2003 passenger airbag info needed

[raz]

I need some thorough information on the airbag system in a 2003 Vibe. I've browsed a few threads on later models and see lots of "I think" and "it should" but I really need solid info on when and how the passenger side bag deploys.Specifically:-- does the seat belt have to be fastened for it to deploy?-- does it really have a way to sense a child car seat? I've seen "if installed properly" (for later models, but not sure about 2003) but what exactly is it keying off of? And if the car seat were actually a small animal cage or carrier, would that prevent the airbags from deploying? (It would be remarkably easy to crush a bird.)-- don't suppose there's a switch or other easy way to temporarily turn the passenger bag on/off?Does anyone know how I could get details on this from Pontiac (R.I.P.)?raz

[808 Vibes]

I'm not sure if 2003's have it, but mine ('06) has a light on the dashthat says "passenger airbag OFF" or something like that (I fold the front seat down flat, and it shuts off the passenger airbag because it senses there's no one sitting in the seat, so I always make sure the light says "OFF" then buckle my dog carrier in (and/or use the crate in the cargo area) when I take Lucky somewhere he's in his cage on the floor.

[BadBrew]

On my '05, the passenger seat doesn't deploy if there's less than 20lbs or 30lbs. Like a laptop or bag of milk It doesn't deploy either if there's nothing at all and seatbelt is unbuckled.

[Sublimewind]

The 03 has a pressure sensor in the seat... My dogs set it off all the time... So, if nobody is in the seat, the light on the dash stays off, IF someone IS sitting there, without the seat belt, the light constantly blinks at you, till it's fastened.. Weather or not it does anything with the airbag, I can't say..

[ColonelPanic]

The 2003 will deploy the passenger air bag even with an empty seat. Doesn't matter if the seat belt is buckled or not either, it will deploy. AFAIK, the sensor in the seat is only used to trigger the seat belt warning light in the center stack.The occupant classification system which enables or disables the air bag didn't show up until '05.

[raz]

Dang, I was afraid of that. Does anyone know where I can find info about how to non-temporarily disable the passenger bag?Thanks for all the info everyone. rz

[Sublimewind]

un-plug it..

[raz]

Quote »unplug itwhich is done how/where?Owners manual doesn't go into anything much more complicated than how to properly use a seatbelt rz(BTW, is there a repair manual for Vibes? Do such things still exist?)

[tribalman]

Quote, originally posted by raz »-- does it really have a way to sense a child car seat? I've seen "if installed properly" (for later models, but not sure about 2003) but what exactly is it keying off of? And if the car seat were actually a small animal cage or carrier, would that prevent the airbags from deploying? (It would be remarkably easy to crush a bird.)razchildren who are of size to be in a car seat are supposed to be in the back. if you were just asking if the seat senses if there is a car seat or cage, i don't know. i would say it's probably best to just keep them in the back. to unplug take out the glove box and you will find a yellow plug, disconnect it.

[raz]

No kids in this car, except the beaked kind. But they like to ride this way: Leash attached to cage top so they don't go hurtling through windshield, seatbelt securing cage so it doesn't do same. They don't like being in a cage at all, and have a blast singing in the car while we drive. So next question -- how does one remove the glove box? Or is it obvious when looking at it?UPDATE: nevermind -- found that thread.thxrzand does anyone know how to resize photos in the "[img]http://.....[/img]" version of html? (as opposed to the syntax using "img src='http://...' size=200 />" which doesn't seem to work.)

[raz]

OK -- glove box out, piece of cake.Now, which of the wire bundles do I unplug? There's one that has a yellow tube around it, one wrapped in black, and a few others that are bundles of many multicolored wires. At least if it's easy like this, I can reconnect when there's a human in the seat.

[ColonelPanic]

Be careful though, there are a lot of precautions that must be followed in order to prevent an accidental deployment. You really don't want it going off when you're right by it working. Even with it unplugged, there's still a chance that it can deploy. A slight amount of static electricity in the wiring is plenty to cause a deployment...I wouldn't mess with it personally, too dangerous. Can't the bird ride in the back where they'll be safer?

[raz]

Yeah, that's what I was worried about, and why I didn't experiment and disconnect anything!If it can potentially go off during the process I wouldn't plug and unplug it depending on the passenger. Birds ride with me twice a day. Other passengers maybe once every week or two. Birds get priority. i may try the back seat, perhaps with the front seat down so they can still see out front. Seems to be an important thing for them. African Grey parrots are odd creatures -- very cautious and extremely set in their habits.thxrz