wx5tvs -
I looked at my 2000 Windstar LX's passenger airbag wiring this evening.
Here's how to get to the wiring (at least on my van):
- Open the glove compartment.
- Note that the glove compartment has two little rubber "stoppers" on each side the limit the compartment's travel when open (i.e., if they weren't there, all of your stuff would be on the floor). Gently pry the plastic supporting each stopper inward (toward the center of the open glove compartment). This will allow the glove compartment to flip down, giving full access to the area behind the glove compartment.
- Look inside the opening, toward the driver's side of the van (left hand side). There will be a two wire connector that comes out of the vehicle's harness. The mating connector continues to the airbag; on my van, the wires are covered in bright yellow plastic split loom material, so it's easy to see.
- This is the connection that needs to be broken to prevent the airbag from deploying. As I mentioned earlier, there are ways to trick the airbag controller into thinking the airbag is still there, so you won't have a perpetual warning light.
- Do some research. Improper handling of airbag wiring has the potential of accidentally deploying the airbag. And once again, note that you're on your own here: Neither I nor anyone else can guarantee anything. But my suspicion is that much of the equipment you're carrying on the passenger side is electronic in nature; you should be able to figure this out pretty quickly.