Passenger Airbag Light?

[strike_anywhere]

My apologies if this question is a bit premature, but I haven't done much research yet and figured this would be the best place to go. Have an '06 LR3 and recently noticed a message on the control dash (just right of the CD insert) that reads "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF!" A passenger has not been in the vehicle since the light came on and I was just wondering if this is an automatic feature when there is no one sitting shotgun? Or perhaps there is a switch I may have hit to turn this function off.. worst case there is an electrical issue but I drove this off the LR lot a week ago and don't feel like going back so soon. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[grommet]

The passenger air bag, at least in North America, is automatically disabled for safety purposes if a passenger is detected that has a low weight. (Under 90 lbs? I'm not sure off the top of my head.)

If the warning is illuminated without anything on the seat, there is something wrong... likely a failing passenger seat sensor.

 

[nwoods]

The weight sensor is pretty sensitive. I usually put my briefcase on the seat (and it's very lightweight) and I get the light. Sometimes it comes on when I put a bag of fast food on the seat when driving away from the window.

So my point is, was there anything in the seat?

 

[strike_anywhere]

That answers the question.. I had a book and a bottle of water on the seat yesterday (damn that's sensitive). Today I drove to work w/ nothing in the seat and noticed the light was off -- also had a passenger and the light was off. Good deal, thanks guys!

 

[nwoods]

Cool. So in case any one is keeping track, here's the score:

Correct Answers Provided:
NWoods: 4
Grommet: 124,758

LOL