Is there any way to simply disable the airbags? They're simply redundant systems that now threaten to kill the occupants of the vehicle after a certain amount of time (and climate) and in most cases it's simply not worth the cost in time and labor to replace them in vehicles over 15 years old.

Yes, I own a '97 Ranger. And I believe the seat belts serve admirably in saving lives. Air bags add complexity and cost without THAT much added protection when the belts are worn properly.

When will those f-series recalls end???

@GMS, you are seriously the funniest non-smart person I ever knew, its a joy to watch the stupidity!!!!

Almost no one is immune in the Takata mess... There are GovMotors Models effected to (not as many as Ford or Honda) but again not immune.

Once again big difference between a supplier providing a defective item that meets adequate manufacturer specifications (like this case) and when the manufacturers specs for a part are deficient (like the GovMotors ignition murder recall case).

I love that the Japanese government has promised NO bailout for Takata. Its not the taxpayers job to pay for the business mistakes of private industry.

Roadwhale, unplug a front crash sensor. There should be one behind your grill. Once the airbag light is on, the airbags are disabled.

Just had a look at the total vehicles recalled because of the Takata airbag. I must admit that Ford beats GM with 900,000 more vehicles recalled.

Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jun 2, 2016 10:11:09 AM

Only a person like you could turn this into a brand war
You truly have a sad life. I could not imagine being as sad as you.

Roadwhale, unplug a front crash sensor. There should be one behind your grill. Once the airbag light is on, the airbags are disabled.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 10:06:40 AM

Actually, it would be safer to locate and remove the air bag fuse. This will disable the internal capacitors that supply current to the airbag ignitor. It can't operate without power.

Actually, it would be safer to locate and remove the air bag fuse. This will disable the internal capacitors that supply current to the airbag ignitor. It can't operate without power.

Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jun 2, 2016 10:17:57 AM
Makes no difference. The capacitors discharge regardless. Plus you do not know what is inline with the fuse. The other option is to disc contact the bag at the clock spring. The contactors in the connector shouts the power and ground wires together to prevent any activation.

Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jun 2, 2016 10:11:09 AM

Only a person like you could turn this into a brand war
You truly have a sad life. I could not imagine being as sad as you.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 10:15:24 A

The guy is a pathetic loser that has nothing better to do. Serious Head Problems, either his helmet is off or the trvll is missing it's medication.

Makes no difference. The capacitors discharge regardless. Plus you do not know what is inline with the fuse. The other option is to disc contact the bag at the clock spring. The contactors in the connector shouts the power and ground wires together to prevent any activation.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 10:26:11

Unless your a self thought software expect with specific knowledge of the chips used in the air bag controller module, you can't be sure of the capacitors. The safest route is to pull the fuse, otherwise it's still a bomb.

Unless your a self thought software expect with specific knowledge of the chips used in the air bag controller module, you can't be sure of the capacitors. The safest route is to pull the fuse, otherwise it's still a bomb.

Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jun 2, 2016 10:47:57 AM

Actually no. Federal regulations. You cannot have an airbag deploy with a compromised system. There are several failsafes to prevent activation of a bag in the case of a system malfunction, like pass through voltage through 2 airbag sensors at the same time to deploy a bag. You cannot have one sensor activate and then another at a different time frame. At least you are trying to be technical. I give you credit for that.

Fyi GMsNOTSOGREAT, there are 4 fused power sources for the airbag system in his Ranger.

It would make more sense to put a limit on how old a vehicle is. This recall could go back to every vehicle ever made with a Takata air bag. I am not saying that nothing should be done but it would make more sense to disable air bags on any vehicle 10 years old and older and put a warning label on the driver's visor that the air bag has been disabled. Maybe Government regulations would prevent that but it seems like there should be a reasonable limit to how far back they can go on an airbag recall. If Takata goes bankrupt who will be responsible for fixing these recalled vehicles?

Fyi GMsNOTSOGREAT, there are 4 fused power sources for the airbag system in his Ranger.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 10:59:18 AM

LAMO, your full of s&!t.

Maybe a better safety measure would be to reinforce the cab area similar to what they do in race cars and add more soft touch areas where the head would hit in a crash. I am not sure that air bags are the best protection especially with the force created by the inflators. Yes, air bags are mandated but maybe there are better safer alternatives.

Maybe a better safety measure would be to reinforce the cab area similar to what they do in race cars and add more soft touch areas where the head would hit in a crash. I am not sure that air bags are the best protection especially with the force created by the inflators. Yes, air bags are mandated but maybe there are better safer alternatives.

Posted by: Jeff S | Jun 2, 2016 11:13:36 AM

The current trend is to activate bags around the occupants to minimize there movement in a crash. In fact there are standards for trim pieces for how hard they are. They still hurt. Still the biggest risk is the front airbags. But with curtain bags, seat belt pretensioners, collapsible steering columns you do have less risk of injury from a front airbag. You would think though the future holds new tech for passenger safety without the airbags.

@LMAO--That is precisely the point that with the newer technology that passenger safety could be improved without airbags. It seems that whomever makes the airbags that there will always be problems with the inflators and that after a number of years airbags would not be as effective especially when you consider that a vehicle sitting outside is exposed to extreme heat and cold.

You can say what you want but I am looking at description and operation of the 97 Ranger air bag system right now along with the EVTM. This is direct from Ford. Sorry but you are again wrong and I am right. Plus it shows you do not understand many vehicle systems. I think you need to stick with changing water pumps at pep boys.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 11:15:03 AM

If you have that info in front of you, then you know what is down stream on each fuse. If you truly understand how to read an electrical diagram, then you can tell what is the correct fuse to pull. Tell him.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160601/OEM11/160609986/ford-recalls-1-9-million-vehicles-for-takata-passenger-side-airbags

If you have that info in front of you, then you know what is down stream on each fuse. If you truly understand how to read an electrical diagram, then you can tell what is the correct fuse to pull. Tell him.

Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jun 2, 2016 11:35:17 AM

the sensor is between power and the airbag. You remove the sensor, a direct short to power AND ground will be the only way to activate the bag.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160601/OEM11/160609986/ford-recalls-1-9-million-vehicles-for-takata-passenger-side-airbags

Posted by: johnny doe | Jun 2, 2016 11:43:36 AM

Uber Moron.

http://www.carscoops.com/2016/06/gm-vehicles-struck-by-defective-takata.html

@RoadWhale--How is your 97 Ranger? How many miles have you put on it? I almost bought a Ranger in 99 but I had a GM Master Card with almost 4k points and was offered 1.5k rebate at the time on the S-10. I ended getting an extended cab LS for 10.5k including tax, title, and licensing. Too good a deal to pass up and I still have the truck. I always liked the Ranger.

And GMsNOTSOGREAT, you don't want to doable modern RPMS because now you just disabled vehicle dynamic control.

And GMsNOTSOGREAT, you don't want to doable modern RPMS because now you just disabled vehicle dynamic control.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 11:56:20 AM

Not sure what your saying, but I doubt a 1997 Ranger has vehicle dynamic control on the air bag fuse. Anyway, a fellow tech has full access to Fords electronic online service info. I'll have him look it up and fax me a copy of the electrical diagram. Talk later.

Man! It seems like everyone is being plagued by those crappy Takata airbags. Makes me wonder why so many manufacturers used them in the first place.

GMsNOTSOGREAT want the page numbers

GMsNOTSOGREAT want the page numbers

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 12:42:09 PM

Sure.

I don't know what access your buddy has but EVTM 046-1 and -2. WSM 01-20B.

Isn't it funny how Roadwhale wants to impose all manner of regulations on companies and other folks when it suits his idea of how the world should work.

BUT WHEN IT COMES to his truck or his air bags, no-sir-ee! Roadie gets all Libertarian then!

Classic liberal.

I don't know what access your buddy has but EVTM 046-1 and -2. WSM 01-20B.

Posted by: LMAO | Jun 2, 2016 1:06:54 PM

I'm still waiting on that info but in the mean time I searched Google and found a diagram that supports what you were saying. Also on that diagram, the battery power leaves a 15 amp fuse and finds its way to the sensor. Either of our methods would have worked according to that diagram. As I said, i'm still waiting on the actual Ford diagrams.

FIAT RAM THE CHEAPEST TRUCK ON THE MARKET IS USING TAKATA AIR BAGS I TOLD YOU'LL.
Posted by: Gm orgullosa de ser de china. | May 31, 2016 3:08:19 PM

lol idiot!

I'm still waiting on that info but in the mean time I searched Google and found a diagram that supports what you were saying. Also on that diagram, the battery power leaves a 15 amp fuse and finds its way to the sensor. Either of our methods would have worked according to that diagram. As I said, i'm still waiting on the actual Ford diagrams.

Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jun 2, 2016 6:26:05 PM

I appreciate what you said. I did check the fuse you are likely talking about that is constant power. I did not find anything anything else on that circuit. So yes you could remove just that fuse and even though there are other power inputs, that is main airbag power.

With anything newer I would directly disconnect the air bag at the column and or the dash. Because the RCM is part of vehicle dynamics, it may affect other vehicle functions. However I do not know if disabling the airbag will turn off traction control or other vehicle dynamics. Everything is so integrated now it is hard to say what will happen until you try. But the airbag connectors have a shorting bar so the bag cannot deploy at all.

HEMI V8 | Jun 3, 2016 5:07:12 AM
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/automakers-still-installing-defective-takata-airbags-cars-study-n583846

You have to ask, why is fiat STILL using recalled airbags in current production.

"You have to ask, why is fiat STILL using recalled airbags in current production."
-- Posted by: LMAO | Jun 3, 2016 6:32:45 AM

You don't have to ask very hard when the answer is given in the article linked.

"A number of manufacturers also are using defective Takata inflators as replacements for older airbags in about 2.1 million recalled vehicles. Federal regulators have approved that move as a temporary measure due to a shortage of replacement parts using newer, safer designs." -- per article linked.

What would you rather they do, not install any airbags at all? That's just simply illegal. They, meaning far more than JUST FCA, are using what's available simply because there aren't enough new-design units being made yet. The defective ones don't go bad for years, depending on where the vehicle operates maybe not for a decade. That gives the airbag manufacturer time to ramp up production and start exceeding demand. This issue isn't going to just disappear because there's a new design or two; it will take years just to handle the recalls, not even considering how many are needed for new vehicles.

Or not use them like virtually every other manufacture. But hey, least they will be recalled in 2 years

If Ford was doing this all the little rambots would have a hay day with it.