise, but I suspect you already know that.
Those of us who've gone through the act of getting the cutoff switch installed (Honda's or aftermarket) are just trying to do what we can to minimize the risk. There will never be any comparison with, say, the back seats of our Volvo.
OK, as for the particulars... Your 7 year old is exactly like mine. I feel uncomfortable knowing the airbag is enabled. In an accident, that bag will deploy with the full force it is designed for. The seatbelts will automatically tighten, pulling the child back against the seat.
That's about all we can tell ya, strat.
The answer to your question is simple. The airbags in the S2000 were designed for adults. For that matter, airbags of this type are essentially over-designed for adults that aren't even belted in.
How you feel about that is entirely subjective. A properly belted passenger should be aided by an airbag in the event of something bad.
You're asking if she's as safe as humanly possible? In the front seat, that can never be the case. Sorry. I'd love to tell you otherwise, but I suspect you already know that.
Those of us who've gone through the act of getting the cutoff switch installed (Honda's or aftermarket) are just trying to do what we can to minimize the risk. There will never be any comparison with, say, the back seats of our Volvo.
OK, as for the particulars... Your 7 year old is exactly like mine. I feel uncomfortable knowing the airbag is enabled. In an accident, that bag will deploy with the full force it is designed for. The seatbelts will automatically tighten, pulling the child back against the seat.
That's about all we can tell ya, strat.