TV Monitor on Air Bag Cover

[dsmnate]

I was looking at the Air Bag section of the Service Manual the other day and it said that the way the air bag cover works is that it has a hinge at the top of it and two plastic clips that break when the air bag is deployed at the bottom. I started thinking about this and thought why couldn't you fiberglass a thin monitor onto the cover of the air bag without hurting its operation.

It is my understanding that an air bag is released with a large amount of pressure, at least enough to break plastic clips.

If that is the case do you guys think it would have enough pressure to push the cover out of the way if a thin TV was glassed onto it???
I don't see why it wouldn't because it would not add that much more weight to the cover.
What do you guys think?

 

[nholley]

Love the idea. Maybe Mitsubishi could provide you the details on how the airbag deploys and with what force. That way, bit of basic math and you have an answer.

 

[dTERM]

The charge in the Airbags is government mandated. You're looking at an explosion similar to a 12 guage shotgun shell. There are stories of airbags blowing "The Club" anti-theft devices through roof's and unsuspecting thieves. Your main concern should be, will pieces of that TV go through you. I would only suggest you proceed with that install if you are going to disable that Airbag.

 

[dsmnate]

Well according to what I saw the Air Bag Cover doesn't come apart it just swings out of the way (I am talking about the Passenger side cover, not the driver's side). Wouldn't the TV just swing out of the way along with the cover in the event that the Air Bag was deployed?

 

[Turbo Guru]

To qualify my forthcoming statement:
I have been a MECP Certified moble electronics installer for 12 years.

Statement:
This is a really BAD idea if the airbag is still active. If the airbag deployed with the tv there it would most likely kill you before you saw it coming. Aside from that it is illegal in most states (although not heeded) to have a monitor other than rear view or navigation within view of the driver. Just recently a claim was made against Nissan (watched this on tv last night) that the airbags in the 94-early95 Altima were known to have caused serious eye damage (even blindness) to passengers when they deployed.

If you were going to do this I would recommend disabling the airbag and using it's housing to house the monitor/ tv. That way if you got into a wreck (god forbid! *shudders*) it would not fling parts at you or your face at high velocity. It would however plant the tv firmly in your chest if you didn't wear a seatbelt. I do think that this is a cool idea (aside from the danger) and would be aesthetically pleasing. Your next problem would be how to run the cables so they won't bind the steering wheel. Good luck.

Joe

 

[dsmnate]

I guess I should have clarified what I meant better since both of you guys assumed that I meant the driver's air bag in the steering wheel.

I meant to fiberglass it onto the cover of the passenger side airbag so that if the air bag was deployed it would just swing out of the way...or do you think the force would cause the fiberglass to come loose and send the TV flying anyway?

 

[dTERM]

I perfer to disable the passengers side airbag anyway. Too many children are killed by airbags made for adults. It's a great idea to put a TV there. It's a good place, but you should still pull the factory airbag out first. This will give you loads of space to run wiring and maybe even the brain for a TV tuner or an XM unit.

NOTHING should EVER be placed over an active airbag. It will simply become a projectile if the airbag deploys. Yes, the airbag can move the TV out of the way, but it will come straight at the passenger. And for the record, I assumed you ment the passengers side...I was using the club refrence to demonstrate the power that is used to deploy the 2 pound bag of thick cloth from it's original 3x5x6 inch compacted form to an 8.5 cubic foot baloon.

I've seen some really clean installs where the top of the airbag cover was hinged and the TV was attached to the bottom of the cover. Lift up the cover and the TV swings out into place. It was really nice, but the airbag was removed...

 

[espydur]

i believe, even tho the passenger airbag cover swings open, that the tv and any aftermarket pieces would fly free with such an impact. trust me, i've been in a wreck.....everything and anything that is not double bolted down with he-man force comes free. (in my previous eclipse) i had 2 amps mounted on the back of my sub box...so you could see them when the rear seat was down...both were ripped from the box and hit my sister in the head who was in the passenger seat, my cd player (which i thought was securley mounted) somehow sunk down into the dash, all speaker grills flew everywhere.....quite a mess. just imagine a monitor fiberglassed into the dash DIRECTLY in front of you....ouch.

 

[dsmnate]

Yeah, I wouldn't know how to secure it strong enough that it wouldn't fly off.....or at least I wouldn't want to trust it with my passenger's lives.

I think if I do it I'll just remove the air bag and use the hole space to install a monitor and maybe DVD player or Computer.

-Nate

 

[espydur]

even without the airbag.........i'd be worried some pieces would somehow become dislodged in an accident and find a home in my passengers face........why not just put monitors in the visors or in the center dash??

 

[dsmnate]

In order for:

some pieces would somehow become dislodged in an accident and find a home in my passengers face

you would have to be going in backwards.

If the airbag is disabled or removed there would be nothing to make anything on the dash come back toward you....the inertia of the forward movement would throw everything towards the window not away from it.

Now it is possible that the passenger could be thrown into the stuff that is mounted there if they are not wearing their seatbelts.

I didn't want to go with the standard that everyone else does.....I like to be different. I designed my sub box in a different way than I have ever seen and like to come up with new unique ideas. My subbox allows almost full use of the trunk and complete access to the spare tire. It doesn't, however, look like this idea would work our very well because I don't really want to give up the passenger side air bag as long as I am still driving the car.

 

[Turbo Guru]

I wouldn't take the chance...

Joe

 

[dTERM]

Again, I throw my $0.02 in the ring. Installing in the passengers side is great, fine, wonderful, without the airbag present. Did you ever put a bowl on top of a m-60? It blew that bowl 10 feet into the air. Imagine that LCD on top of 20 m-60's. You're passenger is going to hate you if the bag deploys. LCD's are very fragile, and that deployment will shatter the glass. the shattered glass will travel away from the airbag, to the face of the person traveling toward the airbag. It'll be nasty. Please, customize your ride, but don't jepordize your, or anyone elses safety.

 

[dsmnate]

Yeah, after I thought about it more I agreed that it shouldn't be done with the airbag still active.

 

[dTERM]

Well, tell you what. You have two options. Keep the airbag in a closet and put it back when you sell the ride, or you can sell the airbag and re-coup some cost of your stereo. The airbag's are expensive so you should get a good lump of dosh for it.

 

[Turbo Guru]

I know you said the passenger side but I came across this picture and thought you might like it. Here is the link: http://www.groupbuycenter.com/buy.asp?row_id=6139

Joe

 

[dsmnate]

That is pretty cool....If I ever go all show and don't drive the car anymore I may do something like that. But as for now I like the airbags for my protection and my passengers.

Thanks for the link.

 

[espydur]

Originally posted by dsmnate
In order for:



you would have to be going in backwards.

If the airbag is disabled or removed there would be nothing to make anything on the dash come back toward you....the inertia of the forward movement would throw everything towards the window not away from it.

unless ofcourse you get nailed from the back pretty hard.......i think it's very possible that pieces could go flying if you're hit in other directions as well.....like i said, if you've actually been in an accident you knowanything and everything can bbe thrown however it wants. i would never take the chance. it'd be bad enough if you had to lay in a puddle of your own blood while you're legs are being cut out from under the dash by rescue workers, let alone while you have shards and chunks of a monitor planted into your face and chest. just a thought. whatever you do tho, do it right and think ahead. goodluck!

 

[mattn]

A tv in a steering wheel...interesting, but IMO, a waste of money.

 

[MitsuReaper]

Ok, heres my expirience with Air Bags.
In my 1st 2G. I took the Pass Side Airbag out, Which is a snap.
People say that even a Hard slam to an airbag will make it deploy.
I threw it about 15 feet in the air and let it hit the Pavement. Nothing.
Anyway. The Dash cover of the Airbag is connected by 2 Plastic clips on the bottom, and the Top has a slim really flexible aluminum hinge type thing. I just cut the Dash cover off, then made my own hinge system.
Really Easy. Great place to stash stuff.

The only thing is, taking the airbag out leaves you with a SRS Dash light on. Now you can either Take the bulb out, or take the SRS unit out.
I beleive the Drivers side bag will still work, with teh SRS light on. DONT QUOTE ME ON THAT!

My 2nd 2G, I took the Pass Bag out, and Put in a LapTop mount.
Which you flip teh Dash cover up, and out extends a laptop, which also swivles to the drivers side. Pretty Spiffy. I only really use it for Data Logging, Playing Games in Rush hour or waiting for the girl somewhere. I also have a FM Modulator hooked upto it for Unlimited Mp3 Play.
The Car currently has no airbags or SRS Unit. You dont need that B.s. Anyways.. Thats what 5-points are for. :laugh:

I am gonig to take the Laptop out, and Put a Fiberglass Replica of the Airbag cover in. What I put in it, I dunno. t.v. gauges, or nothing. Dunno. I can make one for someone for around $75.00 (Material and Time) It looks just like the cover, but bolts in teh factory mounting spots of the original Airbag. Pretty Spiffy.

 

[98eclipse]

I like how you did that with the lap top.
Did you buy that laptop mount somewhere (if you did, where? I have been looking for something like that) or did you make it yourself?

Nice interior!

 

[MitsuReaper]

Nah, I made it. From stuff at Home Depot and stuff in the garage.
It was a biotch and a half to get it to fit. But it does.

 

[espydur]

damn that's gonna suck when you get in an accident and your passenger has a laptop computer as part of their face. just about the not needingg airbags comment....i totalled my last eclipse.....all i can say are the airbags saved me and my sister's lives for sure.

 

[MitsuReaper]

Originally posted by espydur
damn that's gonna suck when you get in an accident and your passenger has a laptop computer as part of their face. just about the not needingg airbags comment....i totalled my last eclipse.....all i can say are the airbags saved me and my sister's lives for sure.

The Laptop locks into place then the Dash cover closes over it.

Theres no doubt that Airbags can save lives.
They can also jack you up worse then if you didnt have them.

I dont wear my seat belt often, so no matter what Airbag or not, im still gunna get jacked up if I wreck.

 

[dTERM]

Man, I feel naked without my lap belt on...just raised that way I guess. As for the airbags, I don't EVER need a 12 guage shotgun primer pointed at my face, so out it comes. I sold the bags from my 300zx's to a local body shop, guy gave me $150 each for them. I can't imagine why someone would want a carpet burn on their face.