2009 XR 5 Passenger Airbag indicator

[Amstel11]

Hi all,

I'm moving to the US from Canada and in order to import my 2009 Astra XR 5 I need to switch my passenger airbag indicator light. Currently I have something that shows a picture of a guy with a seatbelt on. This is the international standard. However, in the US I need it to be a light that shows "air bag on" or "air bag off"
I will pursue getting this through Saturn but I can tell it's going to be unnecessarily expensive.

Any ideas on where to get one or the work involved in switching it?

Thanks so much,

Amstel

[stoickiwi]

Don't know if this would be all that you need for the light to work, but in the US Astras (at least mine), my indicator is on my rear view mirror. I found one on eBay for pretty cheap as well: Here is the auction

[Amstel11]

That's an excellent point. I just got off the phone with GM and the guy assumed it was on the dash. I've never even noticed. But now that you mention it. I think it is on the mirror. So I can just replace the mirror? Are there any other indicators?

[Amstel11]

Also, given the onstar etc. how much work is involved in changing the mirror out?

[vanilla sky]

Take a pic of your mirror. I might be able to help you out with a trade, since I haven't used On-Star since it was free.

[Amstel11]

@VanillaSky

Will do. Mine still has onstar, it just has a different image for the airbag sensor

[Astra La Vista!]

Originally Posted by Amstel11

That's an excellent point. I just got off the phone with GM and the guy assumed it was on the dash. I've never even noticed. But now that you mention it. I think it is on the mirror. So I can just replace the mirror? Are there any other indicators?

It's on the mirror. The one on the dash near the hazard switch is the front passenger seatbelt warning light. The rear view mirrors in Canada (and the rest of the world, I believe) use two orange icons to indicate whether the airbag is enabled or disabled. US cars use text*. It baffles me that you'd need to swap your rear view mirror just because of that, since I'm pretty sure the indicator for the driver's airbag is an icon located in the instrument cluster. But then again, Kinder Eggs are also banned in the US so...


* Source: Canadian owner's manual page 1-30

[Amstel11]

@Vanilla Sky

[Astra La Vista!]

This PDF manual shows the difference on page 1-30.

[PaulR]

I here in Wisconsin recently bought a 2008 Astra XE that was originally sold in Canada. It was driven in the Hamilton, ON area. On this car the rear view mirror still has the pictures for the passenger side airbag on or off. It does not have the US standard words on or off. The odometer has been changed from kilometers to miles though. I do not know why this is. Did this car slip through customs? If was a mistake or an oversight by the Feds, please do not tell the NHTSA! By the way, it still has the sticker on the lower front passsenger window in French text telling you that objects in the outside mirror are closer than they appear. Kind of interesting.

PaulR
2008 XR3 leather, heated seats, premium sound, 18' wheels
2008 XE5 heated seats, the really cool moonroof

[PaulR]

The Canadian airbag indicator light icons are much less annoying when driving at night than the US text " airbag on" or "airbag off" is. I know, I have both a Canadian imported Astra and one that was bought in the US. Just thought I would add that.

PaulR

[onefunkar]

every canada car ive seen imported to the us has had dash cha nged to miles from kilometers.

[Amstel11]

The US mirror with the passenger air bag wording is annoying. I will probably switch it back.

I didn't have to change the dash but I would like to.

My muffler hangers get here today and I'm actually excited. The noise is driving me bonkers.

[stoickiwi]

Originally Posted by Amstel11

The US mirror with the passenger air bag wording is annoying. I will probably switch it back.

I didn't have to change the dash but I would like to.

My muffler hangers get here today and I'm actually excited. The noise is driving me bonkers.

How many miles on your Astra? I may be intertested in a gauge swap if you want (and have close mileage).

[Amstel11]

My car is a 2009 Astra XR 4 dr.
27,000 km on the car total, so ~18,000 miles.
I'd be interested in a gauge swap is there is minimal install work.

[onefunkar]

im not sure about astra but most cars dont keep the mileage on the cluster. its kept in the bcm.

[qwerty123]

Hi Amstell 11,

Did you fix this problem? I have the same issue. I want to import my 2009 Saturn Astra XE, but i must change the passenger airbag display for it to conform with US standard. Please let me know. Thanks

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by Amstel11

Hi all,

I'm moving to the US from Canada and in order to import my 2009 Astra XR 5 I need to switch my passenger airbag indicator light. Currently I have something that shows a picture of a guy with a seatbelt on. This is the international standard. However, in the US I need it to be a light that shows "air bag on" or "air bag off"
I will pursue getting this through Saturn but I can tell it's going to be unnecessarily expensive.

Any ideas on where to get one or the work involved in switching it?

Thanks so much,

Amstel

Psssst. Do not tell the border patrol or the NHTSA but when my used XR5 was brought from Canada into the U.S., the rear view mirror was never swapped out. I am patriot, but frankly I like the international standard icon better than the U.S. one. It is not nearly as annoying when driving at night.

[qwerty123]

Hi Amstell 11,

Did you fix this problem? I have the same issue. I want to import my 2009 Saturn Astra XE, but i must change the passenger airbag display for it to conform with US standard. Please let me know. Thanks

[qwerty123]

Hi Amstell 11,

Did you fix this problem? I have the same issue. I want to import my 2009 Saturn Astra XE, but i must change the passenger airbag display for it to conform with US standard. Please let me know. Thanks

Originally Posted by Amstel11

Hi all,

I'm moving to the US from Canada and in order to import my 2009 Astra XR 5 I need to switch my passenger airbag indicator light. Currently I have something that shows a picture of a guy with a seatbelt on. This is the international standard. However, in the US I need it to be a light that shows "air bag on" or "air bag off"
I will pursue getting this through Saturn but I can tell it's going to be unnecessarily expensive.

Any ideas on where to get one or the work involved in switching it?

Thanks so much,

Amstel