I have a 91 bird with the airbag steering wheel. I would love to put an after market wheel, or one from an older bird in there, but I am not sure if it is legal to remove the airbag. Part of that I suppose would be making the inflatable restraint light go off so it will pass TX state inspection.

Does anyone know, or has anyone else done this?

 

pull the instrument cluster and take the bulb out of the airbag light. its not that hard to pull the cluster and that way no more light.

 

If only it were that simple. In Texas they hook your car up to a computer that reads all of the codes your ECM throws. If the SIR not present signal comes through you fail inspection. Same if you remove the service engine light and you have an exhaust problem.

I have heard that a lot of insurance companies take exception to removing the inflatable restraints. Basically I need a loop hole.

 

Remove it it's useless unless you get into an accident.

lol...

 

I don't think the ECM in our cars has anything to do with the air bag, I think it has it's own module to control it. Also, they only hook your car up to the computer if it's an OBDII, 96 or up. For us 95 and older guys, it's just the good old sniffer test and safety check. There isn't any law that says your car must have an air bag, it's not like a seat belt. Airbags can be dangerous, and you do have the option to remove it, if you don't feel like driving around with a small amount of explosives in front of your face.

 

I believe that would be part of the safety check. I KNOW you would fail here in Missouri, obviously I cant say what TX would think about it. It is afterall, "like a whole different country".

 

I don't think it is, as there isn't a law that says you have to have an air bag. The safety check is pretty basic, they check all of the lights, horn, ebrake, wipers, look for fluid leaks, and that's about it. They're more concerned with whether or not your car can safely operate on the road.

Edit: here are all of the items checked for the TX safety inspection:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...classsubmit=Go

 

I need to move, they fail you here for anything. One year my Dakota failed because its brights did'nt work. Not the headlights, the brights!

 

I think they check that here too. On this page you can use the dropdown menu on the right, and see the exact details of how they check each item:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp.../item_insp.asp

For example, headlights:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...ejectsubmit=Go

 

holy moly. alot of testing! where i live. i never tested my car. not even once.
we dont have air-care where i live. im sure in the near future they will make it manditory but for now. nothing.
i guess your apost to take your car in for an inspection if its a used car. but i never have. i just go to the insurence place. say i paid this much. i say afew hundred bucks cheaper just so the they dont ding me on the tax lol. and yeah.
buy car, throw insurence. and your off!!
i would really hate having to live with that kind of law and crap. yuck!

by the way. i just removed the airbag and all the components for the airbag off. i dont think youll have a problem removing it.
if someone asks. just say the car never came with airbags :P