Air Bag Deactivation Switch: Description and Operation

Front Passenger Airbag Deactivation

If a child seat is fitted on the front passenger seat, the front passenger airbags must be disabled. On European version vehicles, deactivation is effected via the switch for front passenger airbag deactivation. On US vehicles, deactivation is automatic by means of seat occupancy detection.

Indicator lamp for passenger airbag deactivation
The indicator light is activated and lights up when the front passenger airbag is disabled. The indicator light is monitored by the airbag control unit. If a fault in the voltage supply or indicator light is determined, a fault code entry is made in the airbag control unit and the airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster is activated.

Switch for front passenger airbag deactivation (national-market version: European)
The switch for front passenger airbag deactivation can only be activated/deactivated by means of the ignition key when the vehicle is stationary and the door is open.
The switch for front passenger airbag deactivation has a two-wire connection. The switch is supplied with voltage by the airbag control unit. The switch is permanently monitored by the airbag control unit while driving the vehicle.
The switch for front passenger airbag deactivation is supplied with clocked voltage by the airbag control unit. The following shows the voltage curve that is measured at the airbag control unit when the voltage curve is OK. For the voltage measurement, the adapter cable must not be connected to the switch for front passenger airbag deactivation.







NOTICE: Repair work on the airbag.

All repair work on the airbag must be conducted with the battery disconnected. Connect and disconnect airbag control unit, sensors and gas generators only with the battery disconnected.The airbag control unit contains vehicle-specific data and must therefore be encoded before start-up. Removal and installation into other vehicles is prohibited.