how to remove airbags - 99 honda civic

[j12piprius]

Here's another thread about removing the dead weight of the airbags, this time from a Chevy S-10. The Honda should be similar. I think it is not necessary to put the fuses back in the panel when done.

You can remove the airbags from your Chevy S-10 right from your garage. Although most people consider airbags to be an essential safety feature, some people prefer to have them removed to prevent freak accidents caused by the airbag deployment. Disengaging the airbags is a fairly easy procedure, but make sure you follow the steps properly to prevent injury.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions & things you'll need:

* Socket wrench set
* Chevy S-10 owner's manual
* Screwdriver
* Wire cutters

* 1 Pop up the hood of the S-10 and remove the battery cables from the battery terminal, using the socket wrench set. Wait 30 minutes for the residual charge to drain.

* 2 Consult your vehicle owner's manual to find the fuse location for the airbags. Once found, open the fuse panel cover, which is located on the driver's side dashboard. Use the fuse puller to remove the appropriate fuses.

* 3 Look on the back of the steering wheel and find two screws that hold the airbag in place. Remove the screws with a screwdriver. Make sure to keep your face and body away from airbag as you do this.

* 4 Remove the airbag carefully from the middle of the steering wheel and cut the wires with wire cutters.

* 5 Store the airbag in a safe location away from kids and pets.

* 6 Open the glove box and remove the straps that hold it open. Unscrew the glove box and pull it out of the dashboard. Carefully unbolt the airbag with the socket wrench. Unhook the power cable on the back of the airbag. Keep your body away from the airbag. Remove the airbag from the compartment.

* 7 Put the glove box back, screw it in and reattach the straps. Close the glove box.

* 8 Put the airbag fuses back in the fuse panel and close the fuse panel cover. Reconnect the battery cables.

[moorecomp]

Neither your original post or the ones you reference have any mention of fuel economy as the reason to remove the airbags. In your own words, "they're a time bomb waiting to happen" and the e-how article justifies their removal "to prevent freak accidents". The only freak accident I see happening in the near future is johnlvs2run being injured by airbag during removal.

Mod, move to Off Topic-Tech please.

[Clev]

You could just ram your car into a bridge abutment. That should "explode" the airbags, giving you easy access to removing them. Make sure you duck, since the airbag will kill you, and your whole family, instantly.

The "idiot light" (appropriate in this case) can be disabled with an awl and a hammer.

[Arragonis]

Have you weighed the seatbelts yet ? Thats a few pounds if you include the reels. The ones in my MGB were very heavy.

That weight reassured me somewhat.

[Clev]

Well, seatbelts have killed hundreds of people over the years who would have lived had they been thrown free. This is obviously some kind of government plot to control us. Fortunately, I am a Liberty Lover and have removed my airbags, windshield, seatbelts and brakes.

[Joenavy85]

i just removed the entire top of my vehicle and painted a target on the back of my head

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

Removing dead weight is an ecomodder topic.

Other people have posted about removing the airbag excess weight, but there have not been many good suggestions on how to remove them, especially diy.

I found this good thread on a chevy forum that shows how to remove the dead weight of the airbags.

Shoot, in that case the easiest thing to remove is yourself and your passengers. Don't need any tools for that...

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Joenavy85

i just removed the entire top of my vehicle and painted a target on the back of my head

I hope you used lead free paint and lots of sun cream ?



To the OP - look we are having some fun here because we really think this is a silly idea. The number of 'freak accidents' is way low compared to the lives saved. I spent a long time when younger driving cars that according to NCAP would fold and kill me as soon as I sat in them but I'm still alive. Well just. I also had the idea of an explosive charge pointing at my head when behind the wheel was bad - but I checked the stats.

My avatar (Alec Issigonis) once suggested fitting carving knives to the dash of any car to encourage safe driving - he wasn't entirely wrong was he ? But we know its a stupid idea.

Its just like the idea of drafting a truck. Some people do it hardcore (and crash), some people do it passively (google video search for hypermiler record to see a guy in an Insight do this well) and others do it more gently - I do it but at least 70-100 feet back. Its a technique, we all implement it differently and some not at all.

If you want to remove these items then go ahead. Its your safety and that of anyone who rides with you. That won't be me due to safety concerns, but more likely due to geography (I'm 6000 miles away).

For FE you can get loads more gains removing other weight and looking at aero which is a whole load of fun.

So please keep on in here and "fight the numbers" like the rest of us.