belt TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 (in English) User Guide

51
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
Double Cab models
The seatback of the rear seat can be folded.
■ Before folding rear seats
Stow the rear seat belt buck-
les.
This prevents the seat belt
buckles from falling out when
you fold the seatback.
Pass the seat belts through
the seat belt hangers.
This prevents the shoulder belt
from being damaged.
Make sure that the seat belts
are removed from the hangers
before using them.
■Folding rear seats
Remove the head restraint
Swing the bottom cushion
up by pulling the lock
release strap

52 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
CAUTION
■When the seatback is folded/the bottom cushion is raised
Do not sit on or place anything on the seatback or auxiliary box while driving.
■ When returning the seats to their original position
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
●Be careful not to get your hands or feet pinched in the seat.
● Make sure the seatbacks and bottom cushions are securely locked. Fail-
ure to do so will prevent the seat belt from operating properly.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught under the seat.
● Arrange the seat belts in the proper positions for ready use.
Attach the head restraints to
the holders located on the
back sides of the bottom cush-
ions.
Fold down the seatback by
pulling the lock release strap.

53
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
NOTICE
■Before folding the seats
The seat belts buckles must be stowed.

56
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Seat belts
Make sure that all occupants are wearing their seat belts before driv-
ing the vehicle.
■Correct use of the seat belts
●Extend the shoulder belt so
that it comes fully over the
shoulder, but does not
come into contact with the
neck or slide off the shoul-
der.
● Position the lap belt as low
as possible over the hips.
● Adjust the position of the
seatback. Sit up straight
and well back in the seat.
● Do not twist the seat belt.
■ Fastening and releasing the seat belt
Fastening the belt
Push the tab into the buckle
until a clicking sound is heard.
Releasing the belt
Press the release button.
Release
button

57
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
Seat belt pretensioners (front seats)
The pretensioner helps the seat
belt to quickly restrain the occu-
pant by retracting the seat belt
when the vehicle is subjected to
certain types of severe frontal
collision or a vehicle rollover.
The pretensioner may not acti-
vate in the event of a minor frontal
impact, a side impact or a rear
impact.
■Adjusting the height of the belt (front seats)
Up
Move the height adjuster up as
needed until you hear a click.
Down
Push the lock release button
and slide the height adjuster
down.
■Center seat belt of the benc h seat (Regular Cab models
only)
Make sure the shoulder belt
pass through the guide when
using the center seat belt.

58 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
■Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on impact. It may also
lock if you lean forward too quickly. A slow, easy motion will allow the belt to
extend so that you can move around fully.
■ Automatic locking retractor (ALR)
When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and then
retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that position and cannot be
extended. This feature is used to hold the child restraint system (CRS) firmly.
To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then pull the belt out once
more. ( P. 104)
■ Pregnant women
■ People suffering illness
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat belt in the proper way.
■ Child seat belt usage
The seat belts of your vehicle were principally designed for persons of adult
size.
●Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child, until the child
become large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 104)
● When the child becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s
seat belt, follow the instructions on P. 56 regarding seat belt usage.
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat
belt in the proper way. ( P. 56)
Women who are pregnant should position
the lap belt as low as possible over the
hips in the same manner as other occu-
pants. Extend the shoulder belt com-
pletely over the shoulder and position the
belt across the chest. Avoid belt contact
over the rounding of the abdominal area.
If the seat belt is not worn properly, not
only a pregnant woman, but also the fetus
could suffer death or serious injury as a
result of sudden braking or a collision.

59
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
■Replacing the belt after the pretensioner has been activated
If the vehicle is involved in multiple collisions, the pretensioner will activate
for the first collision, but will not activate for the second or subsequent colli-
sions.
■ Seat belt extender
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking or an accident.
Failing to do so may cause death or severe injury.
■Wearing a seat belt
●Ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt.
● Always wear a seat belt properly.
● Each seat belt should be used by one person only. Do not use a seat belt
for more than one person at once, including children.
● Toyota recommends that children be seated in the rear seat and always
use a seat belt and/or an appropriate child restraint system.
● Do not recline the seat any more than necessary to achieve a proper seat-
ing position. The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting
up straight and well back in the seats.
● Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
● Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
If your seat belts cannot be fastened
securely because they are not long
enough, a personalized seat belt
extender is available from your Toyota
dealer free of charge.

60 1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
CAUTION
■Seat belt pretensioners
●Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger’s seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger’s weight, which prevents the sensor
from detecting the passenger’s weight properly. As a result, the seat belt
pretensioner for the front passenger’s seat may not activate in the event of
a collision.
● If the pretensioner has activated, the seat belt becomes locked: it cannot
be further extended, nor will it return to the stowed position. The seat belt
cannot be used again and must be replaced at your Toyota dealer.
■ Seat belt damage and wear
●Do not damage the seat belts by allowing the belt, plate, or buckle to be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Do not use a damaged seat belt until it is replaced. Damaged seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from death or serious injury.
● Ensure that the belt and tab are locked and the belt is not twisted.
If the seat belt does not function correctly, immediately contact your Toyota
dealer.
● Replace the seat assembly, including the belts, if your vehicle has been
involved in a serious accident, even if there is no obvious damage.
● Do not attempt to install, remove, modify, disassemble or dispose of the
seat belts. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer.
Inappropriate handling of the pretensioner may prevent it from operating
properly resulting in death or serious injury.
■ Using a seat belt extender
●Do not wear the seat belt extender, if you can fasten the seat belt without
the extender.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system,
because the belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, increas-
ing the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a collision.
● The personalized extender may not be safe on another vehicle, when
used by another person, or at a different seating position other than the
one originally intended.

61
1-3. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
NOTICE
■When using a seat belt extender
When releasing the seat belt, press on the buckle release button on the
extender, not on the seat belt.
This helps prevent damage to the vehicle interior and the extender itself.

79
1
Before driving
1-7. Safety information
Correct driving posture
Drive in a good posture as follows:
Sit upright and well back in
the seat. (P. 4 5 )
Adjust the position of the
seat forward or backward to
ensure the pedals can be
reached and easily
depressed to the extent
required. ( P. 45)
Adjust the seatback so that
the controls are easily oper-
able.
Adjust the tilt and telescopic
positions of the steering
wheel downward so the air-
bag is facing your chest.
(  P. 62)
Lock the head restraint in
place with the center of the
head restraint closest to the
top of your ears. ( P. 54)
Wear the seat belt correctly.
(  P. 56)