turning off your air bags

[hayley]

not sure where to poist this - so i'm going to post it in a few places! Sorry if you read it twice.

I need to turn off my front passenger air bags which are on the dash board and side of the chair (by door) does anyone know how to do it. I've called renault and depending who you get on the phone they're either no use or just fob me off... I'm taking my car to the garage tomorrow to see if they can help. All i want to do is remove the fuse to ensure they can't go off... My car is a renault megane (it's the convertable old shape if that makes a difference - not the one like the bum)

x

 

[Hypnorm]

Peronally i would never put a baby seat on a front seat with an air bag whether it was turned of or not as things CAN go wrong.
Go to your main dealer and ask them.
I never had ewan in the front as i would find it VERY distracting to my driving. You can get a mirror so you can keeep an eye on him in the back.

Be 100% sure that the air bag will not go off - if you can't be sure then DON'T RISK YOUR BABY - i presume that is why you are asking.
Some air bags that have been 'turned off' have deployed in an accident even with the fuse removed.

 

[Urchin]

Hiya I agree with Hypnorm some airbags have gone off even if switched off. If you do want to make sure it's off, you can take out the fuse from the fuseboard (check your manual) and that will prevent it from going off by accident apparently. I would check with the dealer.

I don't have Brody in the front personally as I would be too busy looking at him and not the road. Even if he wasn't crying I'b be passing him his drink or checking to see if he was asleep or not. I think it's safer for both of us it he's in the back

 

[Hypnorm]

I'm just worried that if you did have an accident - the impact alone could be enough to set the charge that causes the airbag to come out -
they have almost like a gunpowder charge that goes off a bit like a bullet.
I wouldn't be happy even with the air bag fuse remove - i just wouldn't be comfortable.
Having been i a car accident at the beginning of this year and having the air bags go off, its like getting a punch in the face.
And if Ewan had been in the front the force of the impact could have caused him more damage - he was in the back behind the passenger seat ad was away from all the impact areas.

I spoke to a fire and accident saftey officer and he said babies in the front seat are a distraction and a danger. They are also more at risk in the front seat from glass and flying objects.
THE best place to put your seat if possible is in the centre of the back seat if you are a 3 point seat belt to attach it in, as baby is then away from ALL impact areas.
My car doesn't so Ewan is behind the passenger seat and there he will stay untill he is of the age/height where no seats/boosters are needed.

I wasn't allowed to sit in the front till i was almost 14!!

 

[hayley]

sorry i shoud have explained more.. i would prefer to have the baby in the back too but my back seats slope back too far which would mean the babys head would fall forward... we've tried loads of seats but none fit... we're changing my car for a scenic so the car seat will be able to go in the back but this wont be ready for me till Oct... my husband also has the megane convertable - so we have the same problem with his car. We're keeping his as it's new and changing mine that way we have a family car. So until Oct i'll have to drive with the baby in the front...

I think i'll drive past Renault today and see if they can book my car in and actual remove the air bags.

thanks for your advice.

x