Passenger Side Airbag

[bigalo210]

It seems as though after starting her up the Passenger Side Airbag OFF light stays on a bit longer than the other startup dashboard lights. Does anyone else experience this or is my Passenger Side Airbag possibly deactivated?

[MORidge]

Bigalo,
The passenger air bag is activated when someone sits in the front seat. It takes 65 or 75 lbs. to activate (someone correct me here). So the light should stay on if no one is sitting there. This would indicate the bag is off.

[oldcoastie]

The light comes on and then goes off after the initial start. It then comes on when the weight on the seat is less than about 65 pounds, or when the passenger leans off to the side.

My light stays on for about 5 seconds after the others go out, too. Then it stays off. No big thing. It can come on with a briefcase or a bag of goceries, too.

[Lingered_I]

Originally Posted by MORidge

Bigalo,
The passenger air bag is activated when someone sits in the front seat. It takes 65 or 75 lbs. to activate (someone correct me here). So the light should stay on if no one is sitting there. This would indicate the bag is off.

There is no seat cushion weight sensor in the Ridgeline's passenger seat. Instead, in the seat back there is an occupant position detection system (OPDS) which uses microwaves to detect the shape and position of any person or object in the seat. This system determines whether or not it is safe to deploy the side airbag. The cutoff indicator on the dash will illuminate if the system is disabling the side airbag.

The drivers and passengers front airbags are on the same sensor circuit and will usually deploy together (even if the passenger seat is not occupied) although it is possible that they can deploy independently if the severity of the collision is close to the threshold which determines deployment.

PS - I'm not expert - I just have the Service Manual. Page 24-34 for those that do too.

[oldcoastie]

Thanks, Lingered_I.

I need to do a little experimentation! When I picked up my Ridge, the salesman leaned in the passenger side and supported himself just a little on the passenger seat to demonstrate the airbag system. The light came on, and it went off about 5 seconds after he removed his hands from the cushion.

Now to wait until the fog clears outside!

EDIT: On page 25 of the Owner's Manual, it states that there is passenger's seat weight sensor.

[MORidge]

Originally Posted by Lingered_I

There is no seat cushion weight sensor in the Ridgeline's passenger seat.

You might want to look at your owners manual.
My 07 manual says "Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger's seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs. (29kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child), the passenger's front airbag will be turned off."

On page 22 of the 2007 Owners Manual.

[djeaux]

Originally Posted by MORidge

You might want to look at your owners manual.
My 07 manual says "Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger's seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs. (29kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child), the passenger's front airbag will be turned off."

On page 22 of the 2007 Owners Manual.

What I have found interesting is that our little dog, who weighs about 15 lb, can trigger the airbag off light on my daughter's 2005 Accord but not on my Ridgeline. I have not checked the manual for the Accord...

[MORidge]

Originally Posted by djeaux

What I have found interesting is that our little dog, who weighs about 15 lb, can trigger the airbag off light on my daughter's 2005 Accord but not on my Ridgeline. I have not checked the manual for the Accord...

Interesting. Maybe the Accords have a pet safety feature built in!

[Lingered_I]

Originally Posted by MORidge

You might want to look at your owners manual.
My 07 manual says "Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger's seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs. (29kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child), the passenger's front airbag will be turned off."

On page 22 of the 2007 Owners Manual.

Thanks - I stand corrected, for 2007 models anyway. 2006MY doesn't have the weight sensor. Both years have the OPDS though.

http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...Name=Ridgeline

[BillB]

If true, that's certainly a difference between 2006 and 2007 models that has not been disclosed before in this club's threads.