What model year did this start to be standard?

Is there anyway to retrofit an aftermarket solution to prior year models??

Thanks.

 

I think it started in 2001. Good luck finding a shop who wants the liability to do this, I heard it can be done.

 

I've been researching this also. The GM units appear to be a little difficult to get now, but this place might work. Try www.aoielectrical.com. They seem pretty helpful and have a kit that will fit a Corvette, reasonably priced. I'll probably go that route in the next month or two.

 

What's the pricing on that unit?

 

My 2000 has this feature.

 

Here's the message I received from them:


We manufacture our product to the guidelines of the National Highway
Traffic
Safety Administration. Those guidelines include the following.

1. The Switch must be operated with a removable KEY. Therefore a key is
utilized to turn the switch from ON to OFF and back.
2. The Switch must have an OFF light visible to the driver at all
times.
3. The Switch must work in conjunction with the onboard computer
system.
Therefore when the switch is in the OFF position, the rest of the air
bag
system still works exactly as it is designed.

In addition to the NHTSA requirements, we add a couple of features not
required, but enhance the safety and quality of our product:

1. We add an ON light to our switch; therefore, the driver never has
any
doubt as to the exact position of the switch. It is either ON or OFF.
2. We build the switch with a “LIABILITY FUSE”. The liability fuse
is built
internally on the unit (so you won’t see it). The purpose of the fuse
is to
burn in the event of an accident that would normally cause the air bags
to
deploy. The liability fuse tells us the exact position of the switch at
the
time of the accident. Therefore, neither you nor I can have someone
make a
false claim against us, stating the airbag switch was in one position,
when
in reality it was in the other. (Should this occur, when the vehicle is
repaired, AOI will replace the air bag switch at no cost, with the
return of
the original switch.)


Universal
Now to address your cost:

We offer a Universal Switch for your vehicle. Your cost for the
Universal
Switch is $139.00 plus shipping. We accept Visa, MasterCard, or we can
ship
C.O.D.

The Universal Switch can be installed by virtually anyone who is
mechanically inclined. However, should you decide to have someone else
install the kit, we do have some independent businesses around the
country
that will install our switch. Simply contact us and we will locate the
closest business to your location. In the case that someone else does
the
installation, NHTSA paperwork is required. This paperwork must be
faxed and
it usually takes 6 - 8 weeks for approval.


Hope this helps...

 

There's one for sale now in C5 Parts. I think it is $100.

 

Awesome, thanks guys. That will allow me to consider years that don't have the factory switch in my search

 

My 2000 has it too

 

The airbag cutoff switch came out in mid-2000 model year (mine has it and it was built on 2/29/00). GM offers a retrofit kit that you can install on pre-00 year cars.

 

For some reason I thought I read that they weren't offering that anymore??

 

Yep---You're correct. These kits are no longer available from GM dealers.....

 

The change came in mid year 2000. I did not have it in mine when I purchased the car, I have an early year 2000 built in 1999. I added it in for $150 total for all the pieces.

REMEMBER TO CHANGE THE SEAT BELT!!!!!

That is a big important factor that everyone over looks. The airbag off cars have a different belt. You must change the belt so the car protects the passenger in a crash.

 

So the seatbelt won't protect the passenger??? Do you know where I can find the replacement belt and how much it would cost?

 

i just ran into this problem, but lucky i found a great guy on the fourm that had a factory kit that he never installed that was the same color as mine. As far as the seatbelt i think that the original belt will not stay as tight in a accident as the switchable airbag seat belt. You should be able to just order a seatbelt for a corvette with the airbag switch factory installed. And yes DON"T FORGET THE SEATBELT

 

Any dealer will carry the belt, you can also try Gene from Karshop (here) or Ebay.

You need a 2001-2004 passenger seatbelt. The older belts have a web stitching that gives way just a bit in an accident to allow the passenger to hit the air bag at the right time. The AB off cars do not have the webbing.

 

Well here's my dilemna...I want the airbag cutoff for having my 4 year old ride in his car seat/booster. But when he's not riding which will be most of the time I would want my wife to be able to ride with the airbag on. So would I then stick with the stock seat belt??

 

I am having the exact same problem!

Is the above web address the best place to buy a kit?

 

What is the cost of changing the belt compared to taking care of the passenger properly?

 

No, put the 2001-2004 belt in if you are going to add the kit. The belt is designed to work with ALL the corvettes, but the older belt (97-00) does not it only works with the always on airbags.

The newer belt does not "give" like the old one. So when the bag is off, the adult sized passenger will not smash their face off the dash. It keeps them in their seat and allows the bag to do its job when the bag is on.

More damage would come to the passenger when the bag is off and you DON"T change the belt. That is why you NEED to change it.

Don't let the, "I survived with no belt in my daddies Nova in the 70's" people tell you otherwise. It is a designed safety feature that goes along with the SRS.

BTW the belt can be purchased for around $30-50