You can disconnect your own vehicle’s airbags, according to the government, but it is essential to follow instructions that allow you to do it safely . We sell instructions for safely disconnecting the airbags on most vehicles.

Disconnection is less costly than having a switch installed, but the downside is that you can't turn the airbags on and off for different drivers or passengers, as you can with an airbag on/off switch. Also, the airbag warning light on your instrument panel will stay on until the airbag is reconnected. In most foreign cars, the light will also stay on after reconnection until the computer is reset. This can be accomplished either with a scantool or reset tool or by using hand reset procedures. These reset procedures for use when reconnecting are included in the disconnection instructions. The cost for disconnection instructions is $85 per vehicle, and includes reconnection procedures (You can bill your credit card or send a check).
Click here if you want to order disconnection instructions:     or give us a call at 877-773-7908.

To get The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's permission to have an airbag switch installed, each applicant has to certify that they meet certain criteria. Anybody who certifies that they meet that criteria on NHTSA's official application form can get permission to have an airbag switch installed.

But there is no provision for those who don’t meet NHTSA’s criteria to have an airbag switch installed. Recent research has shown that airbags are dangerous for everyone, and new driving techniques are important if you have active airbags. Check our airbag safety page and its links to learn more about the danger and new driving techniques to help protect yourself and your passengers from active airbags.

Some people assume that you can remove the airbag fuse to disable the system. This sounds logical, but in reality many cars have backup systems that power the airbags in case the fuse is blown or taken out. These backup systems are not shown on the typical fuse charts and even the shop manuals frequently do not show them. Many people, desperate for relief from the airbag danger, have removed airbag fuses assuming they have disabled the system. Unfortunately, they are unknowingly driving around with active airbags anyway.

Cutting the wires to the airbag also will not assure you that the disconnection is complete. Today, many car manufacturers use twisted detonating wires to prevent inductive reactance (i.e. from radio waves) from inducing enough current to detonate the airbags. Cut wires can be subject to this sort of induced current (note that even a multimeter's current can detonate most airbags, so it's best not to use a meter on these systems).

Once disconnected, the airbags will remain disconnected until reconnected.  While disconnected, the airbag warning light on the instrument panel will remain illuminated whenever the ignition is "on". This can be a problem at car inspection time so if you need to have the car inspected, you will need to reconnect the airbags for the inspection. Then they can be disconnected again. 

Our instructions will guide you through the proper method of disconnecting your airbags safely. To reconnect them, you will need only to reverse the instructions. Some foreign vehicles have computer code issues that need to be addressed when the airbags are reconnected to extinguish the airbag system warning light on the instrument panel.

Usually resetting the computer codes (clearing a "hard code") requires the manufacturer's proprietary scan-tool. Sometimes there are ways to reset the codes without taking the vehicle to a dealer, though. We have included instructions for resetting the airbag codes after reconnection without a manufacturer’s scan tool with disconnection instructions for Nissan, Infiniti, Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Subaru. These procedures vary by year as well as by make, and each set of instructions will include the procedures for the make model and year, if available.

Some other foreign cars have no such procedure and require the manufacturer's proprietary scan-tool made by the car manufacturer to extinguish the instrument panel’s airbag warning light. In those cases, you need to get a dealer or repair shop with the correct scan-tool for that  make of car to reset the computer’s codes after the airbags are reconnected. Assuming the airbags have been disconnected and reconnected properly, this should be no problem using the scan-tool.

Be sure to include the year make and model of your vehicle when ordering disconnection instructions and stickers. Click hereto go to the order form or call us at 301-473-7908 or 877-773-7908.  The cost of disconnection instructions (including reconnection and computer code reset procedures, where applicable) is $85 per set.