Hello,
I'd like to know how difficult it is to change out the OEM Panther Leather to something more comfortable like a Sparco or Recarco. Specifically, I'd like to know what needed to be done to the airbag sensor and the weight sensor on the passenger side. For people who have changed out the seats, have you had problems with the airbag light??

 

There is way to place the weight sensor in the new seat, Phil Gandini has a post with the way he did just that. I think PGT did too.

There are also other threads on the resistors needed to keep the airbag light from coming on.

Or there is the very low tech method. Pull the speedo, slap a piece of black electrical tape over the back of the airbag light.

 

Don't quote me on this, but I think the dealer can disable the light, only after you sign some sort of waiver. But it's only really rumor.

 

I have a very sympathetic service manager and he said he couldn't disable the light. Given how nice he's been to me, I'd conclude the probability of getting it done at the dealer is very close to zero. You could always try though.
Here's the link to my webpage on the seat remodel.
http://gandini.unm.edu/PGpages/Interests/Seats.htm

good luck,

 

i spoke to the dealer and they won't disable anything.

 

It would be a major liability issue to disable the airbag, or the light.

There is a lot of data stored in the Airbag Controller (ACU) regarding crashes, and sometimes even "nearly-crash-events". Things such as seatbelt disposition (buckled/unbuckled), seat position, speed, brakes (on/off?), throttle position, warning lamp (active/inactive), ignition cycles, etc.

These are done because there are numerous.... individuals... that screw up, then blame the manufacturer after they do stuff wrong. The most common is buckling up after a crash, and trying to sue the manufacturer for a broken beak and busted up face. The ACU clearly states the status of many variables in its records.

Each of these cases are an attempt to weasel a few million $$$ from the manufacturer. So, they'll know what's going on, and they will in no way shape or form disable anything, because in general, people can't be held to a waiver even if they sign it.

I know one guy tried to sue my company (I work for an airbag developer) because the warning lamp came on, and he got in an accident while on his way to get it fixed (responsible car owner that he is...). Truth is though, there were 725 ignition cycles from when the Warning Lamp first came on. Assume 3 cycles a day (go to work, go to lunch, go home), thats 241 days that the Warning Lamp was really on.

We ended up recouping the $$$ by counter-suits, perjury attempts, and making false statements to an officer.

All this being said, be careful when attempting to circumvent the safety systems of the car. You really are taking a great degree of liability from the designer/manufacturer, and placing on yourself.

D

 

and surely that should be our right. We live in a society that gives individuals rights and responsibilities, whether they take advantage of them or not. The legislature defines these rights, the executive enforces them and the judiciary adjudicates disputes over them. I'm no libertarian, but I do believe that with optimal information we each should be able to make optimal decisions. As more information becomes available these might prove to be sub-optimal, but they should be judged in light of the information available at the time.
Messing with airbags and warning lights might be ill advised, but it should also be an option. Some people on NAM remove the cats from their exhaust systems, which is actually a federal offense. Some people on NAM call them on it, but ultimately they have made a personal, individual decision in the face of well known risks--it's very unlikely they will ever be caught, prosecuted and found guilty of tampering with their cats. The same is true for those of us who install alternative seats in our Minis. I still have 4 airbags in my car, and a fully functional weight sensor for the passenger. I feel much safer than when I drive my '92 Suzuki Sidekick...

 

LOL hey man, don't get constitutional on me!!! I am totally for people being able to mod out a vehicle the way they want to. But just as we have the right to do something, we should be aware of the risks associated by exercising that right. That is all I'm trying to say with my statement.

But similarly, we live in a very litigious society, and manufacturers have adapted their systems from "Safety" to "Safety and CYA".

It would be curious to know if a passenger accident victim has ever sued a vehicle owner because the owner modified the vehicle safety system in such a way as to fail to protect the passenger.