Get Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors -> SRS side airbags Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

SRS side airbags

In response to a severe side impact, the

SRS side airbags work together with the

seat belts to help reduce injury by inflat-

ing. The SRS side airbags help to reduce

injuries mainly to the driver’s or front pas-

senger’s chest. The SRS side airbag on

the passenger seat is activated even with

no passenger in the front seat.

Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

CAUTION

SRS side airbags inflate with consid-

erable force. To avoid potential death

or serious injury when they inflate,

the driver and front passenger must:

The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-

tem) side airbags are designed to pro-

vide further protection for occupants in

the following seats in addition to the

primary safety protection provided by

the seat belts.

This indicator comes on when the igni-

tion key is turned to the “ON” position.

It goes off after about 6 seconds. This

means the SRS side airbags are operat-

ing properly.

D Wear their seat belts properly

D Remain properly seated with their

back upright and against the seat at

all times.

This warning light system monitors the

airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-

sors, side airbag sensors, driver’s seat

position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle

switch, front seat belt pretensioner assem-

blies, inflators, warning light, interconnect-

ing wiring and power sources. (For details,

see “Service reminder indicators and

warning buzzers” in Section 1−5.)

D Vehicles with bucket front seats—The

SRS side airbags are designed to pro-

tect the driver and front passenger.

D Vehicles with bench type front seats—

The SRS side airbags are designed to

protect the driver and right−front pas-

senger. They are not designed to pro-

tect occupant in the center position.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

68

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

Collision from the rear

Collision from the front

Vehicle rollover

The SRS side airbag system may not

activate if the vehicle is subjected to a

collision from the side at certain

angles, or a collision to the side of the

vehicle body other than the passenger

compartment as shown in the illustra-

tion.

The SRS side airbags are not designed

to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a

front or rear collision, if it rolls over,

or if it is involved in a low−speed side

collision.

The SRS side airbag system consists

mainly of the following components, and

their locations are shown in the illustra-

tion.

1. SRS warning light

2. Airbag sensor assembly

3. Side airbag modules

(airbag and inflator)

The SRS side airbags are designed to

inflate when the passenger compartment

area suffers

side.

a

severe impact from the

4. Side airbag sensors

The SRS side airbag system is controlled

by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag

sensor assembly consists of a safing sen-

sor and airbag sensor.

For the safety of all occupants, always

wear your seat belts properly.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

69

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

In a severe side impact, the side airbag

sensor triggers the side airbag inflators.

At this time a chemical reaction in the

inflators quickly fills the airbags with non−

toxic gas to help restrain the lateral mo-

tion of the occupants.

D Improperly seated and/or restrained

CAUTION

infants and children can be killed

or seriously injured by the deploy-

ing airbags. An infant or child who

D The SRS side airbag system is de-

signed only as a supplement to the

primary protection of the driver

side and front passenger side seat

belt systems. To ensure maximum

protection in an accident, the driver

and all passengers in the vehicle

must wear their seat belts properly.

Wearing a seat belt properly during

an accident reduces the chances of

death or serious injury or being

thrown out of the vehicle. For

instructions and precautions con-

cerning the seat belt system, see

“Seat belts” in this section.

is too small to use

should be properly secured using a

child restraint system. Toyota

a

seat belt

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.

strongly recommends that all in-

fants and children be placed in the

rear seat of the vehicle and proper-

ly restrained. The rear seat is the

safest for infants and children. For

instructions concerning the installa-

tion of a child restraint system, see

“Child restraint” in this section.

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.

D Do not allow a child to lean his/her

head or any part of his/her body

against the front door or the area

of the seat from which the side air-

bag deploys even if he/she is

seated in the child restraint system.

It is dangerous if the side airbag

inflates, and the impact 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

section.

Front seats may be hot for several min-

utes, but the airbags themselves will not

be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate

only once.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

70

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

D Do not use seat accessories which

cover the parts where the side air-

bags inflate. Such accessories may

prevent the side airbags from acti-

vating correctly, causing death or

serious injury.

D Do not modify or replace the seats

or upholstery of the front seats

with the side airbags. Such changes

may disable the system or cause

the side airbags to inflate acciden-

tally resulting in death or serious

injury. Consult your Toyota dealer if

you insist on modifications of this

kind.

D Do not lean against the front door

when the vehicle is in use, since

the side airbag inflates with consid-

erable speed and force. Otherwise,

you may be killed or seriously in-

jured. Special care should be taken

especially when you have a small

child in the vehicle.

D Do not attach a cup holder or any

other device or object on or around

the door. When the side airbag in-

flates, the cup holder or any other

device or object will be thrown with

great force or the side airbag may

not activate correctly, resulting in

death or serious injury. Likewise,

the driver and front passenger

should not hold objects in their

arms or on their knees.

Failure to follow these instructions

can result in death or serious injury.

D Sit up straight and well back in the

seat, distributing your weight evenly

in the seat. Do not apply excessive

weight to the outer side of the front

seats on vehicles with side airbags.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

71

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)

NOTICE

Do not perform any of the following

changes without

consulting your

Toyota dealer. Such changes can

interfere with proper operation of the

SRS side airbag system in some

cases.

z Installation of electronic devices

such as

a

mobile two−way radio,

cassette tape player or compact

disc player

z Modification of the suspension sys-

tem

This SRS side airbag system has

a

service reminder indicator to inform the

driver of operating problems. If either of

the following conditions occurs, this

In the following cases, contact your Toyota

dealer as soon as possible:

z Modification of the side structure of

the passenger compartment

D The SRS side airbags have been in-

flated.

z Repairs made on or near the con-

sole or front seat

indicates

a

malfunction of the airbags.

D The portion of the doors (shaded in the

illustration) was involved in an accident

that was not severe enough to cause

the SRS side airbags to inflate.

Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as

possible to service the vehicle.

D The light does not come on when the

ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-

tion, or the light remains on.

D The surface of the seats with the side

airbag (shaded in the illustration) is

scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-

aged.

D The light comes on or flashes while

driving.

2003 AVALON (OM41401U)

72

Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors -> SRS side airbags for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

Related Topics

Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals