Air Bag Question

[Solo_S14]

Not overly familiar with the air bag system in the S14.
If I have an aftermarket wheel without airbag, is the passenger side still functional?

Does the drivers side clip plug into the previous oem wheel, or somewhere that still exists on the column?

Thanks guys.

[e1_griego]

If you use a resistor and jump the wire on the driver's side then the pass side still works.

If you leave it unplugged and deal with the blinky airbag light, then the passenger side doesn't work.

At least that's my understanding.

[Solo_S14]

What size resistor?
Is it just a 2-contact plug that you jump across?

Thanks.

[e1_griego]

Not sure, some of the s14 hub kits include it with the hub. Maybe 3 ohm? That's the number that's sticking out in my head.

[gawdzilla]

you need a resistor, otherwise the pass side airbag won't be functional and the airbag light will flash. i just removed the flashing bulb from the cluster

i believe the resistance is listed somewhere on zilvia. alternatively, you can measure the ohms across the driver's bag

[Solo_S14]

Thanks guys, I've never had an oem wheel, so I'll look it up.

[e1_griego]

I would just pull the light from the dash.

Easier than replacing the whole dash if you blow a bag

[Matt93SE]

alternatively, you can measure the ohms across the driver's bag

FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!

Umm be VERY careful when measuring that resistance to make sure you don't blow the bag. I'd hate to get a 10lb brick of metal mashed into my face.

I might suggest adding a 20-50-100ohm resistor in series with your test leads before measuring so they will take the brunt of the voltage output from the meter. simply measure the resistance of the single resistor, and then subtract from your reading when you measure resistor + bag.

I doubt a multimeter will set one off, but I'd hate to find out the hard way....

[Solo_S14]

I would just pull the light from the dash.

Easier than replacing the whole dash if you blow a bag

The light is already gone, I'm just wondering if I should pull everything while it's apart, or try to salvage some safety for my passenger.

[Longfellow]

FYI the passenger air bag will still go off even if the factory wheel is gone. The bypass thing some people are talking about just shuts the light in the gauge cluster off. Other than that it does nothing. My advice is just take the entire system out and tell people to wear their seat belts.

[Matt93SE]

screw that. save the weight. that sumbitch is heavy!!

only caveat is that you then have a huge hole in your dash.

[Solo_S14]

Why would I have a hole in my dash?
The air bag doesn't support the dash itself.

Good place for my ECU.

[gawdzilla]

i read some stories about multimeter providing enough current to blow a bag.. not sure if it's real or not. submit to mythbusters?

when you remove the passenger bag, what happens to that big lid on top of the dash? is that part of the bag itself or a separable cover? i wouldn't mind removing the pass bag if it doesn't leave a gaping hole in the dash

[Solo_S14]

The dash comes out with that cover attached.
The bag is connected to the steel dash bar.

[e1_griego]

I thought if the airbag light was flashing the whole system was disabled?

Guess not.