Devoted to the C5 Corvette!
HOW TO install an air bag cutoff
switch
Click on the small pictures for a bigger image.
Some observations from my
air bag cutoff switch installation in our 99 vette.
Some previous information
from the corvetteforum was a starting help.
--kenrobb on the forum
These are the parts included in the Airbag
eliminator switch provided by Ken
Fitchner of Fitchner Chevrolet in Lowell, MT.
You must remove and replace the stock seat
belt with one approved for a Corvette with disabled airbag. You will
need a T-47 Torx driver, and socket to remove the three seat belt retaining
bolts. But first, you must remove the trim piece that hides the seat
belt holders. It is held on by push-in clasps. Just pull straight
up on the sill plate to release it. Then, pull the seat belt webbing
out of the plastic holder and through the slot on each belt location.
Pull the vertical trim piece straight out from under the upper trim piece
and release the spring clip from the frame. Once the trim piece is out
of the way, unscrew the two bolts and install the new seat belt.
Unlike the original, the new seat belt does not have a sewn-in fold.
Next, pull the air bag fuse from the fuse
box under the passenger toe plate. The owners manual shows the location
of the fuse. Then, remove the glove box. There are two bolts in the back
under a plastic hole plug. Pry out the two plastic plugs and remove the
two bolts. There are four smaller screws on the top front of the glove
box and one screw on the side of the box next to the door opening.
Unclip the box light power plug also.
The location of the cutoff switch is optional.
One option is to mount it on the console side of the glove box to allow
the owners manual to still fit in its regular location. Also, it will block
the opening to the bolt holding the glove box to dash frame. It is
recommended that the two holes for the pop rivets be drilled in the glove
box, but do not install the switch until after the glove box is reinstalled
into the dash. The stick-on instruction label only installs one way.
It's possible to install it upside down. You must to be able to insert
the ignition key also.
The airbag connector (yellow plug) is located
on the console side of the large metal housing that surrounds the glove
box. There is a small stamped hole (opening) on the console side
of the metal box that the airbag yellow connector is attached to with a
small gray plastic plug. You can see it by laying down and positioning
your head up under the passenger side of the dash. Squeeze the retainer
sides together and push it out of the hole.
Use a finger to reach through the larger
hole to pull the yellow connector into the glove box opening. This is the
connector that you will connect the switch connectors into. Drill
a larger hole in the back of the glove box to route the wires from the
cut-off switch out of the glove box. Then push these wires through the
opening in the glove box frame that the yellow airbag connector was pulled
through.
Reverse the above instructions
to reinstall the glove box and seat belt components.
Finally, install the warning
light under the dash with a velcro piece. I used the supplied clip to push
on from the rear side. Get the 12V power for the warning light from the
accessory marked fuse location in the fuse box. One option is to use a
push-in, crimp-on fitting to plug into the hot side of the fuse opening.
The instructions give you a procedure to follow on the testing. The last
thing is to install the airbag fuse.
Now, to take the grandson for a ride. --kenrobb