[wellslaw]

Has anyone ever heard of airbags deployiong while someone was just having some off road fun? Sometime I am running around in the mud and woods and wonder if something may trigger the airbags. Anyone know what kind of force the airbag trigger requires to set them off. Thanks.

Along the same lines: My TJ has no switch to turn off the passenger side airbag. Anyone know of a quick easy install/mod to make it "on/off"?

[NWDave]

Seems like just about anything triggers my airbag these days, so I just leave her at home when I drive my Jeep, LOL!

[patriot2005]

Originally Posted by NWDave

Seems like just about anything triggers my airbag these days, so I just leave her at home when I drive my Jeep, LOL!

Priceless

[TJ Rat]

I have been wheeling my TJ for 6 years now. Belonged to two clubs in two different states. In all that time I have never seen or heard of a TJ's air bag deploying while off road.

Once I hit a tree very hard after cresting a steep hill. Sure glad for the seat belt, but the air bags did not deploy. Next TJ up the hill hit the same tree I did but harder. His airbag also did not deploy. Would lead me to believe there is a disconnect when your TJ is in low range. Might be wrong though.

[TJmooker]

there's a minute chance of airbags deploying. it takes certain types of impacts to deploy an airbag. i've rammed snow piles at 30+mph while plowing in my Ftwo-fiddy with no deployments.

[mdm]

The only time I've heard of the airbags deploying on the trail was when a driver got to going too fast going down a very long, very steep hill. He tried to down shift and when he pushed in the clutch, the Jeep took off down the hill like a rocket. The driver totally lost it and forgot about the clutch and just hung onto the steering wheel until the Jeep hit a very large oak tree at the bottom of the hill. The bags deployed and when it was all over, the driver was glad they had. The tree was the only obstacle on the hill and the Jeep went for it like a Stinger missile after an airplane. Crunched the front end pretty bad but nobody got seriously hurt.

[Jeep 2C]

Airbags don't deploy from any amount of sudden stop (they're not intertia based). They deploy from a certain amount of body deflection (read crumple zones).

So, unless you hit something that folds your bumper back and/or pushes your grill backwards, your airbags won't deploy.

Fuel pumps are typically, however, inertia based switches and could be subject to cutting out in a very violent rumble... I'm not positive if they are on Jeeps or not, but nearly all passenger vehicles do have inertia switches to cut the fuel pump in the case of an accident.

[Jim Shanks]

There was a past thread and I apologize for some incorrect information. There is an accelerometer sensor with the Jeep's configuration instead of the ball and cone. It does not use anything on the bumper, or the frame, or anywhere else for that matter. It measures how fast the vehicle comes to a stop. If needed the airbag(s) deploy. I do not see anything in the wiring diagram that bypasses it when Low range is selected.

Here is text directly out of the 98 TJ factory service manual:

IMPACT SENSOR
The impact sensor provides verification of the
direction and severity of an impact. One impact sensor
is used. It is located inside the Airbag Control
Module (ACM), which is secured to a bracket on the
floor pan transmission tunnel inside the vehicle.
The impact sensor is an accelerometer that senses
the rate of deceleration. The microprocessor in the
ACM monitors the impact sensor signal. A pre-programmed
decision algorithm in the microprocessor
determines when the deceleration rate indicates an
impact that is severe enough to require airbag system
protection. When the programmed conditions are
met, the ACM sends an electrical signal to deploy the
airbag system components.
The impact sensor is calibrated for the specific
vehicle. The sensor is only serviced as a unit with the
ACM. The sensor cannot be repaired or adjusted and,
if faulty or damaged, the ACM unit must be replaced.

Jim

[sparkeep]

Originally Posted by Jeep 2C

Airbags don't deploy from any amount of sudden stop (they're not intertia based). They deploy from a certain amount of body deflection (read crumple zones).

So, unless you hit something that folds your bumper back and/or pushes your grill backwards, your airbags won't deploy.

Where did you read that?

The amount the vehicle crumples does not give any indication of force trauma to the passengers? What kind of sensor would measure vehicle body deflection? The airbag sensors are mounted in the cabin ahead of the shifter console in the silver box.

Here is the relevant info from the 2005 factory service manual:

Originally Posted by 2005 Factory Service Manual

Two sensors are contained within the ACM; an electronic impact sensor, and a safing sensor. The electronic impact sensor is an accelerometer that senses the rate of vehicle deceleration, which provides verification of the direction and severity of an impact. The safing sensor is an electromechanical sensor within the ACM that provides an additional logic input to the ACM microprocessor. The safing sensor is a normally open switch that is used to verify the need for a front supplemental restraint deployment by detecting impact energy of a lesser magnitude than that of the electronic impact sensor, and must be closed in order for the front airbags to deploy. A pre-programmed decision algorithm in the ACM microprocessor determines when the deceleration rate as signaled by the impact sensor and the safing sensor indicate an impact that is severe enough to require front supplemental restraint system protection and, based upon the status of the passenger airbag on/off switch input and the severity of the monitored impact, determines what combination of front airbag deployment is required for each front seating position. When the programmed conditions are met, the ACM sends the proper electrical signals to deploy the dual front airbags.

[JeepCreepn01]

this has been debated forever, they wont go off, there has been no known times and airbag has gone off offroad, maybe if you hit a tree head on while wheeling at about 30mph you got a good chance

[neZZr]

The only time I've heard of is the pictures Stu posted of the guy that jumped 30 feet and fubar'd the whole front end & lost his rear springs when he landed.

[NWDave]

I'd be more worried about the fuel pump tilt switch shutting off the gas to the engine when wheeling, than an airbag going off.

[neZZr]

Originally Posted by NWDave

I'd be more worried about the fuel pump tilt switch shutting off the gas to the engine when wheeling, than an airbag going off.

I dunno about that...

<--- my engine kept running fine after I rolled it on it's side, I switched it off in fear I'd starve the engine of oil.

[NWDave]

I may be mistaken, but I thought all cars with electric fuel pumps had a tilt switch that shut off the pump when the car was jilted or rolled? Maybe it's when the engine stalls?? I had a Dodge Neon that would go off all the time when I drove it up the incline too fast into my front yard to wash it. I'm sure the Jeep switches are a little less touchy than a low riding car.

[Jim Shanks]

While I have not had mine on it's side completely yet, it has been just about 100% vertical before going uphill and have scooped mud with the top of my front license plate on a downward hill. Haven't had a problem with lack of fuel.

Jim