Deactivation of passengers airbag

[monkeh]

I understand some p3's had the option of disabling the passengers side airbag. My 09 xc70 doesn't have that option.
The Mrs, however says "It's supported on the child seat site"
Upon removal of the panel to physically show her during a heated discussion, I noticed a green connector, possibly to disarm the airbag.

If it's a simple case of plugging in the switch, would it work? Or would it need a software flash?

Unfortunately Mrs monkeh knows my antics on retrofitting, so if it's a case of plugging it in, she will know its possible.

Personally I'd keep the sprog in the back, but sometimes, loads dictate otherwise.

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by monkeh

I understand some p3's had the option of disabling the passengers side airbag. My 09 xc70 doesn't have that option.
The Mrs, however says "It's supported on the child seat site"
Upon removal of the panel to physically show her during a heated discussion, I noticed a green connector, possibly to disarm the airbag.

If it's a simple case of plugging in the switch, would it work? Or would it need a software flash?

Unfortunately Mrs monkeh knows my antics on retrofitting, so if it's a case of plugging it in, she will know its possible.

Personally I'd keep the sprog in the back, but sometimes, loads dictate otherwise.

Unfortunately the PACOS was a £25 factory option on earlier cars.
In theory you could get the keys witch and plug it into the green plug but you would need a software install to allow the switch to function. Unfortunately no Volvo dealer will install this piece of software on a retrofit.
The best you could achieve is to have the passenger airbag permanently deactivated whilst you need to use the rear facing childseat and never carry a forward facing passenger.But I'd check with the insurance company first.
In all honesty even with a PACOS we have always fitted the rearward facing car seats in the back of the car.

[monkeh]

Originally Posted by mhon72

Unfortunately the PACOS was a £25 factory option on earlier cars.
In theory you could get the keys witch and plug it into the green plug but you would need a software install to allow the switch to function. Unfortunately no Volvo dealer will install this piece of software on a retrofit.
The best you could achieve is to have the passenger airbag permanently deactivated whilst you need to use the rear facing childseat and never carry a forward facing passenger.But I'd check with the insurance company first.
In all honesty even with a PACOS we have always fitted the rearward facing car seats in the back of the car.

That's good enough for me. Thanks!
I agree with him rearward facing in the back. She says "It would be handy in the front". No. He's staying in the back!

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by monkeh

That's good enough for me. Thanks!
I agree with him rearward facing in the back. She says "It would be handy in the front". No. He's staying in the back!

And forgot to say there is no isofix in the front so the seat will be more secure in the back.

[Turbodave]

Originally Posted by mhon72

And forgot to say there is no isofix in the front so the seat will be more secure in the back.

Going to have to disagree there...

Isofix doesn't mean a seat is any more secure, in fact sometime it's the opposite depending on the design but what Isofix does help reduce is the amount of dopes that can't figure out the correct seatbelt routing or can't fit the seat securely enough and think "Ah, sod it I'll just tie the belt round the seat handle with a double knot... be a'reet eh?"

So, as far as putting the seats in the front sans Isofix, they can (design depending) be more secure than using the isofix points themselves but I'd agree, the preferred spot is still in the back... depending on your views.

[monkeh]

I'd say isofix was a massive convenience initially when boy was young, all 3 cars were isofix, the bases swapped easily. Now he's grown out of the carrier and is in an infant seat, she's done her research and I hate to admit, using the seat belted method appears safer albeit the sacrifice of convenience and having to buy another seat instead of faffing around with moving the seat between vehicles.

I think once he's at the age of isofix booster seats, I'll be probably changing the XC to a higher spec model, one with the booster seat built in. I'm currently on an "SE" trim. I wish I had time to find a better spec model, but the current one came at a great price and had to be snapped up.

For once, I'm agreeing with SWMBO (don't let her see this) regarding moving on from isofix, But in disagreement of having him frontside in the cockpit with El capitan! I just needed the evidence of switching off the front airbag is more than just plugging in a second hand switch and turning it.
Good news for me, I don't have to bring him with me when I visit places that need back seats folded down.

[Tatsfield]

The built-in booster seats in my 2012 XC70 have really changed our driving lives. Our grandchildren can use them and we don't have to worry about whether there are child seats in the car because they are there all the time and not there when we don't need them. Magic!

[ferg55]

Originally Posted by Turbodave

Going to have to disagree there...

Isofix doesn't mean a seat is any more secure, in fact sometime it's the opposite depending on the design but what Isofix does help reduce is the amount of dopes that can't figure out the correct seatbelt routing or can't fit the seat securely enough and think "Ah, sod it I'll just tie the belt round the seat handle with a double knot... be a'reet eh?"

So, as far as putting the seats in the front sans Isofix, they can (design depending) be more secure than using the isofix points themselves but I'd agree, the preferred spot is still in the back... depending on your views.

I concluded the best position for your first child is the centre rear seat, which is backed up by research but not really promoted in the UK. For that reason I'd avoid the front seat. Isofix is of course very convenient and eliminates belting errors, but it limits you to the outer rear seats on most cars rather than the centre, as for some inexplicable reason car manufacturers don't fit isofix connectors in the centre (even most Volvo's - why ever not??).

Also, rearward facing from birth and until as old as possible (4/5 even 6 years) as this is immediately 5 times safer than forwards facing, but again not really promoted here (until recently).

And the seat should be "Swedish Plus Test" crash tested, as that's the harshest test in the industry.

In the end we chose our family car (Mokka) because it was compatible with the Britax baby seat we chose, positioned on the centre rear seat (using a belted base which stayed in the car, which the seat clipped onto removing any error in routing the belt each time). Now we have moved onto a toddler seat, again centre rear position, again facing rearwards, permanently belted in. The Mokka's getting a bit small now though, so a mk1 XC60 is on the cards...

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by monkeh

I'd say isofix was a massive convenience initially when boy was young, all 3 cars were isofix, the bases swapped easily. Now he's grown out of the carrier and is in an infant seat, she's done her research and I hate to admit, using the seat belted method appears safer albeit the sacrifice of convenience and having to buy another seat instead of faffing around with moving the seat between vehicles.

I think once he's at the age of isofix booster seats, I'll be probably changing the XC to a higher spec model, one with the booster seat built in. I'm currently on an "SE" trim. I wish I had time to find a better spec model, but the current one came at a great price and had to be snapped up.

For once, I'm agreeing with SWMBO (don't let her see this) regarding moving on from isofix, But in disagreement of having him frontside in the cockpit with El capitan! I just needed the evidence of switching off the front airbag is more than just plugging in a second hand switch and turning it.
Good news for me, I don't have to bring him with me when I visit places that need back seats folded down.

To clarify the integrated booster seats were not trim dependent as they came in the optional Family Pack available across the range.

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

The built-in booster seats in my 2012 XC70 have really changed our driving lives. Our grandchildren can use them and we don't have to worry about whether there are child seats in the car because they are there all the time and not there when we don't need them. Magic!

The integrated booster makes the rear bench a little bit firmer but are really convenient.
Once my youngest is into a booster I'll be swapping him and his older sister into my Integrated Boosters (assuming she is okay to move back into the rear from the front).
I've got the optional padded upholstery to fit over the seat cushions.
https://accessories.volvocars.com/en...CC-473592/2015