belt TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2000 Owner's Guide

532000 4Runner (OM35762U)
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect
deceleration and the system triggers the
airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflators quickly fills the airbags
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
and residue along with non- toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. This gas is nor-
mally harmless; however, for those who
have delicate skin, it may cause a minor
skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent
any potential skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbags happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbags must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious inju-
ries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swelling.
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 ensure max-
imum 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 injury or being thrown
out of the vehicle. For instructions
and precautions concerning the seat
belt system, see Seat beltsº in this
section.
ProCarManuals.com

542000 4Runner (OM35762U)

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 restraintº in this section.

Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system in 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 forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be 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
system, see Child restraintº in this
section.
ProCarManuals.com

552000 4Runner (OM35762U)

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
restraintº in this section.

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

572000 4Runner (OM35762U)
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 that was not severe enough 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 them.
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 SAE J1819.
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 beltsº 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 which
conforms to the size of the child,
and is put on the rear seat. Accord-
ing to accident statistics, the child
is safer when properly restrained in
the rear seat than in the front seat.

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 forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem on the front seat.

A forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be put on the front seat
only when it is unavoidable. Always
move the seat as far back as pos-
sible, because the force of a de-
ploying 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 restraintÐ
ÐChild restraint precautions
ProCarManuals.com

582000 4Runner (OM35762U)
ÐChild restraint system
A child restraint system for a small
child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with either the
lap belt or the lap portion of the lap/
shoulder belt. You must carefully con-
sult the manufacturer 's instructions
which accompany the child restraint
system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child
restraint system following the manufactur-
er 's instructions about the appropriate age
and size of the child for the child restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer of the system. General
directions are also provided under the fol-
lowing 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

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 forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem on the front seat.

A forward- facing child restraint sys-
tem should be put on the front seat
only when it is unavoidable. Always
move the seat as far back as pos-
sible, because the force of a de-
ploying airbag could cause death or
serious injury to the child.

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 somewhere other than the passenger
compartment. This will prevent it from in-
juring passengers in the event of a sud-
den stop or accident.
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 10 mm (0.4 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 ÐTop strap anchors
and locationsº.
ProCarManuals.com

602000 4Runner (OM35762U)
(C) Booster seat(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat is used in rear- facing
position only.CAUTION
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 passen-
ger in case of sudden braking or a
collision.
ÐInstallation with 2- point
type seat belt
ProCarManuals.com

612000 4Runner (OM35762U)
1. Run the center lap 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 lap belt.
CAUTION

After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap belt is not twisted.

Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.

If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
2. While pressing the infant seat firmly
against the seat cushion and seatback,
tighten the lap belt by pulling its free
end to hold the infant seat securely.
ProCarManuals.com

632000 4Runner (OM35762U)
CAUTION
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 passen-
ger in case of sudden braking or a
collision.
1. Run the center lap belt through or
around the convertible seat following
the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the
lap belt.
CAUTION

After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap belt is not twisted.

Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.

If the seat belt does not function
normally, it cannot protect your
child from injury. Contact your
Toyota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is
fixed.
ProCarManuals.com

642000 4Runner (OM35762U)
2. While pressing the convertible seat
firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, tighten the lap belt by pulling
its free end to hold the convertible seat
securely.CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint sys-
tem in different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installation
instructions provided by its manufac-
turer.
3. To remove the convertible seat, press
the buckle- release button.
ProCarManuals.com

652000 4Runner (OM35762U)
(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An infant seat is used in rear- facing
position only.CAUTION

Never put a rear- facing child re-
straint system in 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 in 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.
ÐInstallation with 3- point
type seat belt
ProCarManuals.com