Auto Seatbelts, Airbags. When did they start?

*ukfan4sure!* · 09-10-2004, 12:57 AM

Greetings again!
I have a question that has been haunting me......When did the Max's get the auto seatbelts and airbags? I have an 87 with out the airbag or auto seatbelt (and yes, this makes me VERY happy!), but I have seen other 87's advertised that have both airbags and autobelts. My daughter has a 3rd Gen 90 model that has only the auto belts..Was this a mid-year production change for this car in 87? Or was it a more regional or country specific setup (I'm thinking about "floaters"). And if they started putting bags in in 87, why did they quit and restart (in what, 93)? Interesting.....
Thanks!

ASHURA · 09-10-2004, 04:37 AM

I think the U11 (85-88 max) got auto shoulder belts late in the 87..and no, they never got airbag(s) as a suplemental restrain system..
Auto shoulder belts stays used until 94, when nissan reverted back to manual seatbelts

The airbags made it in in the late 93-94 J30 maxima I think, all nissan cars up to 92 got no airbag.

Oh, an additional note, Canadian U11, J30, U12, and S13 got manual seat belts all around.

*ukfan4sure!* · 09-10-2004, 05:50 AM

Oh, I see...What is confusing me about the air bag is that I have seen steering wheel horns that appear VERY fat, as opposed to mine which is simply flat. So, NO supplemental system on the early Max's at all, right?

Maxima-Will · 09-10-2004, 08:59 AM

I have a 12/86 (87 Model Year) sedan that has auto shoulder belts and no air bag. Ashura is correct, air bags did not appear in the U11 at all.

maximagxe90 · 09-10-2004, 10:45 AM

Hi,

the auto seats belt where on all of the 3rd gen from 89-94,

the first model to ever get air bags as a option was the 92 model year,

but was standard from 93-94,

ASHURA · 09-10-2004, 08:31 PM

hmm, nice add on man, good for archiving

*ukfan4sure!* · 09-16-2004, 04:11 AM

Well, after some extensive research and some help from oem-surplus.com, a Nissan obsolete parts clearinghouse, I finally figured out that any Gen 2 built after 08/86 had the autoseatbelts and a newer steering wheel assembly that incorporated a larger padded center. This applied to the SE's also. If you are looking for OEM parts for your car, I highly recommend checking out

http://oem-surplus.com/nwp

My car was build 5/86, so that is why I have the "flat" horn pad and no auto seatbelts (thank goodness!!!!). If you have ever looked at the section on troubleshooting and repair of the auto system in the SM, you can appreciate the "simplicity" of a centrifcal ratchet!!!!