Sh*t what have i done..advice quick please

[StrawberrySnowflakes]

although cant do much about it if its correct...just traded our car in for new(year old) focus...told mindee 2's mum i would help take her dd to school nursery next month when mindee 1's hours allow.....just rang ford to ask them to show dp how to switch of front air bag when he picks up tonight and she said she doesnt think it does switch off!..help..please say shes wrong!

are you putting a childs car seat in the front thats why you want the airbag turned off ? get that checked out because im sure they can be switched off and you have been given the wrong advice, call another ford dealer and speak to a manager.

Ford dealers WON'T switch them off - insurance apparently.

But it can be done - take it to private garage, they'll do it for you.

Sassy is absolutely right. We asked if they could do ours when we bought it but t was a definite no.

I have a vauxhall and they will not switch them off either. I tried everything, complained to their Head Office, tried to find an independant garage to do it but no luck. Apparently they are all built now to only switch off if you have an isofix car fit system fitted when they are new, so that may also be the case with Ford.

but I thought you could have a forward facing car seat in the front with an air bag, only rear facing ones that are dangerous.

The child is better in the back.

oh I didnt know that, I suppose thought it defeads the object of having an air bag in the first place.

my car (mazda) manual says you can have a switch fitted for turning it off. It also states categorically that it is not safe to have a child under 12 in the front seat with the air bag on. I assume it is because the air bag is designed to go off at adult chest level - which would be about the childs face level.

I have a Hyundai Getz, and there is a switch (operator by the key) which allows you to switch the passenger airbag off.
I know a couple of people who have a Ford Focus and kids, I'll ask them. There will a fuse you can pull it's a question of figuring out which one.
Watch this space...

i was advised to actually have the airbag removed.

Hubby has got back to me, he says the following:
"Pretty sure the dealer is right - I don't remember seeing anything about a switchable airbag in the brochure. Ford probably do the same as Vauxhall and try and sell you a child seat fitted with a transponder - the car detects the seat and switches the airbag off that way."
He has been considering a Ford Focus to replace current company car so he has one of the brochures.

thanks guys, front seat would only be used occasionally, but ford have come back and said no, it wont turn off, they did offer to install a switch to de-reactivate it when needed but id have to sign a adisclaimer stating they are not liable if anything happend!and it reduces encap rating from 5 to much lower if its done
dp thinks is only rear facing that cant be used with airbags?, i thought it was both????..CRAP!!..now i have to explain i cant help out at all with mindee(or pay £100's to fit switch)

Which part of the UK do you live in? Know a place in the SE that will disconnect the passenger airbag for you - not a switch though so you would need them to reconnect it again if circumstances changed.

Can't you put her in the back?

i have my dd who is 3(in booster seat) and two mindees(two booster cushions), wouldnt(havent tried yet mind??)get three booster seat/cushions in back all together(i dont think?), so in order for me to take mindee two to school id have to only have her and one other in car and that wont happen very often.

hmmm wonder if you can buy 'compact' booster cushions?, i know my cm friends cushions are much wider than ours???

and i live in north east england.
am worried that turning it off tho would reduce safety for everyone? is it worth it?..shit wish id thought about this when looking!

Message withdrawn

really?..who was it?, it would be 2 cushions and a booster for me, so maybe??????..only have one of each at min, will try them both tonight and see what space there is left??..fingers crossed!, thanks Shosha

I have some legal documentation from my leasecar company:

"Know the New Child Seat Laws
From 18 September 2006 the law regarding the use of child seats in cars changed in England, Wales and Scotland (and will change in Northern Ireland later this year). Child seats or booster cushions are now required for all under-12s less than 135cm (4ft 5in) tall.

Children under 3 years old

In the Front Seat
The child must use the correct child restraint (baby seat or child seat). It is illegal to carry a child in a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat which is protected by an active frontal airbag.

In the Rear Seat
The child must use the correct child restraint (baby seat or child seat).

Children aged 3 years and above, until they reach either their 12th birthday or 135cm in height

In the Front Seat
The child must use the correct child restraint (booster seat or booster cushion).

In the Rear Seat
The child must use the correct restraint (booster seat or booster cushion), where seat belts are fitted.

There are three exceptions where there is not a child seat available. In each case the child must use the adult belt instead. They are:

1. in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle
2. if the child is travelling a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity
3. if there are two occupied child restraints in the rear which prevent the fitment of a third

In addition, a child aged 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available."

Looks like you could work around this legally, but as NAB3 said the child is probaby safer in the back in terms of the height of the airbag etc.

Message withdrawn

will ask dh if it is possible. (he is a ford mechanic). is it an 06 or an 05 plate?

its a 55 plate, its a zetec climate if that makes any diffrence..thankyou!

put the oldest child in the front on a booster seat and push the front seat as far back as possible,afaik, you can put a child on a booster seat in the front seat, its rear facing seats that are a no no..although its not desirable, the children are better in the back at the end of the day.

KezzaG, thankyou for that, so legally mindee two once she becomes 3yrs next week 'could' sit in middle of dd and mindee one?
id have to get parent to sign to agree this and frame it incase of questioning!, but excellent to see that!

and it seems(although i agree would rather not have any in front), a booster cushion would be fine in front with airbag in place?/.in theory?!