I'm delighted with the Mazda MX-5, it's a really fun car to drive and great value too, despite all the impracticalities of a two seater soft-top. My 4-year old nephew has also taken a great interest in it too, often asking to have a ride in it. Up until now this hasn't been possible because the passenger airbag on the Mk2 models doesn't have a control to disable the airbag so as to make it safe for children in child and booster seats. I've visited many a Mazda dealership and searched their website extensively to find a solution to this problem, which I know exists as there is after market 'kit' you can buy. Getting hold of the kit is a whole different story, so I shan't bore you with those details.
A Google search last night revealed this forum entry with details of how to disable the MX-5 passenger airbag. I'd Googled the same query several months ago but couldn't find any mention of a solution. A simple solution, which, after looking at the photographs, got me thinking how to improve that.
(note: these are images from another MX-5)
The photographs show that the glovebox is removed, behind which is several wiring looms. Look for a yellow sheathed cable and connector. Simply disconnecting the connector disarms the passenger airbag, as reported on the dashboard by a flashing airbag warning light.
Since I don't want the hassle of removing the glovebox and pulling the plug connector apart each time I want to disable the airbag, I found an alternative solution.
It involves placing a key switch (ok, it needn't be a key operated switch but would ensure it wasn't accidentally enabled/disabled) on a piece of plastic just inside the top left part of the glove compartment. This means that it is concealed from view and there is no visible modification to the dashboard. I left the yellow connector together and simply spliced into the red wire and soldered an additional length of cable to the spliced cable. This has allowed me to place the key switch further away from where the tight wiring loom runs.
A hole was drilled into the plastic left of the glovebox and the barrel of the key switch secured. See the photograph below:
My nephew certainly appreciated the effort as we drove to the garden centre this afternoon for his first outing in my car.
Click on each photograph for a larger version.
Danny
So, does the warning light still flash when you turn off the airbag?
Jonathan
Hi Danny,
Thanks for your comment. Air bag switch works brilliantly. When switched to the off position, the airbag warning light flashes which I think is helpful to remind me that it is disabled.
Hope this helps
J
harold
Thanks,
I had the same problem to find info. I disabled my airbag. know i can take my daughter for a cruise:)
Greetings from Holland,
Harold
Jonny
Hi. I tried this with the left hand drive version. Now the airbag light is flashing but it's the driver airbag light and not the passenger airbag light. Is this supposed to happen ?
Jonathan
Hello... I can only remember one airbag light on my MX5, and it was that that was flashing. Unless you are confident that there is only one light on the dash, I say you've disabled it.
When I followed the cable from the glove compartment, it definitely joined up with the passenger airbag, but whether that disabled the driver side one or not, I'm not sure.
I suspected the light only indicated a fault with the airbag system, i.e. a cable disconnected, rather than it being totally shutdown.
fredrickholtham@hotmail.com
My air bag light flashes and as far as i know nothing has been disconnected any ideas.
Jonathan
...best get that checked out then. A fault may be in the airbag firing circuit or the system needs pressurising. Best take it to the dealer to get them to look at it.
liz
hiya, trying to unplug at the moment, just can't get it to budge! Have worked out that there's a lever thingy but really can't move the two parts away from each other! Any hints?
Jonathan
Yep... perseverance! Try using a tiny flat-head screwdriver and jam it between the connectors to release the catches that prevents the connector from coming apart.
MX5NA
Any ideas which cable to disconnect in my 1996 Miata, please see the picture below, there is no yellow cables:
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqN6WGS
Tomas
Hi thanks for tip,
I was able to unplug airbag from my 96 miata as well, I really spent some time looking for right airbag cable however, in my miata the cable was blue and it was tight together with another blue cable (i assume its horn) that needed to be removed for a while first, in order to unplug the another one. Now the warning lamp is flicking frequently so I think I managed it. It was also challenging to plug horn cable back in without airbag cable, it needed another trick as the connectors seem to be designed to plugin just together, not alone.
Ashley
Not sure why you are doing this to be fair?!
The Legal viewpoint is that any child over 3 yrs old can sit in the front seat (the only seat in this case!) as long as they have the appropriate child restraint (booster seat, etc.)on which they would sit in ANY other car with an active airbag.
There is no reason to de-activate it in this instance, and is in fact more dangerous to do so as the child no longer has the same "safety" afforded to an adult.
I think you are confusing "rear-facing" car seats and airbags in this instance.
My daughter has been in my MX5 for several years now on boosters, etc. but as she is now over 1.35m tall, no longer needs any additional equipment and can just "jump in" any time she likes.
neil
tell me there any risk of the bag firing by disconnecting/reconnecting the loom?
also does the ecu have to be reset to remove the warning light once the loom is reconnected and finally would you have to tell your insurance company?
thanks
Burball
Jonathan, brilliant! Thought the whole airbag issue/daughter in front seat was going to be a big problem - now fixed in a few minutes with your help! Cheers,
Andrew
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