39
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect 
deceleration and the system triggers the
airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflators momentairly fills the
airbags with non-toxic nitrogen gas to
help restrain the forward motion of theoccupants. When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly 
loud noise and release some smoke
along with the nitrogen gas. This is notharmful 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 forseveral minutes, but the airbags them-selves w ill 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 driv- 
er side and front passenger side seat belt systems. The front seat
occupants are particularly sus- 
ceptable to  death or serious injury
if they do not wear their seat belts;
when sudden braking or a colli- 
sion occurs, they may be thrown 
forward into deployed SRS air- 
bags. To obtain  maximum   protec-
tion in an accident, the driver  and 
all passengers in the vehicle 
should  always  wear their seat 
belts  when  driving  because death
or serious injuries  can result to 
unrestrainted occupants. For  in- 
structions and precautions con- 
cering     the seat belt systems, 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 
using a child  restraint system.
 Never put a rear-facing child re- 
straint  system in the front seat be-
cause the force of the rapid infla-
tion of the passenger airbag can cause death or serious injury to
the child.  
         
        
        74If this light comes on while you are driving, 
slow 
down and pull off the road.  Stop the
vehicle at a  safe place and put the selector
lever in pº.  With the engine idling, wait
until the light goes off  If the  light goes off,
you can start the vehicle again.  If the light 
does not go off, call a Toyota dealer or 
qualified repair shop for assistance.
NOTICE
Continued  driving with the warning light on may damage the automatic
transmission.
(j) SRS Airbag Warning  Light This light will come on when the igni- 
tion  key is turned to the ACCº or ONº
position.  After about 6 seconds, the
light w ill go off.  This means the airbag
system is operating properly. 
The warning light system monitors the 
front  airbag sensors, center airbag sensor
assembly, inflators, warning light, inter- 
connecting wiring and power sources. 
If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a malfunction somewhere in the parts monitored by the warning light 
system.  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.
(k) Light Reminder Buzzer 
This buzzer will sound if the driver's door is opened with the key removed from the 
ignition switch and the headlight switch
left on. (l) Key Reminder Buzzer 
This buzzer reminds you to remove the 
key when you open the driver's door with the ignition key in the ACCº or LOCKº position. 
CHECKING SERVICE REMINDER  INDI-
CATORS (except the low fuel level 
warning  light) 
1. Apply the parking brake. 
2. Open one of the doors. The open door warning light should come on.
3. Close the door. The open door warning light should go 
off.
4. Turn the ignition key to ACCº. The SRS airbag warning light should 
come on.  It goes off after about 6 sec-onds. 5. Turn the ignition key to ONº, but do
not start the engine.
All the service reminder indicators ex- 
cept the open door warning light, SRS 
airbag warning light and automatictransmission fluid temperature warn- 
ing light should come on.  The ABSº 
warning light goes off after about 3 seconds.
6. Turn the ignition key to STARTº.  The automatic transmission fluid tempera- 
ture warning light should come on.
If any service reminder indicator or warn- 
ing buzzer does not function as described above, either the bulb is burned out or the
circuit is in  need of repair.  Have it checked
by your Toyota dealer as soon as pos-sible.