Passenger Air Bag

[ChrisB]

I would like to add a passenger Air Bag to my 2005 TF Spark. I have been looking and notice that SMC have some so I considering buying. Having found a circuit for an MGF on the net it shows a multi pin connector C255 at The Air Bag Control Unit with a loom of 8 cables running out to items such as the Drivers air bag, seat belt pre-tensioners etc. Two of these 8 cables are for the Passenger Air Bag terminating in connectors C258 & C259 but I wonder if anyone knows if these are hidden and tapped up under the dashboard or were they not fitted on some looms to save money? ChrisB

[Keith Williams]

I don't believe fitting a passenger air bag is as easy as just adding and connecting up but someone else may know different. Passenger air bags were non standard in the early F's and were not that common in UK cars. Not sure what happened with the TFs.

I think they used different wiring looms and also different control panels/units - see Dieter's site http://www.mgfcar.de/epc/1309.htm & http://www.mgfcar.de/epc/6794.htm, so to retro fit now you would need to change the control unit & the cable loom.

[ChrisB]

Thanks for your thoughts Keith and the link. Passenger Air Bags were an option on the TF but looking at Dieter's pages it would seem that a support frame, a new control unit and a different or additional wireing harness would be required! But I may find these from a scrapped car I guess. SMC are asking £60.00 for the airbag unit and I noticed on Dieter's pages it is listed at £540.00ish! I wonder if I could get the bits from China? All the Longbridge had both bags as standard.
Cheers

[colintf]

Hi Chris,

you could try your local New MG Dealer.

I'm lucky having AE Wilcox close to me http://www.aewilcox.co.uk/

might even be worth giving them a call. John Wilcox is very helpful, but soemtines very very busy!!

I spec'd a passenger airbag in my 2004 TF. The bits should be obtainable, if even from a scrapper

[Chris Tideswell]

I understand that whilst it's possible to connect the air bag to the system the problem comes trying to get the system to recognise the air bag.

I remember reading on of the engineers who worked on MGF stating that the passenger air bag in the F/TF didn't help the passenger as they were sitting far enough away from the dashboard that they were unlikely to come into contact with it.

[bgunn]

The passenger airbag connectors will be taped back above the glovebox. You'll need to either get the airbag DCU configured to 'see' the second airbag, or swap it with one from a twin airbag car (which is what I did).

I prefer having a passenger airbag, the texture and feel of the plastic more closely matches the rest of the dash - and it's not as recessed as the hard plastic blank, so looks a lot better too. Plus, it might help save my passenger.

Brian.

[ChrisB]

Well I have now got a new passenger airbag and DCU and have also found the connectors tapped up behind the facia cross rail. So I'm nearly set to install but I have a couple of questions which someone who knows these cars better may be able to help with.
Does anyone have any tips re removing the center console panel and gear lever gaiter? Mine seems well & truly fixed in place.
Also anyone know the size of the socket required for the 3 Torx bolts fixing the DCU to it's bracket? I don't have any Torx sockets so wanted to get the right size before I start.
Many thanks
Chris

[Rob Bell]

I remember reading on of the engineers who worked on MGF stating that the passenger air bag in the F/TF didn't help the passenger as they were sitting far enough away from the dashboard that they were unlikely to come into contact with it.

Not entirely sure - although on the passenger side, the dash feels like it is miles away, especially if you have the seat pushed all the way back. However, look at the EuroNCAP footage of the TF crash test, particularly the scene that shows how the passenger moves in the seat. The dummy moves an incredible distance forward, despite the seat belt!!!

YouTube video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTrOR3d3 ... r_embedded

Not clear whether it head-butts the dash though... but seeing this might encourage you to have a passenger airbag!

[colintf]

I remember reading on of the engineers who worked on MGF stating that the passenger air bag in the F/TF didn't help the passenger as they were sitting far enough away from the dashboard that they were unlikely to come into contact with it.

Not entirely sure - although on the passenger side, the dash feels like it is miles away, especially if you have the seat pushed all the way back. However, look at the EuroNCAP footage of the TF crash test, particularly the scene that shows how the passenger moves in the seat. The dummy moves an incredible distance forward, despite the seat belt!!!

YouTube video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTrOR3d3 ... r_embedded

Not clear whether it head-butts the dash though... but seeing this might encourage you to have a passenger airbag!

it was a risk I wasn't prepared to take, so mine was sepcified with one when i ordered it

[ChrisB]

Thanks for the link to the clips. But I'm happy that looking at the video clips the passenger would have been better off with rather than without an airbag. Not that I ever want to see the one I'm fitting. Chris