TOYOTA CELICA 1998 Owner's Guide

CELICA U
31
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 involved in an underride
collision (e.g. a collision in which the nose
of the vehicle ”underrides”, 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 ve-
hicle’s two airbags will deploy.
For the safety of all occupants, be sure
to always wear seat belts.
Collision from the rear
Vehicle roll −over
Collision from the side
The SRS airbags are not designed to
inflate if the vehicle is subjected to a
side or rear impact, if it rolls over, or
if it is involved in a low
−speed frontal
collision.The SRS airbag system mainly consists of
the following components and their loca-
tions are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. Center airbag sensor assembly
3. Airbag module for driver (airbag andinflator)
4. Airbag module for passenger (airbag and inflator)
5. SRS airbag warning light
The center airbag sensor assembly con-
sists of a safing sensor and center airbag
sensor.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
32
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect
deceleration and the system triggers the
airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflators momentarily fills the air-
bags with non−toxic gas to help restraint
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 possible 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 desi gned to reduce serious inju-
ries, 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 themselves will
not be hot. The airbags are designed to
inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the air-
bags may break the windshield as the
vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a pas-
senger airbag the windshield may also be
damaged by absorbing some of the force
of the inflating airbag.CAUTION
The SRS airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the prima-
ry protection of the driver side and
front passenger side seat belt sys-
tems. The front seat occupants can
be killed or seriously injured by an
inflating airbag if they do not wear
the available seat belts. During sud-
den braking just before a collision,
an unrestrained driver or front pas-
senger can move forward into direct
contact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then deploy
during the collision. To obtain maxi-
mum protection in an accident, the
driver and all passengers in the ve-
hicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an acci-
dent reduces the chances of death
or serious injuries or being thrown
out of the vehicle. For instructions
and precautions concerning the seat
belt system, see ”Seat belts” in this
chapter.
Improperly seated and/or restrained
infants and children can be killed
or seriously injured by a deploying
airbag. An infant or child who is
too small to use a seat belt should
be properly secured using a child
restraint system. Toyota strongly
recommends that all infants and
children be placed in the rear seat
of the vehicle and properly re-
strained. The rear seat is the safest
for infants and children. For in-
structions concerning the installa-
tion of a child restraint system, see
”Child restraint” in this chapter.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
33
Never put a rear−facing child re-
straint system on the front seat be-
cause the force of the rapid infla-
tion of the passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
Move seat fully back
A for war d −facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is un-
avoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint sys-
tem, see ”Child restraint” in this
chapter.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
34
Do not sit on the edge of the seat
or lean over the dashboard when
the vehicle is in use. The airbags
inflate with considerable speed and
force; you may be killed or serious-
ly injured. Sit up straight and well
back in the seat, and always use
your seat belt.Do not allow a child to stand up,
or to kneel on the front passenger
seat. The airbag inflates with con-
siderable speed and force; the child
may be killed or seriously injured.
Do not hold a child on your lap or
in your arms. Use a child restraint
system in the rear seat. For instruc-
tions concerning the installation of
a child restraint system, see ”Child
restraint” in this chapter.
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 rear-
ward by the force of deploying air-
bags. Likewise, the driver and front
passenger should not hold things in
their arms or on their knees.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
35
Do not modify or remove any wir-
ing. Do not modify, remove, strike
or open any components such as
the steering wheel column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front
passenger airbag, airbag sensor as-
sembly. 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 instructions
can result in death or serious inju-
ries.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can in-
terfere with proper operation of the
SRS airbag system in some cases.
 Installation of electronic items such
as a mobile two −way radio, cassette
tape player or compact disc player
 Modification of the suspension sys-
tem
 Modification of the front end struc-
ture
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
 Repairs made on or near the front
fenders, front end structure, con-
sole, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
This SRS airbag system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of
operating problems. If either of the follow-
ing conditions occurs, this indicates a mal-
function of the airbags. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to ser-
vice the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ”ACC” or
”ON” position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
36
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
The SRS airbags have been inflated.
The front part of the vehicle (shaded
in the illustration) was involved in an
accident not of the extent to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel
or front passenger airbag cover
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer.
Toyota strongly urges the use of child
restraint systems for children small
enough to use it.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A.
and Canada now require the use of a
child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. See ”Seat belts” for
details.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops,
children must be properly re-
strained using a seat belt or child
restraint system depending on the
age and size of the child. Holding
a child in your arms is not a sub-
stitute for a child restraint system.
In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle’s inte-
rior.
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system that
conforms to the size of the child on
the rear seat. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.
Vehicles with a passenger airbag:
Never put a rear −facing child re-
straint system on the front seat. In
the event of an accident, the force
of the rapid inflation of the airbag
can cause death or serious injury if
a rear −facing child restraint system
is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put
a child restraint system on the
front seat.
Child restraint—
—Child restraint precautions
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
37
A for war d−facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is un-
avoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
Make sure that you have complied
with all installation instructions pro-
vided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is
properly secured.
—Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small
child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with the lap por-
tion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must
carefully consult the manufacturer ’s in-
structions which accompany your child
restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child
restraint system following the manufactur-
er ’s instructions about the appropriate age
and size for the child for the restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer of the system. General di-
rections also provided under the following
illustrations.
The child restraint system should be
installed on the rear seat. According to
accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat.CAUTION
Vehicles with a passenger airbag:
Never put a rear −facing child re-
straint system on the front seat. In
the event of an accident, the force
of the rapid inflation of the airbag
can cause death or serious injury if
a rear −facing child restraint system
is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put
a child restraint system on the
front seat.
A for war d −facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to put on
the front seat only when it is un-
avoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying airbag could
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
38
After installing the child restraint
system, make sure it is secured in
place following the manufacturer ’s
instructions. If it is not restrained
securely, it may cause death or se-
rious injury to the child in the
event of a sudden stop or accident.
When not using the child restraint system,
keep it secured with the seat belt or place
it in the trunk or somewhere other than
the passenger compartment. This will pre-
vent it from injuring passengers in the
event of a sudden stop or accident.
Coupe and liftback only—Your vehicle has
anchors for securing the top strap of a
child restraint system. The anchor nuts
are welded beneath the sheet metal to
permit installation of an anchor bracket for
a child restraint system.
To install an anchor bracket, use an 8 mm
 30 mm  1.25 mm coarse thread met-
ric bolt and a 15 mm (0.6 in.) spacer.
Note that the bolts accompanying many
child restraint systems are not metric. You
can damage the anchor nuts on your ve-
hicle if you force bolts with different
thread into the anchor nuts. For instructions about how to install the
anchor bracket, see ”Top strap anchors
and locations”.
If your child restraint system does not
provide any of the necessary parts, you
can purchase the following items from
your Toyota dealer.
∗ CRS installation kit
(Part No. 04731− 22012)
—contains 1 bolt, 3 types of spacers
and 1 locking clip.
∗ Bolt (Part No. 91511 −60830)
—Types of child restraint system
Child restraint systems are divided into
the following 3 types according to the
child’s age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint system following
the instructions provided by its manufac-
turer.
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
39
(A) Infant seat
(B) Child seat
(C) Junior seat
(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat is used in rear−facing
only.
—Installation with 3 −point
type seat belt
ProCarManuals.com

CELICA U
40
CAUTION
Never put a rear−facing child re-
straint system on the front seat be-
cause the force of the rapid infla-
tion of the passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child.
Do not put a rear −facing child re-
straint system on the rear seat if it
interferes with the lock mechanism
of the front seats. This can cause
severe injury to the child and front
passenger in case of sudden brak-
ing or a collision.1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the infant seat following the
instructions provided by its manufactur-
er and insert the tab into the buckle
taking care not to twist the belt. Keep
the lap portion of the belt tight.
ProCarManuals.com