just got a 2004 elantra gls

I just picked this up yesterday and it displays "Passenger Air Bag Off".
Anyone know why it would say this? I am assuming it shouldn't say this, am
I correct?

Thanks,

Scott

 

It should say that whenever you have less than 55 pounds of weight in
the passenger's seat. There is a sensor that shuts off the airbag, so
that is someone is stupid enough to put a small child there, they won't
get their neck broken by the airbag in an accident.

Unfortunately, the sensor may not work as well as it should. My
girlfriend (5'1", 115#) was sitting cross legged in the passengers seat
the other day and the airbag was shut off most of the time. I only
discovered this because the light would occasionally turn off and I
noticed the flashing on the dash.

 

Thanks Brian. That makes perfect sense.

I noticed the same thing yesterday, where my wife was in the passenger seat
and it did turn the light on occassionally - but for the most part it was
off. But this morning when I was in the car by myself the light was on
continous.

Thanks again.

Scott

 

I wonder if it's supposed to work that way in the 2003 Elantra (which I have)? I've never noticed the air bag light ON when the front passenger seat is empty.

 

Hyundai has specifically said to me that the right front seat passenger
should be sitting upright and flat on the seat bottom (including both
legs). The sensor not only checks weight but area.

 

This is a new feature for the 2004. There is an amber lamp on the center
of the dash which reads "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" whenever there is
insufficient weight in the right front seat.

 

So are you saying that my girlfriend needs a bigger butt? I think NOT! ;-)

Seriously, thanks for the explanation.

 

is this for the Canadian models as well or just the US models??

 

It is supposed to detect a so-called 5-percentile(IIRC) woman,
adult-but-built-like-a-child.