Hyundaitech, Passenger restraint system

I have a question regarding the passenger front air bag system in the 2006
Hyundai Elantra. It is my understanding that passengers under a certain body
weight will cause the air bag to deactivate. However, I have a friend who is
just under 90 pounds and oftentimes while she is in the passenger seat the
"passenger air bag off" indicator will turn on and then off again
intermittently. Is this normal functionality or does an adjustment need to
be made?

 

From what Hyundai tells me (which is limited), it's my understanding that
the sensor pad in the right front seat takes into account both the
occupant's weight and the amount of space they take up on the seat bottom.
It sounds like the system may be functioning normally.

Also, in order for the system to detect passengers properly, it's
important to sit as follows:
-- Seat back not reclined
-- Fully back in seat
-- Legs resting on seat bottom (not on side bolsters).

 

My dealer told me that they could reprogram the computer to make the sensor
more sensitive if mine kept giving me a false reading when I bought it.
Since then it usually indicates a passenger. If not, a couple of bounces
sets it.

Tom

 

Hyundai does indeed have a reprogram available for this, but the dealer is
very restricted in how they can apply this. In order to do the
reprgramming, the dealer is required to witness a passenger seated
properly in the right front seat and the telltale indicating "passenger
air bag off." If this occurs, the dealer can send the seat bottom to
Hyundai to be reprogrammed. To my knowledge, we've never needed to do
such a reprogramming where I work, but I've heard reports that customers
may be required to sign some sort of document if this reprogramming is
performed. You can view the TSB on this procedure at www.hmaservice.com.
It's TSB# 06-90-010-1. The revised TSB indicates that there is a sticker
that should be placed in the owner's manual.

Most of the cases I've seen where the indicator won't go out involve
people small enough that the air bag may present more of a hazard than not
allowing it to deploy.