Hey, I have an idea for the space above the glove box on Rangers that DO NOT have a passenger side Air-Bag!

If you pry that panel off there is a giant hole there. Nothing in it. Air only. NADA.

I have a Honda Element with great storage in this space. I am going to try once I get some spare change to create a shelf/cubby for this area. I'll let you all know what I come up with. Sadly, because I'm going to be working with fiberglass for the first time, this is probably going to be quite UUGLY.

Anyone tried this before?

 

im assuming you mean this place

 

i say that looks like a good spot to glass in some gauges at an angle.....

 

YEAH!~~ That is the place!!!!
So anyone else been working on that?????

I would just like something that I could put in a Power Port or an Aux input for say an Ipod, or to glass in some gauges, or just throw some junk...

 

Hey Scott! That looks pretty good. Have you considered a piano hinge or some other type of hinge to make that easier to get into?

I'm wondering if the CD Holder in a Range Rover wouldn't fit into that spot!

 

Thats a really good idea. now I wish I didn't have an airbag there. Who cares about the passenger anyways? heh j/k

Good luck!

 

I plan on eventually puting a ps2 in mine since I still can't come up with a good spot for it. It stays in the center console for now tho.

 

ya kno, those of us who have no real passengers to speak of, and, some of use like to REALLY tinker with their trucks, this maybe a blessing in disguise.

ill explain. in the ranger, aside from that CRAMPED glove box, and that CRAMPED center console, there is no place to really "hide/secure" valueables. this place might just be that spot. with a piano type hinge, as long as you dont put a handle on it, u could use it to secure your valueables, like, put a lever in the glove box to unlock/lock the lil door, so that you can open it. anyone who breaks in, most likely wouldnt even bother looking in there unless it was obvious.

as far as making it usefull, you could try getting a hold of a small waste basket, and see about cutting it down, and maybe it would fit.

 

can you tell if you have an airbag in there w/o taking off the panel?.... or... if I attempt to pry off the pannel, will the airbag blow in my face?

 

passenger side air bag didnt come around till 98

 

Also, the panel should have "SRS" or something like that on the lower right hand side. Usually it is well marked.

I'd be REALLY sure there isn't an airbag before I pried anything off.

Oh yeah, didn't the passenger side airbag equiped trucks come with a switch under the ashtray so you can turn the bag off in case of a child seat or a really short person?????

 

I don't have a switch... but if they didn't come around until '98 then I should be good right?... so if I'm hearing all this right... no switch... pre-'98.... I have an empty cubby hole in my truck???... how sweet it that!!

 

I've made some drawings for building a nice looking and functional cubby for my ride. Now I am going to use some foam stuff (like you get at a flower shop...not in a pillow) and make a mold. Then I'll whip out some fiberglass ("let me whip this out") and stuff and see what I can build.

I'd really like to get my cubby design made at an injection molding place, but I am afraid that could be pretty darn expensive for a one-off.

Thoughts?

 

depending on what the finished product looks like... I'd say you could make some dinero off 'a that...


?... so you just "pry" it off???... like... get a flathead and... "pry"... seems so simple...

 

yes, get a flat head and pry. Start at the corner by the upper end of the AC vent...then try the lower left corner. Go slow, don't destroy anything.

Oddly enough it seems like it won't come off...and then...presto!

 

Must have at least been an option, in 96. I was in an accident in a 1996 Ranger that the dealership I worked at used to do local runs and I still have marks on my arms from the powder burns from the passenger airbag.

To tell you the truth I thought it was a 1995 only thing to have only a Drivers airbag, but I guess I learned something today.

~HJ

 

how does this sound?... disconnect the battery for the 2 minutes or whatever it is.. then pry the panel open... if there's an airbag in there... then there's an airbag... if not, then I have myself a new storage space...

 

If you have an airbag, it will say "SRS AIRBAG" in the lower right-hand corner of that panel...

This seems like a great mod for those wothout airbags!

 

open the glove box all the way open, so its hanging down, and look up inside, you should beable to see an airbag up there

 

well... since I still don't have a radio bezel, I was able to look inside and didn't see the airbag module... so I stuck my hand in and pushed out the first two clips from the back and popped out the other ones when I could.... it's so cool... I totally figured there was an airbag behind there! There is one thing though... a cord and some sort of plastic clip thing attached to the back of it... there's two wires and it's surrounded by what looks like that high heat wire insulation stuff... it doesn't look like it connects to anything special... just this plastic piece... anyone know what that is? maybe the wires for the airbag that doesn't exist?


This is great stuff and all... but it was kinda like a wake-up call as well... I take passengers every now and then and have had a few close calls, but so far all has been well... I know I'm protected in the event of an accident, and figured my passenger was as well... but now I know my passenger won't have an airbag in front of them if something happens... kinda freaky... an airbag prevented me from obtaining serious injury a few years ago so I know their importance... and yeah...

 

I believe that cable/connector is FOR the airbag if you had one. If you are worried about it, you MAY be able to get an airbag installed!

That is an idea! Of course, because you do not have a switch you won't be able to turn it off for baby seats...but you may be past that or not anywhere near that. :)

 

I wouldn't put an airbag in... too much money and more to fix if it ever goes off... which, hopefully will NEVER happen *knock on wood*... by the time I'm ready for kids... the ranger will become my designated trailer vehicle instead of my DD... hopefully...

 

Passenger airbags were an option in 96. I have one in mine...

 

Thats what I figured, why would ford just make a dash with the panel where an airbag should go, and not use one? What about the explorers, did they get the same optional passenger airbag in 96?

 

Well if you figure it's the person driving the car that is likely making the payment, then to your local beancounter the passenger really isn't worth a whole lot!