1996 TOYOTA COROLLA steering

Part 1SeatsFront seatsÐ
ÐSeat adjustment precautions
19
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS
AND CONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1-3
Seats, Seat belts,
Steering wheel
and Mirrors

Seats

Front seats

Fold-down rear seat

Head restraints

Seat belts

SRS airbags

Child restraint

Tilt steering wheel

Outside rear view mirrors

Anti-glare inside rear view
mirror
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION!

Do not drive with the vehicle occu-
pants not properly seated, such as
sitting on top of a folded-down
seatback, or in the luggage
compartment. Persons not proper-
ly seated and restrained by seat
belts can be severely injured in the
event of emergency braking or a
collision.

During driving, do not let passen-
gers stand up or move around be-
tween seats. Balance can be un-
steady and severe injuries can oc-
cur in the event of emergency brak-
ing or a collision.Adjust the driver's seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of the
driver.
CAUTION!

Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.

When adjusting the seat, be careful
not to hit the seat against a passen-
ger or luggage.

After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in posi-
tion.

After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.

Do not put objects under the seats
as they may interfere with the seat-
lock mechanism or unexpectedly
push up the seat position adjust-
ing lever; the seat may suddenly
move, causing the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

While adjusting the seat, do not
put your hands under the seat or
near the moving parts. You may
jam your hands or fingers.
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29
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) airbags are designed to provide
further protection to the driver and
front passenger when added to the pri-
mary protection provided by the seat
belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the
SRS airbags work together with the seat
belts to prevent or reduce injury by inflat-
ing, in order to decrease the likelihood of
the driver's or front passenger's head or
chest directly hitting the steering wheel or
dashboard. The passenger airbag is acti-
vated even with no passenger in the front
seat.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 airbags
are operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system
monitors the airbag sensor assembly, in-
flators, warning light, interconnecting wir-
ing and power sources.The 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.
SRS airbags
(for driver and front passenger)
ProCarManuals.com

31 When the airbags inflate, they produce a
fairly loud noise and release 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 airbags happen 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 swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering
wheel hub, dashboard) may be hot for
several minutes, but the airbags them-
selves will not be hot. The airbags are de-
signed to inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the air-
bags may break the windshield as the ve-
hicle buckles. In vehicles with a passen-
ger airbag the windshield may also be
damaged by absorbing some of the force
of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION!

The SRS airbag system is de-
signed only as a supplement to
the primary protection of the seat
belt systems of the driver and
front passenger. The front seat oc-
cupants are particularly suscepti-
ble to injury if they do not wear
their seat belts; when sudden
braking or a collision occurs, they
may be thrown forward. To obtain
further protection in an accident,
the driver and all passengers in
the vehicle should always wear
their seat belts when driving. For
instructions and precautions con-
cerning the seat belt system, see
Seat beltsº in this chapter.

A baby or small child who is too
small to use a seat belt should be
properly secured in a rear seat us-
ing a child restraint system.

Do not use a rear-facing child re-
straint system in the front seat be-
cause the force of the rapid inflation
of the passenger airbag may cause
severe injury to the child. Vehicles
with a passenger airbag display a
caution label on the passenger side
instrument panel as shown above
to remind you not to install a rear-
facing child restraint system on the
front seat.
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33

Do not put objects on or in front of
the dashboard or steering wheel
pad that houses the airbag system.
They might restrict inflation or
cause personal injury as they are
projected rearward.

Do not modify, remove or open any
component or wiring, such as the
steering wheel, column cover, front
passenger airbag cover, front pas-
senger airbag or airbag sensor as-
sembly. Doing any of these may
cause sudden SRS airbag inflation
or disable the system, which could
result in personal injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in severe injuries.
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
SRS airbag system in some cases.
Installation of electronic items
such as a mobile two-way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
Modification of the suspension
system
Modification of the front end struc-
ture
Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,
winches or any other equipment to
the front end
Repairs made on or near the con-
sole, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
NOTICE
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.
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34
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 ac-
cident not of the extent 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.The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) airbag is designed to provide fur-
ther protection to the driver when add-
ed to the primary protection provided
by the seat belt.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the
SRS airbag works together with the seat
belt to prevent or reduce injury by inflat-
ing, in order to decrease the likelihood of
the driver's head or chest directly hitting
the steering wheel.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-
flator, warning light, interconnecting wir-
ing and power sources.
SRS airbag (for driver)
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36
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, the sensor de-
tects deceleration and the system triggers
the airbag inflator. Then a chemical reac-
tion in the inflator momentarily fills the air-
bag 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 minutes, but the airbag itself will
not be hot. The airbag is designed to in-
flate only once.
CAUTION!
The SRS airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the seat belt system of
the driver. The driver is particularly
susceptible to injury if he/she does
not wear his/her seat belt; when
sudden braking or a collision oc-
curs, he/she may be thrown for-
ward. To obtain further protection in
an accident, the driver and all pas-
sengers in the vehicle should al-
ways wear their seat belts when
driving. For instructions and pre-
cautions concerning the seat belt
system, see Seat beltsº in this
chapter.
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37
CAUTION!

Do not put objects on the steering
wheel pad. They might restrict
inflation or cause serious injury as
they are projected rearward.

Do not modify, remove or open any
component or wiring, such as the
steering wheel, column cover or
airbag sensor assembly. Doing any
of these may cause sudden SRS
airbag inflation or disable the sys-
tem, which could result in personal
injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in severe injuries.
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of
the SRS airbag system in some
cases.
Installation of electronic items
such as a mobile two-way radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
Modification of the suspension
system
Modification of the front end
structure
Attachment of a grille guard (bull
bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow-
plow, winches or any other equip-
ment to the front end
Repairs made on or near the con-
sole, steering column or steering
wheel
NOTICE
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 airbag. Contact your Toyota
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.
ProCarManuals.com

38
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 airbag to inflate

The pad section of the steering wheel
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
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.
CAUTION!
For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops,
children must be properly restrained.
Holding a child in your arms is not a
substitute for a child restraint sys-
tem. In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle's interi-
or if you are unrestrained.This child restraint is designed for use
only by children who weigh between 9
kg (20 lb.) and 30 kg (66 lb.), whose
height is 127 cm (50 in.) or less, who
are capable of sitting upright alone,
and whose shoulder height is less
than the shoulder belt slots in use.
The child should be one year old or
more and at least 71 cm (28 in.) in
height. It is important to use a rear-
facing child restraint until the child is
about a year old. A rear-facing re-
straint gives the child's head, neck
and body the support they would need
in a crash. See ÐChild restraint sys-
temº in this chapter for more informa-
tion.
If your child's shoulders are above the
upper shoulder belt position, do not
use the built-in child restraint. Your
child should use the vehicle's seat
belts.
This child restraint system conforms to
U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
213 and Canada Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 213.4.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seat than in the front seat.
Child restraintÐ
ÐChild restraint precautionsÐBuilt-in child restraint
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