TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 Owners Manual (in English)

91
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
SRS airbag precautions
●Regular Cab models: Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion or
seat cover, that covers the seat cushion surface.
● Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts where the SRS side
airbags inflate as they may interf ere with inflation of the airbags.
● Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area of the SRS air-
bag components ( P. 82).
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
● Do not touch any of the component parts immediately after the SRS air-
bags have deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.
● If breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbag has deployed, open a
door or window to allow fresh air in, or leave the vehicle if it is safe to do
so. Wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent skin irritation.
● If the areas where the SRS airbags are stored, such as the steering wheel
pad and front and rear pillar garnishes, are damaged or cracked, have
them replaced by your Toyota dealer.
●Do not attach anything to or lean any-
thing against areas such as the dash-
board or steering wheel pad.
These items can become projectiles
when SRS driver and front passenger
airbags deploy.
● Do not attach anything to areas such as
the door, windshield glass, side door
glass, front and rear pillars, roof side
rail or assist grip.
● Do not hang coat hangers or other hard
objects on the coat hooks. All of these
items could become projectiles and
seriously injure or kill you, should the
SRS curtain shield airbag deploy.

92 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications
without consulting your Toyota dealer.
The SRS airbags may malfunction or deploy (inflate) accidentally, causing
death or serious injury.
● Installation, removal, disassembly and repair of the SRS airbags.
● Repairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel,
instrument panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, side and rear
pillars or roof side rails.
● Repairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the
occupant compartment.
● Installation of snow plows, winches, etc. to the front grille (bull bars, kan-
garoo bar etc.).
● Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system.
● Do not use tires or wheels other than the manufacturer’s recommended
size. ( P. 373, 475)
● Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios or CD
players.
● Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability.

93
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
Passenger airbag off switch (Access Cab models)
The passenger airbag off switch is designed to disable the front pas-
senger airbag in order to allow usage , if necessary, of the front pas-
senger seat by a member of a passenger risk group identified in
TABLE 1 is occupying the fron t passenger seating position (P. 94).
AUTO position
This position makes the front pas-
senger airbag system opera-
tional.
At this time, the indicator light
condition varies depending on the
size of the occupant in the front
passenger seat.
OFF position
The front passenger airbag is dis-
abled.
At this time, the AIR BAG OFF
indicator light will come on.
■ Operation of the passenger airbag off switch
Turn the key clockwise to the
AUTO position.
Turn the key counterclock-
wise to the OFF position and
remove it.
If the key is removed at any other
position than OFF, the switch will
automatically return to the AUTO
position.

94 1-7. Safety information
■Passenger risk group
For more detailed information conc erning about the passenger risk
group, please contact NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 or Transport
Canada at 1-800-333-0371.
TABLE 1: A PASSENGER RISK GROUP
Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old) who must ride in the front seat
because:
• Vehicle has no rear seat;
• Vehicle has a rear seat too small to accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or
• The infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant’s phy- sician, makes it necessary for the infant to ride in the front seat so that
the driver can constantly monitor the child’s condition.
Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 must ride in the front seat because:
• Vehicle has no rear seat:
• Although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the rear seat(s) whenever possi- ble, children ages 1 to 12 sometimes must ride in the front because no
space is available in the rear seat(s) of vehicle; or
• The child has a medical condition which, according to the child’s physi- cian, makes it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so that\
the
driver can constantly monitor the child’s condition.
Medical condition. A passenger has a medical condition which accord-
ing to his or her physician:
• Causes the passenger airbag to pose a special risk for the passenger: and
• Makes the potential harm from the passenger airbag in a crash greater
than the potential harm from turning off the airbag and allowing the pas-
senger, even if belted, to hit the dashboard, or windshield in a crash.

95
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
Deactivating the curtain shield airbags in a vehicle rollover
ON/OFF (hold for a few sec-
onds)
The RSCA OFF indicator turns on
(only when the engine switch is in
the ON position.)
The roll sensing function for the
curtain shield airbags and seat
belt pretensioners will turn back
on automatically each time the
engine switch is turned on.
CAUTION
■When the passenger airbag of f switch is turned off
● Do not turn the passenger airbag off switch to the OFF position except
when a member of a passenger risk group identified in TABLE 1 is occupy-
ing the front passenger seating position.
● The front passenger airbag will not inflate in a collision and turning off the
front passenger airbag can reduce the occupant protection which your
vehicle safety systems can provide to you in certain accidents and
increase the likelihood of death or serious injuries.
■The switch only should be used
In a situation where inflation is not desired (such as during extreme off-road
driving).
■ Operating conditions when th e RSCA OFF indicator is on
● The curtain shield airbag and seat belt pretensioner will not activate in a
vehicle rollover.
● The curtain shield airbag will activate in a severe side impact.

96 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■For normal driving
Make sure the RSCA OFF indicator is not turned on. If it is left on, the curtain
shield airbag will not activate in the event of an accident, which may result in
death or serious injury.

97
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
Front passenger occupant classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classifica-
tion system. This system detects the conditions of the right front
passenger seat and activates or deactivates the devices for the front
passenger.
SRS warning light
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
AIR BAG ON indicator light
AIR BAG OFF indicator light

98 1-7. Safety information
Conditions and operation of the front passenger occupant
classification system
Regular Cab and Double Cab models
●Indicator/warning light
● Devices
Condition detected
by the front passen- ger occupant clas-
sification system
*1
AIR BAG ON
and AIR BAG
OFF indicator lights
SRS warning lightFront passen-
ger’s seat belt reminder light
Adult*2AIR BAG ONOffFlashing*5
Child*3 or child
restraint system
*4AIR BAG OFF
*6OffFlashing*5
UnoccupiedNot illuminatedOffOff
There is a mal-
function in the
system
AIR BAG OFFOnOff
Condition detected
by the front passen- ger occupant clas-
sification system
*1
Front pas-
senger air- bag
Side air-
bag on the front pas- senger seatCurtain
shield air-
bag in the front pas- senger side
Front pas-senger’s seat belt
pretensioner
Adult*2Activated
Child*3 or child
restraint system
*4DeactivatedActivated
UnoccupiedDeactivatedActivatedDeactivated
There is a mal-
function in the
system
DeactivatedActivated

99
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
*1: The right front passenger on the bench seat. (Regular Cab mod-
els)
*
2: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may rec-
ognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and pos-
ture.
*
3: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/
her as an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
*
4: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front pas-
senger seat. A forward-facing ch ild restraint system should only
be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable.
(  P. 104)
*
5: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
*
6: In case the indicator is not illu minated, consult this manual for
installing the child restra int system properly. (P. 104)

100 1-7. Safety information
Access Cab models
●Indicator/warning light
Condition detected
by the front passen- ger occupant clas- sification systemPassen-
ger airbag off switch positionAIR BAG ON and
AIR BAG
OFF indi-
cator lights
SRS
warning light
Front pas-senger’s
seat belt
reminder light
Adult*1
AUTOAIR BAG
ON
OffFlashing*4
OFFAIR BAG OFF
Child*2 or child
restraint system
*3
AUTOAIR BAG OFF
*5OffFlashing*4
OFF
Unoccupied
AUTONot
illuminated
OffOff
OFFAIR BAG OFF
There is a mal-
function in the
systemAUTOAIR BAG OFFOnOffOFF