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Passenger seat airbag light display

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by bilbo04096, Jan 19, 2014.

  1. bilbo04096

    bilbo04096 Member

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    The "airbag on" indicator light on the dash in front of the passenger seat is lit whenever an adult (haven't driven with a child yet) is in the seat. Is there a way to turn this light off? My passenger (wife) finds the light obnoxious to have to look at, and I can't blame her. The customization section of the user manual doesn't seem to address this.
    Thanks.
     
  2. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    I do not think so. Hopefully she will get used to it in a few years.

    I don't even notice it anymore! :)
     
  3. bilbo04096

    bilbo04096 Member

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    Ok, thanks to you both. I'll break the bad news to her at an opportune time, sometime...:cautious:
     
  4. sosarahsays

    sosarahsays Member

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    Unfortunately, if there is a child or other thing of less-than-adult weight in the front seat (for me, it's often a grocery bag), it is lit, too! It says "Airbag OFF." I think it's kind of annoying, too. Maybe I should make all passengers sit in the back and I can pretend I'm a chauffeur.

    For the record, I think the whole light for an airbag thing is weird, period. Why can't the car just have airbags and we'll assume they will work in the event we need them? (Knock on wood.) I've never had another car that had airbag lights, but this is my first Asian car, so maybe it's more common than I know?
     
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I guess it's a glass half empty, half full thing... You're looking at it wrong. Don't think of it as an annoyance or distraction, rather look at it as assurance that the sensor in the seat is functioning properly and has turned on the airbag for an adult, or off for a child or other lighter object. ;)

    SCH-I535
     
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  6. Diver Allen

    Diver Allen Member

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    One of my favorite expressions would probably apply here -

    This would be a 'first' world problem. ;)
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe a bit of artists paint over the icon to dim it a bit but still be readable for safety?
     
  8. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

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    Black electrical tape works wonders on annoying lights...
     
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  9. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    My VWs had the light and the light was in the 2014 Impala rental I had.
     
  10. sosarahsays

    sosarahsays Member

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    Huh. I don't think any of my family's German cars have had it, but maybe I just didn't notice it as much as I do on the Prius? (99 New Beetle, 04 Golf, 06 A4, 07 Eos)
     
  11. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    I expect that it is a lawyer thing. If you have an infant seat or child in the front, you really DON'T want the airbag on, since it can cause real injury to the infant or child if it deploys. Thus the "head's up" about the status of the airbag.
     
  12. sosarahsays

    sosarahsays Member

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    That's true, but don't car seats go in the back for that very reason?* Are the curtain airbags also on sensors?


    *Legitimate question, I don't have kids so I have no idea where car seats go these days! :)
     
  13. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    As said before, a piece of electrical tape will do marvelous things....(y)
     
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  14. bilbo04096

    bilbo04096 Member

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    Yes, that will probably be the solution, or something similar, kept in the glove box and ready for that particular passenger who doesn't wish to have the indicator on right in her face. If the location weren't so up front and center it would probably not be an issue. And now that she's called it to my attention I notice it too, peripherally!:LOL:
     
  15. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    They *should* go in the back seat. They actually go wherever the consumer puts them and therein is the problem....
     
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  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    '06 and '09 Jettas. The '06 had a large light, but it was toned down in the '09.
     
  17. grayprius

    grayprius Junior Member

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    Interestingly, I have an Infiniti and it's air bag light functions the opposite -- it only lights up IF the airbag is deactivated, not when it is ON. To me, that makes more sense.
     
  18. egcycle72

    egcycle72 Junior Member

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    You could put a small piece of electrical tape over the indicator light.
     
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  19. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    On the PiP, there is both an Activated and Deactivated air bag indicator light. One or the other is on if weight is detected in the passenger seat.