Old Library

While I was on the road earlier this week, there was some discussion
here regarding the legalities of disconnecting or removing one's
airbags.  When I got back, the National Motorists Association _News_ was
waiting for me in the mail, and there was a large article on airbags in
there.  In case you guys are not aware, the NMA led the effort to repeal
the 55mph National Maximum Speed limit, fighting what seemed for may
years to be an unwinnable battle.   They are now at the forefront of a
number of other motorists' rights issues, among them the right to have
your airbags professionally disconnected if you so choose and to make
them optional equipment to begin with.  Check them out at
http://www.motorists.com/

Here is some correspondence I've had with Jim Walker (reposted by
permission) who is conducting a study of the experiences people are
having trying to get their air bags disconnected.  Anyway, I thought
some of you might find this informative.

**************************************

Subject: Re: Air Bag Disconnection
   Date: Thu, 05 Mar 1998 22:04:39 -0500
   From: Uwe Ross &lt;&#117;we.ross&#64;pobox<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;
     To: JCWCONSULT &lt;&#74;CWCONSULT&#64;aol<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;

PS:  Several people on the various VW forums have asked about the
legality of disconnecting or entirely removing their own airbags (either
because they've replaced their steering wheels, or because they've had
minor accidents resulting in deployment and don't want to spend the
money to replace the bags.   Now I've read the contention in the latest
_News_ that this is "legal", but I didn't see any real regulatory
citation; is there one?  Just taking some bureaucrat's word for this
over the phone isn't very convincing.

**************************************

Subject: Re: Air Bag Disconnection
   Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 22:30:13 EST
   From: JCWCONSULT &lt;&#74;CWCONSULT&#64;aol<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;
     To: &#117;we.ross&#64;pobox<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>

Dear Uwe,

Thanks for the further information, and please keep me informed on your
progress and decisions of what to do with the info.

It is ABSOLUTELY legal for a vehicle owner to disconnect their own air bags,
or to remove them by changing wheels, and this has always been true. You can
find clear references to this in the final switch rule on the NHTSA website,
and in earlier NHTSA items.

Incidentally, for those who have had a deployment, and do not want to replace
the bag, Airbag Systems (http://www.airbagsystems.com/) will rebuild your
airbag module, using your cover, but without a live bag.  This is cheaper, and
eliminates the bag altogether.

It is probably OK for someone to help a friend or other family member
disconnect, IF NOT DONE FOR PAY OF ANY KIND.  The moment it becomes a
commercial transaction, then the feds have control of it, and this is why all
mechanics and shops must work on only those customers that have a letter of
permission from NHTSA.  Again, I refer you to the new final switch rule text,
which is on the NHTSA website (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and click on the link
to airbags).

If enough do-it-yourself information becomes available, and enough people
disconnect, NHTSA will have a real problem convincing these people to have to
buy more of these expensive and unwanted devices on their next cars.

Regards,

Jim Walker

**************************************


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