TOYOTA TACOMA 1997 Owner's Guide

31
This indicator comes on when the
ignition key is turned to the ACCº or
ONº position. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the SRS airbag
is operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system
monitors the airbag sensor assembly, in-
flators, warning light, interconnecting wir-
ing and power sourcesThe SRS airbag system is designed to
activate in response to a severe frontal
impact within the shaded area be-
tween the arrows in the illustration.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the severity
of the impact is above the designed
threshold level, comparable to an approxi-
mate 20 km/h (14 mph) collision when im-
pacting 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 im-
pact, or if it is
involved in an underride col-
lision (e.g. a collision in which the noise of
the vehicle underridesº, or goes under, the bed of a truck).
For the safety of all occupants, be sure to
always wear your seat belts.

32
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 frontalcollision.The SRS airbag system mainly consists
of the following components and their
locations are shown in the illustration.
1 SRS airbag warning light.
2 Airbag sensor assembly.
3 Steering wheel pad (airbag and inflat-or)
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor. In a severe frontal impact, sensor detects
deceleration and the system triggers the
airbag inflator. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflator momentarily fills the airbag
with non-toxic nitrogen gas to help re-
strain the forward motion of the driver. When the airbag inflates, it produces a fairly loud noise and releases some
smoke along with the nitrogen gas. This is not harmful and does not indicate a fire.
Be sure to wash off any residue as soon
as possible to prevent minor skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbag happens in a
fraction of a
second, so the airbag must in-
flate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious inju-
ries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swellings.
The steering wheel hub may be hot for
several m inutes, but the airbag will not be
hot. The airbag is designed to inflate onlyonce.

33
CAUTION!
The SRS airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver side seat belt
systems. The driver is particularly
susceptible to death or serious inju-
ry if he/she does not wear his/her
seat belt; when sudden braking or a
collision occurs, he/she may be
thrown forward into the deploying
SRS aribag. To obtain a maximum
protection in an accident, the driver
and all passengers in the vehicle
should always wear their seat belts when driving because serious inju-
ries can result to unrestrained occu-
pants. For instructions and precau-
tions concerning the seat belt sys-
tem, see Seat beltsº in this chapter.
CAUTION!
Do not put objects on the steering
wheel pad. They might restrict
inflation or cause serious injury as
they are projected rearward by the force of a deploying airbag.
Do not modify or remove any wir-
ing. Do not modify, remove or open any components such as the steer-
ing wheel column cover, airbag
sensor assembly. Doing any of
these may cause sudden SRS air-
bag inflation or disable the system,
which could result in death or seri-
ous 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 caninterfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag system in somecases.
Installation of electronic itemssuch as a mobile two-way radio,
cassette tape player or compactdisc player
Modification of the suspension
system
Modification of the front endstructure
Attachment of a grille guard (bullbar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow-
plow winches or any other equip-
ment to the front end
Repairs made on or near the front end structure, console, steeringcolumn or steering wheel

34
This SRS airbag system has a service re-
minder indicator to inform the driver of op-
erating problems. If either of the following
conditions occurs, this indicates a mal-
function of the airbags. Contact your To-
yota dealer as soon as possible to service
the vehicle. The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ACCº or
ONº position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.In the following cases, contact your Toyo-
ta dealer as soon as possible: The SRS airbag has been inflated.
The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was involved in an ac-
cident not of the extent to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate
The pad section of the steering wheel
(shaded in the illustration)is scrat-
ched, cracked, or otherwise damaged. 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 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 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 substi-
tute for a child restraint system. In
an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle's in-
terior.
Child restraintÐ ÐChild restraint precautions

34
This SRS airbag system has a service re-
minder indicator to inform the driver of op-
erating problems. If either of the following
conditions occurs, this indicates a mal-
function of the airbags. Contact your To-
yota dealer as soon as possible to service
the vehicle. The light does not come on when the
ignition key is turned to the ACCº or
ONº position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.In the following cases, contact your Toyo-
ta dealer as soon as possible: The SRS airbag has been inflated.
The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was involved in an ac-
cident not of the extent to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate
The pad section of the steering wheel
(shaded in the illustration)is scrat-
ched, cracked, or otherwise damaged. 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 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 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 substi-
tute for a child restraint system. In
an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle's in-
terior.
Child restraintÐ ÐChild restraint precautions

35
NORMAL-CAB MODELSÐ
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system
which conforms to the size of the
child and is put on the seat.
XTRA-CAB MODELSÐ
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.
Acording to accident statistics,
the child is safer when properly re-strained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
Make sure that you have complied
with all installation instructions
provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. 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 your child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a
child re-
straint system following the manufactur-
er's instructions about the appropriate
age and size of the child for the child re-
straint system. Install the child restraint system correctly
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer of the system. General di- rections are also provided under the fol-
lowing illustrations.
The child restraint system should be
installed on the rear seat. According to ac-
cident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in
the front seat.CAUTION!
After installing the child restraint system, make sure it is secured in
place following the manufacturer's
instructions. If it is not restrained se-
curely, it may cause 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. This will
prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
ÐChild restraint system

36
Child restraint systems are classified into the following 3 types depending on 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.
ÐTypes of child restraint system

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(A) INFANT SEAT INSTALLATION
An Infant seat is used in rear-facing onlyWith the child restraint system installed, check that your driving position is satis-
factory and that the child restraint system
does not interfere with your driving.
If your driving position is not satisfactory, or the child restraint system interferes
with your driving, install it at
another posi-
tion. Split bench seatÐ
Adjust the passenger seat forward and
rearward travel as well as seatback posi-
tion so that the child restraint system is se-
curely restrained.
CAUTION!
Ignoring the above instructions
may result in a serious injury in case
of an accident.
1. Run the center lap and shoulder belt through or around the infant seat fol-
lowing the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into the buckle taking care not to twist the lap belt.
ÐInstallation with 2-point
type seat belt

38
CAUTION!
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the lap and 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 To-
yota dealer immediately. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt isfixed.
2. While pressing the infant seat firmly
against the seat cushion and seat-
back, let the shoulder belt retract as far
as it will go to hold the infant seat se-
curely.
CAUTION!
Push and pull the child restraint sys-
tem is different directions to be sure
it is secure. Follow all the installa-
tion instructions proveded by its
manufacturer.

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3. To remove the infant seat, press thebuckle-release button.(B) CONVERTIBLE SEAT INSTALLA-
TION
A convertible seats is used in forward-
facing and rear-facing depending on
the child's age and size. When instal-
ling, follow the manufacturer's in-
struction about the applicable child's
age and size as well as direction for
installing of a child restraint system. With the child restraint system installed, check that your driving position is satis-
factory and that the child restraint system
does not interfere with your driving.
If your driving position is not satisfactory, or the child restraint system interferes
with your driving, install it at
another posi-
tion. Split bench seatÐ
Adjust the passenger seat forward and
rearward travel as well as seatback posi-
tion so that the child restraint system is se-
curely restrained.
CAUTION!
Ignoring the above instructions may
result in a serious injury in case of an
accident.