Passenger airbag
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 155
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From: Katy TEXAS
Passenger airbag
Hello Vette Forum friends,
i am curious if anyone knows the weight restrictions for the passenger airbag? I have a 65lb child that sure wants to ride shotgun but I’m worried that the airbag stays “on” when she is in the seat. It would be nice if I could turn it off but I don’t think that is an option.
i am curious if anyone knows the weight restrictions for the passenger airbag? I have a 65lb child that sure wants to ride shotgun but I’m worried that the airbag stays “on” when she is in the seat. It would be nice if I could turn it off but I don’t think that is an option.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The air bag is armed when the passenger presence sensor indicates a person over 70 lbs (or approximately that much) is sitting in the seat. The best way to find out is to start the car and then have her sit in the seat while watching the passenger air bag light to see if the air bag is turned on. If it turns on that means she is large enough to to be protected by the air bag Vs injured by it.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
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From: Chirper Island
Car seat configurations can change exactly what poundage is required to "tip the scales."
Checking is the only way to know for sure. I know it takes a lot less than 70 pounds in the seat as a lump to trigger the airbag being active.
Checking is the only way to know for sure. I know it takes a lot less than 70 pounds in the seat as a lump to trigger the airbag being active.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,821
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I did a little more research. Looking at the Federal Standard requires more reading time than I want to devote to the subject but I did find this on the GM Inside News web site:
It's important to remember that the status light indicating the air bag is off doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with the system, even when an adult occupies the seat. GM developed and tested the Passenger Sensing System to meet federal requirements. FMVSS 208 provides a number of options for automakers who elect to meet the advanced air bag requirements with an automatic air bag suppression system.
For example, manufacturers can confirm their systems meet the federal requirements for enabling, turning on the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. If an automaker uses crash test dummies to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable or turn on the passenger air bag when the 5th percentile adult female test dummy specified in the standard is seated in the front passenger seat. The standard also specifies the physical positioning of the dummy.
If an automaker uses actual people to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable the passenger air bag when a female who weighs between 103 and 113 pounds and who is between 55 and 59 inches tall is seated in the front passenger seat, in the position that the standard specifies. FMVSS 208 also specifies the type of clothing that is to be worn for the purposes of compliance testing.
(this seems to indicate a 65 pound person might not turn on the air bag but the Feds definitely put a number of weasel words in the statement to almost mean anything)
Manufacturers also have the option of confirming that their suppression systems meet the requirements for disabling or turning off the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. FMVSS 208 specifies the child dummies that can be used for compliance purposes, from newborn to 6 year old and specifies the weight and height ranges for the categories of actual children that can be used instead of the test dummies.
(good luck finding those height/weight specifications quickly)
FMVSS 208 also specifies the positioning of the test subjects including positioning in a number of different infant and child restraints that are called out by the standard.
An occupant's body proportions can affect the Passenger Sensing System's ON or OFF decision. For example, a thin person with long legs would likely apply less pressure on the system than a shorter person who weighs the same but carries more of their weight in their torso. This is because of the relative amount of weight that would be directed through the occupants' legs and not measured.
An occupant's seating posture can also affect the system's ON or OFF decision. If an occupant shifts more of their weight off of the seat, the system will assess that occupant as weighing less than another occupant of the same weight and height who sits upright and centered on the seat. Sitting upright and centered on the seat cushion allows the greatest amount of the occupant's weight, mass and body surface to be centered over the system's sensors. This creates the greatest opportunity for the Passenger Sensing System to recognize an adult-sized occupant.
Bill
It's important to remember that the status light indicating the air bag is off doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with the system, even when an adult occupies the seat. GM developed and tested the Passenger Sensing System to meet federal requirements. FMVSS 208 provides a number of options for automakers who elect to meet the advanced air bag requirements with an automatic air bag suppression system.
For example, manufacturers can confirm their systems meet the federal requirements for enabling, turning on the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. If an automaker uses crash test dummies to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable or turn on the passenger air bag when the 5th percentile adult female test dummy specified in the standard is seated in the front passenger seat. The standard also specifies the physical positioning of the dummy.
If an automaker uses actual people to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable the passenger air bag when a female who weighs between 103 and 113 pounds and who is between 55 and 59 inches tall is seated in the front passenger seat, in the position that the standard specifies. FMVSS 208 also specifies the type of clothing that is to be worn for the purposes of compliance testing.
(this seems to indicate a 65 pound person might not turn on the air bag but the Feds definitely put a number of weasel words in the statement to almost mean anything)
Manufacturers also have the option of confirming that their suppression systems meet the requirements for disabling or turning off the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. FMVSS 208 specifies the child dummies that can be used for compliance purposes, from newborn to 6 year old and specifies the weight and height ranges for the categories of actual children that can be used instead of the test dummies.
(good luck finding those height/weight specifications quickly)
FMVSS 208 also specifies the positioning of the test subjects including positioning in a number of different infant and child restraints that are called out by the standard.
An occupant's body proportions can affect the Passenger Sensing System's ON or OFF decision. For example, a thin person with long legs would likely apply less pressure on the system than a shorter person who weighs the same but carries more of their weight in their torso. This is because of the relative amount of weight that would be directed through the occupants' legs and not measured.
An occupant's seating posture can also affect the system's ON or OFF decision. If an occupant shifts more of their weight off of the seat, the system will assess that occupant as weighing less than another occupant of the same weight and height who sits upright and centered on the seat. Sitting upright and centered on the seat cushion allows the greatest amount of the occupant's weight, mass and body surface to be centered over the system's sensors. This creates the greatest opportunity for the Passenger Sensing System to recognize an adult-sized occupant.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Feb 23, 2018 at 05:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 155
Likes: 29
From: Katy TEXAS
I did a little more research. Looking at the Federal Standard requires more reading time than I want to devote to the subject but I did find this on the GM Inside News web site:
It's important to remember that the status light indicating the air bag is off doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with the system, even when an adult occupies the seat. GM developed and tested the Passenger Sensing System to meet federal requirements. FMVSS 208 provides a number of options for automakers who elect to meet the advanced air bag requirements with an automatic air bag suppression system.
For example, manufacturers can confirm their systems meet the federal requirements for enabling, turning on the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. If an automaker uses crash test dummies to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable or turn on the passenger air bag when the 5th percentile adult female test dummy specified in the standard is seated in the front passenger seat. The standard also specifies the physical positioning of the dummy.
If an automaker uses actual people to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable the passenger air bag when a female who weighs between 103 and 113 pounds and who is between 55 and 59 inches tall is seated in the front passenger seat, in the position that the standard specifies. FMVSS 208 also specifies the type of clothing that is to be worn for the purposes of compliance testing.
(this seems to indicate a 65 pound person might not turn on the air bag but the Feds definitely put a number of weasel words in the statement to almost mean anything)
Manufacturers also have the option of confirming that their suppression systems meet the requirements for disabling or turning off the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. FMVSS 208 specifies the child dummies that can be used for compliance purposes, from newborn to 6 year old and specifies the weight and height ranges for the categories of actual children that can be used instead of the test dummies.
(good luck finding those height/weight specifications quickly)
FMVSS 208 also specifies the positioning of the test subjects including positioning in a number of different infant and child restraints that are called out by the standard.
An occupant's body proportions can affect the Passenger Sensing System's ON or OFF decision. For example, a thin person with long legs would likely apply less pressure on the system than a shorter person who weighs the same but carries more of their weight in their torso. This is because of the relative amount of weight that would be directed through the occupants' legs and not measured.
An occupant's seating posture can also affect the system's ON or OFF decision. If an occupant shifts more of their weight off of the seat, the system will assess that occupant as weighing less than another occupant of the same weight and height who sits upright and centered on the seat. Sitting upright and centered on the seat cushion allows the greatest amount of the occupant's weight, mass and body surface to be centered over the system's sensors. This creates the greatest opportunity for the Passenger Sensing System to recognize an adult-sized occupant.
Bill
It's important to remember that the status light indicating the air bag is off doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with the system, even when an adult occupies the seat. GM developed and tested the Passenger Sensing System to meet federal requirements. FMVSS 208 provides a number of options for automakers who elect to meet the advanced air bag requirements with an automatic air bag suppression system.
For example, manufacturers can confirm their systems meet the federal requirements for enabling, turning on the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. If an automaker uses crash test dummies to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable or turn on the passenger air bag when the 5th percentile adult female test dummy specified in the standard is seated in the front passenger seat. The standard also specifies the physical positioning of the dummy.
If an automaker uses actual people to validate its suppression system for compliance, FMVSS 208 requires that the system enable the passenger air bag when a female who weighs between 103 and 113 pounds and who is between 55 and 59 inches tall is seated in the front passenger seat, in the position that the standard specifies. FMVSS 208 also specifies the type of clothing that is to be worn for the purposes of compliance testing.
(this seems to indicate a 65 pound person might not turn on the air bag but the Feds definitely put a number of weasel words in the statement to almost mean anything)
Manufacturers also have the option of confirming that their suppression systems meet the requirements for disabling or turning off the passenger air bag by using either crash test dummies or human beings. FMVSS 208 specifies the child dummies that can be used for compliance purposes, from newborn to 6 year old and specifies the weight and height ranges for the categories of actual children that can be used instead of the test dummies.
(good luck finding those height/weight specifications quickly)
FMVSS 208 also specifies the positioning of the test subjects including positioning in a number of different infant and child restraints that are called out by the standard.
An occupant's body proportions can affect the Passenger Sensing System's ON or OFF decision. For example, a thin person with long legs would likely apply less pressure on the system than a shorter person who weighs the same but carries more of their weight in their torso. This is because of the relative amount of weight that would be directed through the occupants' legs and not measured.
An occupant's seating posture can also affect the system's ON or OFF decision. If an occupant shifts more of their weight off of the seat, the system will assess that occupant as weighing less than another occupant of the same weight and height who sits upright and centered on the seat. Sitting upright and centered on the seat cushion allows the greatest amount of the occupant's weight, mass and body surface to be centered over the system's sensors. This creates the greatest opportunity for the Passenger Sensing System to recognize an adult-sized occupant.
Bill
