Capacitor Drain Time List (includes some '99s)

[rmoore]

A Posting from Ron Moore, Forum Moderator

Automakers have provided the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the following information concerning airbag system capacitor drain times. I have copied their listing here for your information.

You'll note that some 1998 and 1999 drain times are posted if NHTSA has that information.

Air Bag Deactivation Times (NHTSA)

Acura
Integra
(MY 87-94) -- 1.5 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Legend
(MY 87-88) -- 15 sec.
(MY 89-92) -- 30 sec.
(MY 93-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Legend Coupe LS
(MY 91) -- 2 min.
(MY 92) -- 30 sec.
(MY 93-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Sedan STD
(MY 94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
NSX
(MY 91-92) -- 30 sec.
(MY 93-94) -- 90 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Vigor LS
(MY 92-94) -- 30 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Vigor GS
(MY 93-94) -- 90 sec.
(M 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
SLX
(MY 96-98) -- 15 sec.

Audi
(MY 89-95) -- 10 sec.
(MY 96-99) -- 7 sec.

Bentley and Rolls Royse
(MY 90-93) -- 30 min.
(MY 94-97) -- 6 min.
(MY 98) -- ?

BMW
(MY 86-93 and MY 94 for the "7-Carline")
-- 20 min.
(MY 94 Vehicles made after 9/93 to 97)
-- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Chrysler
LHS and Concorde
(MY 89-94) --2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 90 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
LeBaron Convertible
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95) -- 90 sec.
(MY 96-98) -- NA
Town & Country
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Sebring Convertible and Sebring Coupe
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95) -- NA
(MY 96-97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Dodge
Caravan, Ram Van, and Status
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Dakota and Neon
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-96) -- 90 sec.
(MY 97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Intrepid and Ram Pickup
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 90 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Spirit
(MY 89 - 94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95) -- 90 sec.
(MY 96-98) -- NA
Viper
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-96) -- NA
(MY 97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Ferrari
456 GT
(MY 1995, Vehicles made up to 12/95)
-- 30 sec.
(MY 1996, Vehicles made after 7/96)
-- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
456 GTA
(MY 1996 -1997,
Vehicles made begining 7/96) -- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
F355
(MY 1995,
Vehicles made up to 3/96) -- 30 sec.
(MY 1996 -1997,
Vehicles made after 3/96) -- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Ford
(MY 85-89) -- 0 sec.
(MY 90) -- 15 min.
(MY 91-97) -- 1 min.
Ford Ranger (Mazda) -- 1 min.

GM and Saturn
(All 87-98) -- 10 min.

Geo
(MY 94-97) -- 60 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Honda
Accord Wagon
(MY 91-93) -- 45 sec.
(MY 94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Accord Coupe/Coupe SE
(MY 92-93) -- 45 sec.
(MY 94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Accord Sedan
(MY 92-94) -- 45 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Civic 3D and 4D
(MY 94) -- 90 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Civic del Sol, Sedan, Coupe DX and EX, and Hatchback
(MY 89-93) -- 30 sec.
(MY 94) -- 90 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Honda Passport
(MY 89-94) -- 90 sec.
(MY 95-98) -- 15 sec.
Honda Prelude S and Si
(MY 92-93) -- 30 sec.
(MY 94) -- 90 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
All Other Preludes
(MY 92-94) -- 90 sec.
(MY 95-97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?

Hyundai
(MY 94-97) -- 30 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Isuzu
Impulse and Stylus
(MY 89-94) -- 10 min.
Rodeo
(MY 89-97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Trooper
(MY 89-95) -- 2 min.
(MY 96-98) -- 15 sec.
Amigo
(MY 98) -- 15 sec.

Jaguar
XJS
(Up to MY 96) -- Mechanical air bags
(MY 97) -- 60 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Sedan Models
(MY 89-97) -- 60 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
X100
(MY 95-97) -- 60 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Jeep and Eagle
Grand Cherokee (Laredo)
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-96) -- 90 sec.
(MY 97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Cherokee and Wrangler
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-96) -- NA
(MY 97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Vision
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 90 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Land Rover
(MY 94-97) -- 10 min.
(MY 98) -- ?

Lincoln
(MY 1985-89) -- 0 sec.
(MY 90) -- 15 min.
(MY 91-97) -- 1 min.
(MY 98) -- ?

Mazda
MX-5
(MY 95-97) -- 10 min.
(MY 98) -- 1 min.
All others
(MY 89-94) -- 10 min.
(MY 95-98) -- 1 min.

Mercedes Benz
(MY 89-98) -- 1 sec.
(Side air bags MY 95-98) -- 1 sec.

Mercury
Villager
(MY 85-89) -- 0 sec.
(MY 90) -- 15 min.
(MY 91-93) -- 60 sec.
(MY 94-96) -- 10 min.
(MY 97) -- 3 min.
(MY 98) -- ?
Others
(MY 85-89) -- 0 sec.
(MY 90) -- 15 min.
(MY 91-97) -- 1 min.
(MY 98) -- ?

Mitsubishi
(MY 89-98) -- 1 min.

Nissan and Infinity
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-98) -- 3 min.

Plymouth
Breeze
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95) -- NA
(MY 96) -- 90 sec.
(MY 97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Vogager
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
Acclaim
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 95) -- 90 sec.
(MY 96-97) -- NA
(MY 98) -- ?
All other models
(MY 89-94) -- 2 min.
(MY 96-97) -- 15 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Porsche
944
(MY 90-94) -- 20 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
968 and 928
(MY 90-94) -- 20 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
911
(MY 90-94) -- 5 min.
(MY 95-97) -- 1 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?

Saab
900
(MY 90-93 ) -- 20 min.
(MY 94) -- 5 sec.
(MY 94 Convertible) -- 20 min.
(MY 95--97) -- 20 sec.
(MY 98) -- ?
9000
(MY 90 - 93) -- 20 min.
(MY 94) -- 5 sec.
(MY 95 -- 98) -- 20 sec.
(MY 98) -- 5 sec.
9-5, 9-3
(MY 1999,
vehicles made after April 1998) --.5 sec.

Subaru
(MY 89-97) -- 80 sec.
(MY 98-99) -- 20 sec.

Suzuki
Esteem
(MY 95) -- 15 sec.
(MY 96) -- 15 sec.
(MY 97- 98) -- 90 sec.
Swift
(MY 95) -- 10 sec.
(MY 96) -- 15 sec.
(MY 97-98) -- 90 sec.
Sidekick-2 door, Sidekick- 4 Door, Sidekick Sport, & X-90
(MY 95-96) -- 15 sec.
(MY 97-98) -- 90 sec.

Toyota and Lexus
(MY 90-91) -- 20 sec.
(MY 92-98) -- 90 sec.

Volvo
(MY 89-98) -- 10 sec.

Volkswagon
Cabriolet
(MY 90-93) -- 20 min.
All other models
(MY 94-97) -- 1 sec.
(MY 98-99) -- 2 sec.

NOTE: Information on Air Bag Deactivation Times was provided by the automobile manufacturers.

[J T Whidby]

Ron, How does after-market electronic effect the "Safe or Drain Down Time" of electrical systems on automobiles?

My question is that if Alarms systems with back up capacitors or high output electronic audio amplifiers have been added is it possible the electrical system can have enough current available to set off air bags even after extended times.

Can these extended times could cause the mfgs. times to be inaccurate?

J. T. Whidby

[rmoore]

A Posting from Ron Moore, Forum Moderator

JT;

I checked into the alarm system, cellphone type of aftermarket accessories to see how they could affect airbag systems.

I found out that there can be capacitors in these added systems, especially alarm systems. The 1999 Volvo S80 for example, even has its own backup battery power supply for its alarm.

These capacitors however, and even the Volvo alarm system auxillary battery, are only wired into their respective systems. They don't back-feed into the airbag system.

Aftermarket installers know that yellow wiring ( or bright orange on some older GM vehicles) means airbag system. They tell me that they avoid cutting into anything yellow or orange. They run their own wiring system off the car's original battery as a separate stand-alone system.

My take on this is that cellphone or not, alarm system or not, we should still take away the power as soon as practical at the scene and proceed with standard recommendations for airbag-equipped vehicles.