sensor TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1998 Owners Manual

Page 56 of 350

4RUNNER (1998)
This indicator comes on when the
ignition key is turned to the ºACCº
or ºONº position. It goes off after
about 6 seconds. This means the
SRS airbags are operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system
monitors the airbag sensor assembly,
inflators, warning light, interconnecting
wiring and power sources.

Page 57 of 350

4RUNNER (1998)
The SRS airbag system is designed
to activate in response to a severe
frontal impact within the shaded
area between the arrows in the il-
lustration.
There may be the case that the SRS
airbags will not activate with such an
impact in which the occupant wearing
the seat belt correctly would not get
serious injury.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the
severity of the impact is above the
designed threshold level, comparable
to an approximate 20 km/h (14 mph)
collision when impacting straight into
a fixed barrier that does not move or
deform.
If the severity of the impact is below
the above threshold level, the SRS
airbags may not deploy. However, this threshold velocity will
be considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object, such as a parked
vehicle or sign pole, which can move
or deform on impact, or if it is in-
volved in an underride collision (e.g.
a collision in which the nose of the
vehicle ºunderridesº, or goes under,
the bed of a truck).
It is possible with collision severity at
the marginal level of airbag sensor
detection and activation that only one
of your vehicle's two airbags will
deploy.
For the safety of all occupants, be
sure to always wear seat belts.

Page 59 of 350

4RUNNER (1998)
The SRS airbag system mainly con-
sists of the following components and
their locations are shown in the il-
lustration.
1 SRS airbag warning light
2 Airbag module for driver (airbag
and inflator)
3 Airbag module for passenger (air-
bag
and inflator)
4 Airbag sensor assembly
The airbag sensor assembly consists
of a safing sensor and airbag sensor. In a severe frontal impact, sensors
detect deceleration and the system
triggers the airbag inflators. Then a
chemical reaction in the inflators mo-
mentarily fills the air
bags with non-
toxic gas to help restrain the forward
motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce
a fairly loud noise and release some
smoke along with non- toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. Be sure to
wash off any residue as soon as pos-
sible to prevent minor skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbags happen in
a fraction of a second, so the airbags
must inflate with considerable force.
While the system is designed to re-
duce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor burns or abrasions and
swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering
wheel hub, dashboard) may be hot for
several minutes, but the airbags them-
selves will not be hot. The airbags are
designed to inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the
airbags may break the windshield as
the vehicle buckles. In vehicles with
a passenger airbag the windshield
may also be damaged by absorbing
some of the force of the inflating air- bag.
CAUTION
The SRS airbag system is de-
signed only as a supplement to
the primary protection of the
driver side and front passenger
side seat belt systems. The
front seat occupants can be
killed or seriously injured by an
inflating airbag if they do not
wear the available seat belts.
During sudden braking just be-
fore a collision, an unrestrained
driver or front passenger can
move forward into direct con-
tact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then
deploy during the collision. To
obtain maximum protection in
an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle must
wear their seat belts. Wearing a
seat belt during an accident re-
duces the chances of death or
serious injuries or being thrown
out of the vehicle. For instruc-
tions and precautions concern-
ing the seat belt system, see
Seat beltsº in this chapter.

Page 64 of 350

4RUNNER (1998)
Do not put objects or your pets
on or in front of the dashboard
or steering wheel pad that
houses the airbag system. They
might restrict inflation or cause
death or serious injury as they
are projected rearward by the
force of deploying airbags. Like-
wise, the driver and front pas-
senger should not hold things
in their arms or on their knees.
Do not modify or remove any
wiring. Do not modify, remove,
strike or open any components
such as the steering wheel col-
umn cover, front passenger air-
bag cover, front passenger air-
bag, airbag sensor assembly.
Doing any of these may cause
sudden SRS airbag inflation or
disable the system, which could
result in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instruc-
tions can result in death or seri-
ous injuries.

Page 131 of 350

4RUNNER (1998)
(e) Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This lamp comes on in the following
cases.
a. The fuel tank is completely empty. (See ºFuel gaugeº in Chapter
1- 5 for instructions.)
b. The fuel tank cap is not tightened
securely. (See ºFuel tank capº in
Chapter 1- 2 for instructions.)
c. There is a problem somewhere in
your engine or automatic transmis-
sion electrical system.
If it comes on while you are driving
in case c, have your vehicle checked/
repaired by your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
(f) Low Fuel Level Warning Light
This light comes on when the fuel
level in the tank becomes nearly
empty. Fill up the tank as soon as
possible.
On inclines or curves, due to the
movement of fuel in the tank, the low
fuel level warning light may come on
earlier than usual.
(g) ºABSº Warning Light
This light warns that there is a prob-
lem somewhere in your anti- lock
brake system. If the light comes on while you are
driving, have your vehicle checked by
your Toyota dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
The light will come on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºONº posi-
tion. After about 3 seconds, the light
will go off.
When the ºABSº warning light is on
(and the brake system warning light is
off), the brake system operates con-
ventionally but anti- lock brake system
is not assisting brake performance so
that the wheels can lock- up during
sudden braking or braking on slippery
road surfaces.
Vehicles with rear differential lock sys-
temÐ
The anti-lock brake system does not
operate when the rear differential is
locked. It is normal operation for the
ºABSº warning light to be on at this
time.
(h) Open Door Warning Light
This light remains on until all the
doors and back door are completely
closed.
(i) SRS Airbag Warning Light
This light will come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ºACCº
or ºONº position. After about 6 se-
conds, the light will go off. This
means the airbag system is operat-
ing properly.
The warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, inflators,
warning light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources.
If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction
somewhere in the parts monitored by
the warning light system. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when
the ignition key is turned to the
ºACCº or ºONº position or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
(j) Light Reminder Buzzer
This buzzer will sound if the driver 's
door is opened while the ignition
switch is turned to the ºLOCKº posi-
tion with the headlight switch on. Re-
moving the key will not stop the buzz-
er as long as the headlight switch is on.