Mk1 Passenger Airbag

[Magpie80]

Hi guys we have just had a baby and the focus is her in doors car and she will be going out on her own soon and just wondered if you can disable the passenger airbag so she can put a newborn car seat in the front. In my Volvo s60 t5 there is a switch in the dash by the door hinge but can't find one in the focus?

Cheers

Lee

[Stoney871]

Unfortunately there isn't a switch on the MK1.

On the Mk2 and above there is the ability to fit one if not factory installed but would still need activating on the system by Ford.

[jeebowhite]

I would always adviwe put little ones in the back seat. In a side impact, your car is more likely to be struck at the nose when you creep out of a corner (trust me you will both be doing a whole lot of this in the early days) so this keeps the impact away from the little one.

It is also closer to the centre of the car, so in the event of a front or rear shunt, the little one has more protection from front and rear to prevent any objects from striking them,

The only circumstance you can never avoid the risk of is a side impact at the rear, but a lot of the creeping and peeping you will do, should minimise this risk, and any side swipes will be of minimal impact and reduced damage.

Hope this helps in the slightest!

[Magpie80]

I would always adviwe put little ones in the back seat. In a side impact, your car is more likely to be struck at the nose when you creep out of a corner (trust me you will both be doing a whole lot of this in the early days) so this keeps the impact away from the little one.

It is also closer to the centre of the car, so in the event of a front or rear shunt, the little one has more protection from front and rear to prevent any objects from striking them,

The only circumstance you can never avoid the risk of is a side impact at the rear, but a lot of the creeping and peeping you will do, should minimise this risk, and any side swipes will be of minimal impact and reduced damage.

Hope this helps in the slightest!

I think when you put it like that I would rather her put the little one in the back, think she just a bit worried as she won't be able to see him when she's on her own.

[artscot79]

Had this with my old mk1 ford point blank refused to deactivate it and to be fair the rear is the safest place to be and is designed as such just imagine a head on that engines got one way to go right into the cabin with the rear theres that empty space and reinforced structure having kids myself mate i can honestly say they are safer in the back than the front ive been in a lot of scrappies and most cars are direct front or front side impacts the rear holds up on the foci extremely well compared to the front yoy should also never use the centre seat why do you think isofix goes either side and not centre its the weakest part due to the seat splits in two at that point

[jeebowhite]

Agreed, my two always stayed in the back, I set up some mirrors to keep an eye on him / both of them so I can understand her worry but its better for long jourmeys to pull over and check on them in the rear, than put them in the front! The early days you will overworry (I did, and the mrs certainly did!) she just sat in the back and refused to sit in the front of the car... it took her a while to get out of the habit, but its easier said than done!

it really is best to keep them in the back though, regardless of front air bag switches, I would rather they were in the rear of the car...

[Stoney871]

Back seat mirrors are readily available, just clip one to the rear seat headrest or use a sucker mount on the windscreen.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Rear-View-Back-Seat-Headrest-Mount-Baby-Safety-Mirror-/271100256582?pt=UK_Baby_BabyCarSeatAccessories_SM&hash=item3f1ed5a146

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clippasafe-Rear-View-Mirror-Car-Back-Seat-View-Mirror-/360523775568?pt=UK_Baby_BabyCarSeatAccessories_SM&hash=item53f0e43e50