Joined
·
1,902 Posts
jinxxycat asked me to post this -
My Air Bag Switch Story
I have a passenger side air-bag cut-off switch, so my 6-year old boy can ride with me. How I got it is another story.
First, you need to get a letter of approval from a federal gov't agency, NHTSA. Go to their website and download the form. Fill it out and send it back. I got my approval letter in 10 days after I sent the fax.
Then, I went to the Nissan dealer where I bought my Track model, and where the salesman told me that cut-off switches were available (and even implied they would be installed free), before I signed the deal. Later, when I told them I wanted the switch, they said "the part is $375.00 plus installation, but we probably won't install it due to liability concerns." I said BS, you will install it. They talked to the owner of the dealership, who refused to install it.
I called Nissan USA customer service, and they were almost as unhelpful as the dealer. Apparently no Nissan dealer in Southern California (there are dozens of them) will install it, at least that Nissan USA knew about.
Nissan did refer me to an independent company, "Air-Bag Service," which is a national company with an 800 number and shops all over the country. The closest office to me was in Thousand Oaks, about 30 miles from my house.
I told them I wanted the passenger side air-bag cut-off switch, and that I heard the Nissan part was $375 plus installation. They said "we have seen that part, and it is very complicated. We have a generic switch that works on all cars. We have done 350Z's and G35 Coupes with the generic switch. The price is $400 installed including sales tax and everything, and we will come to your house to do the work."
I bought the Air-Bag Service switch, and they did everything with no muss, no fuss, no hassle. I recommend them. Call the (800) information operator and ask for their number.
The on-off switch is very unobtrusive. There is a little box about 2" cube. They hide it in the passenger side footwell. You can see it from the driver's seat, so you know if it is on or off. It uses a little key. There is an led on the cube. If it glows green, the airbag is on. If it is yellow, the air bag is off.
Good luck.
My Air Bag Switch Story
I have a passenger side air-bag cut-off switch, so my 6-year old boy can ride with me. How I got it is another story.
First, you need to get a letter of approval from a federal gov't agency, NHTSA. Go to their website and download the form. Fill it out and send it back. I got my approval letter in 10 days after I sent the fax.
Then, I went to the Nissan dealer where I bought my Track model, and where the salesman told me that cut-off switches were available (and even implied they would be installed free), before I signed the deal. Later, when I told them I wanted the switch, they said "the part is $375.00 plus installation, but we probably won't install it due to liability concerns." I said BS, you will install it. They talked to the owner of the dealership, who refused to install it.
I called Nissan USA customer service, and they were almost as unhelpful as the dealer. Apparently no Nissan dealer in Southern California (there are dozens of them) will install it, at least that Nissan USA knew about.
Nissan did refer me to an independent company, "Air-Bag Service," which is a national company with an 800 number and shops all over the country. The closest office to me was in Thousand Oaks, about 30 miles from my house.
I told them I wanted the passenger side air-bag cut-off switch, and that I heard the Nissan part was $375 plus installation. They said "we have seen that part, and it is very complicated. We have a generic switch that works on all cars. We have done 350Z's and G35 Coupes with the generic switch. The price is $400 installed including sales tax and everything, and we will come to your house to do the work."
I bought the Air-Bag Service switch, and they did everything with no muss, no fuss, no hassle. I recommend them. Call the (800) information operator and ask for their number.
The on-off switch is very unobtrusive. There is a little box about 2" cube. They hide it in the passenger side footwell. You can see it from the driver's seat, so you know if it is on or off. It uses a little key. There is an led on the cube. If it glows green, the airbag is on. If it is yellow, the air bag is off.
Good luck.