Hi
I have a 2012 Express 2500 passenger van that I purchased 2 years ago. It was just pointed out to me that the passenger seat does not have an airbag weight sensor, although there is wiring coming out of the floor to connect to.
On the dash, there is a key-operated 'passenger airbag on/off' switch. My question is: should there be a weight sensor, or does the dash switch make the sensor unnecessary? If the switch is 'on', would the passenger airbag deploy in an accident, or would it not deploy because there is no weight sensor?
The van's history is that it was apparently government-owned, and used to drive people around the island of Oahu.
Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

No, I believe the seat needs a sensor in it for the airbag to work as otherwise it believes the seat is empty and does not trip the bag. The dash switch is to disable the bag should for instance you have a child seat installed there.

The only good news here is the van is getting old enough and there's enough interchange in these vans that if you want a sensor it may be as easy as finding a used seat in a salvage yard. The front seats should be interchangeable side to side, too, so long as they don't have arm rests.

 

The heavy duty vans do not have a weight sensor for the passenger seat. The dash switch as mentioned above activates the air bag when required. When in the 'ON' position it will activate whether or not someone is sitting in it.
Mine too, was a Govt. van.

 

Thank you both for your replies!
OG52: so even though there is a wiring harness coming out of the floor, the sensor is not needed in order to activate the airbag?
Thanks again.

 

GM just whacks the same harness in every van, regardless of features

 

The switch is there to turn off the passenger side bag whenever a small child is placed into the seat. When in the 'On' position it will deploy whether the seat is occupied or not

 

Thanks everyone!