Restraints Module, if I unplug it will it disable my air bags? I got to thinking about this and my style of wheeling lately. I really dont want them to go off. I want them shut off.

If there is another way around it let me know. Also any other side effects from turning this off? Like how the seat belts lock? etc.


I dont really want to hear why I shouldnt do it. thanks.

 

Nice Zach! A thread I needed to make but havn't yet. Thanks man.

Shane






Is there a way to make a "master override" switch to kill the driver side bag and belt lock system?

 

See I still want the belt lock for a while. Atleast until I have 5 point harness. A seat belt would be kinda useless if it ddint lock.

 

It will shut down the airbag system. Your airbag light will come on and blink no trouble code, itll just be on. As for the seat belt lock I dunno. Unplug the module and go for a short drive to find out....

 

ohhh...i was talkin' the pretensioner when i turn off the bag...for it to also turn off the engaging of the pretensioner.

 

my mission is to make all the lights on the cluster just be on.

good point i will give it a try.

 

The pre-tensioner and airbags are different than the lock.

The lock you're refering to is the latching device that stops the belt from extending when you slow down or stop. That is a mechanical device activated simply by forward momentum. There is nothing electronic about it and you would have to tear apart the belt retractor to disable it. Like you said, it would kinda defeat the purpose of having the seatbelt at all.

The pre-tensioner is a device that pulls the slack out of the seatbelt. They will instantly yank about 6-8" of seatbelt into the retractor, taking up slack and keeping you from flopping forward. It is a pyrotechnic device that is fired electrically just like the airbags. They are fired at the same time as the airbags. If disconnecting that restraint module disables the airbag, it will also disable the pretensioner.

 

but if the pretensioner is disabled and if i were to get in a wreck it would just be like a car/truck with no air bags correct? thanks for the explanation

 

Correct. It will LOCK but will not fire and retract.

 

so just disconnect the module? or disconnect the pretensioner plug? sorta confused right now.

 

Well obviously disconnecting the device itself will disable it. But they are talking about disconnecting the module.

 

If it was me, i would not put ANYTHING out the output side of the air bag control module, including the actual crash senssors. I would look more twords which fuse runs the srs and put a toggle on that, and only toggle it with the key off. Anytime the SRS light is illuminated you've sucessfully disabled the entire SRS system. It will not deploy anything with a fault. Reason I wouldn't mess with the output side is of accidental ignition of something, takes very little power to light up one of those things.

I am thinking about doing the same for my ABS, i hate having ABS off road.

 

Disconnecting the power to the restraint module does NOT immediately disable the air bags. They have a capacitors in them that will keep them armed even after power is disconnected. This drain time varies by make/model from 10 seconds to up to 10 minutes. I have no idea what the drain time is for a Ford Ranger but it is not instant.

 

Right, but as long as the light is on, there will be no request from the module (if you pull the fuse) for it to fire the squib. You go around and jump the airbag to a ground, and its probably gonna bite you. I dont think he is worried about an accidental airbag deployment, but from an intentional one from the module due to the off road conditions. They can have capacitors all day long, but if they are just sitting there with no module to talk to, and nobody in the door/column fiddling with them, they're not going to pop. in my opinion

 

been there tried it. i need wipers when wheeling and they are on the same circuit.

 

I want to stress over and over that the SRS systems were not designed for people to mess with them, modify things, unplugs, rewire, etc etc. If you **** the system off
A- It might not work when you actually need it.
B- It might deploy when you least expect it.

Make these modifications and changes at your own risk regardless of what I or anyone else here on R-F have said or suggested.

 

I agree. My truck isnt driven much anymore. 10 miles a week? if that. So i justify it. As easy as it is to take off I will probably have it plugged in most times unless I am wheeling it.


BTW the plug fell out of the restraints module today.