Hey Everyone,

Wasnt really sure where to put this but i'm hoping someone here can help me out.

I have a pretty small-framed girlfriend (probably 100 pounds) but when we're driving together her airbag-off light always comes on every now and then. I'm sure there's a weight limit that will trigger the airbag sensor but i doubt it has to be more than 100 pounds.

Does anyone here know what the weight will trigger the airbag sensor? has anyone else encountered something like this before? Does this sound like an issue i should take back to the dealer?

thanks in advance guys!

 

What year is your G? The 03s only use the seat belt to determine when to enable the passenger side airbags (if the seat belt isn't fastened then they won't deploy under most circumstances).

I don't have any of the of newer SRS manuals with me right now, but according to the M35/45 information there is an occupant classification sensor that determines the size of the passenger (and if a child seat is present). I would imagine that the airbag is turnning off based on her position, due to her weight not being enough to protect herself against deployment of the airbag, as airbags have proven deadly to smaller people.

If it only happens when your g/f is in the car I wouldn't worry about a thing, it sounds like the system is working as designed.

 

the airbag off light only comes on the 05+'s i believe...

go to your dealer and see if they can decrease the sensitivity of the sensor... or just call them first

 

Yeah, it's an 05 G35x.

So KPierson, you're saying that the airbag turning off for light people is a normal thing? Is it possible for the dealer to turn up the sensitivity?

 

I don't think you would want to turn it up. If an airbag can kill a person that weighs under 100lbs I think I would live with the little light coming on from time to time.

If anything you may want to check to see if they can disable the passenger bag all together, to prevent it from fully deploying in to your gf and risk the chance of decapitation. I've never heard of an adult being decapitated by an airbag, but if she is as small as you say she is then I would think that it is possible. Those airbags come out super fast, with a lot of force, and I can vouch for that from first hand experiance!

 

thanks for the info Kevin!

 

No problem, hope I was able to help you out!

For more information check out the srs.pdf file in the 05 G35 sedan manual. You can probably have someone Email it to you if you post a request in the sedan forum. It has very detailed information about how the SRS system works.

 

I think I read that it's supposed to be set for 50 or 60 lbs. I have a tiny friend that weighs around 85 and the light is always on when she's in the car. Once she even asked about it and got mad.

I'm thinking about going to the dealer to see if it can be adjusted too.

Curt

 

Tell her to eat more hamburgers....