Hi

I'm new to the Barchetta bit of the forum (though I've a Stilo and a Brava). I'm toying with the idea of a Barchetta for a bit of fun this summer, but am wondering if it's possible to isolate the passenger airbag? I'll need to carry my baby daughter in the car on occasion....

Is there an isolation switch, or another way? Does removing the fuse safely isolate it?

Thanks in advance,

Cheers

Nick H

Stilo 2.4 20v Prestigio 5-door manual
Brava 100SX Auto
Rochester, Kent

The Barchetta I owned ('53 Reg facelift model) had a key operated deactivation switch in the centre console storage box. I'm not sure about the early models but that's where to look if you are checking on a newer one.

Oh, and many early models only had a passenger airbag as an option so if there is a glove box, there is no passenger airbag.

I have the same as Patches. Mine is a '99.

My current B is a 2000 model and also has the on/off switch in the central armrest however, my previous 1998 B also had the passenger airbag but no switch in the armrest and I dont know where it was!
I think you will find that there are more fitted with the passenger airbag than not

Undo the 4 screws, disconnect the yellow cable - et voila, no airbag. If that doesn't work, hit it with a hammer to set it off :slayer:

Excellent - thanks all!

Nick

Robot said:

Undo the 4 screws, disconnect the yellow cable - et voila, no airbag. If that doesn't work, hit it with a hammer to set it off :slayer:

Click to expand...

:shakehead

Not a good idea disconnecting the airbag via the wire, If disconnecting the passenger airbag a fault is logged & system disabled (+ light will go on) and unless it's your idea of fun having a hammer imbedded in your body parts i would avoid that one as well

I take back the part where I was kidding about him! he is a norwo-hungarian!!!
:bang:

Dear friend with many model's names, you will find some Barchettas with a switch in the center console that dissables the passenger airbag. if it has a switch it will be there. Mine is a 1998 and doesnt have the switch. It does though have a sticker stating "no babies in front".

Talking of airbags...anyone with a b over ten years old? My rain splattered "sun visor sticker" states that this needs to be checked\ replaced after ten years.

Do I need to start saving now?

Airbag systems should be replaced every 10 years for Fords (not sure about Fiats) but considering a Ford is designed with a 10 year life span dont really matter!

Zem said:

Talking of airbags...anyone with a b over ten years old? My rain splattered "sun visor sticker" states that this needs to be checked\ replaced after ten years.

Do I need to start saving now?

Click to expand...

Dear Zem,
If you have a careful look in the barchetta manual, it clearly states that all airbag gas modules need to be replaced 10 years after the BUILD date.
For example, my B is 1998, but build date it 12/1996! this means that I should have replaced the gas modules already!
The gas modules are the little "explosives" that fire off the airbag. As years go by, this module looses its power and thus needs replacement. This does not mean that they wont work (god forbid) even if you ignore them, they probably wont have the right pressure. Its not that expensive to do the replacement, at least compared to replacing the whole airbag.

Hmmm

Best have a check of mine in that case. How do I find out when the car was originally manufactured. If mine was sitting on the shelf for a couple of years I'll need to address this.

Cheers

doolahrock said:

Hmmm

Best have a check of mine in that case. How do I find out when the car was originally manufactured. If mine was sitting on the shelf for a couple of years I'll need to address this.

Cheers

Click to expand...

If you have the ePER DVD you can check it there by entering the chassis number. If not, you can give me the last 5 digits of it and I could check it for you.

How old is my car?

This list will give you an indication (sometimes a chassis was held back a month or 2), based on your chassisnumber

1000 2nd week of February 1995
4500 1st week of May 1995
7500 1st week of July 1995
11000 2nd week of October 1995
14000 1st week of December 1995
15000 2nd week of January 1996
19000 4th week of April 1996
20000 4th week of May 1996
21000 June 1996
22000 July 1996
23000 August 1996
24000 December 1996
25000 February 1997
27000 March 1997
29000 May 1997
30000 June 1997
32000 September 1997
33000 October 1997
34000 December 1997
35000 March 1998
37000 April 1998
38000 June 1998
40000 October 1998
41000 January 1999
42000 April 1999
44000 June 1999
45000 July 1999
47000 October 1999
47300 January 2000
47500 February 2000
48000 March 2000
49000 April 2000
49500 May 2000
50000 June 2000
50500 July 2000
51000 September 2000
51250 November 2000
51500 January 2001
51750 February 2001
52000 March 2001
55400 May 2002

http://www.fiatbarchetta.com/misc/faq.html

Hi all - I have an older 1997 Barchetta which does not have a 'key' switch in the central between-seat glove compartment. Please confirm that my model does not have any means of switching off the passenger airbag if I want to out a baby seat into it. I don't want to in fact, but am curious as to how Fiat could have got that through "Health and Safety"