Page 729 of 4770

CAMRY ± NEW FEATURES
150NF122
Pressure BulkheadPropellant Grain
Gas
Initiator
CAUTION
The initiator is ignited even by a feeble current. As it is dangerous, never measure the resistance of the
initiator with a volt / ohmmeter, etc.
150NF123
Pressure Bulkhead
Propellant GrainInitiator
Gas
: Propagation of Fire
: Flow of Gas
20
Inflator and Bag
1) Construction
The inflator and bag are integrated inside the case and located in the outer side of the seat back. The infla-
tor is comprised of a initiator, propellant grain, gas and pressure bulkhead.
The bag is made of strong nylon cloth and becomes inflated by the gas heated by the inflator.
2) Operation
When the side airbag sensor detects the acceleration because of a side collision, the ECU appraises the
extent of the acceleration to determine whether or not the side airbag must be deployed.
After the ECU determines that the side airbag must be delpoyed, it causes the initiator to ignite in order
to head and expand the gas inside the inflator. The expanded gas tears thhe pressure bulkhead and flows
into the bag.
The bag, which is inflated by the gas, pushes open the case in the seat, tears the sewn portion of the seat
outer cover, and expands to the side of the occupant.
The expanded bag receives the occupant's arm and chest, and discharges the gas through the bag's surface
in order to soften the rcoil.
Thus, the side airbag helps to reduce the impact energy that is applied to the occupant's arm and chest
areas.
Page 730 of 4770
CAMRY ± NEW FEATURES
150NF113
SRS Warning Light
150NF114
Range of Operation
Safing
Sensor ON
Side Airbag
Sensor ON
ANDIgnition
21
SRS Warning Light
The
SRS warning light is located on the
combination meter.
It comes on to alert the driver about system
trouble when a malfunction is detected in
self-diagnosis of the airbag sensor assembly and
side airbag sensor assembly. In normal operating
conditions when the ignition switch is turned to
the ACC or ON position, the light comes on for
about 6 seconds and then goes off.
5. System Operation
Ignition Judgement and Conditions
The safing sensor is designed to be activated by a smaller acceleration rate than the side airbag sensor.
As illustrated below, ignition is caused when current flows to the initiator, which happens when a safing
sensor and the side airbag sensor go on simultaneously.
Page 803 of 4770

'99camry U
37
To connect the extender to the seat
belt, insert the tab into the seat belt
buckle so that the ºPRESSº signs on
the buckle±release buttons of the ex-
tender and the seat belt are both facing
outward as shown.
You will hear a click when the tab locks
into the buckle.
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 extend-
er itself.
When not in use, remove the extender
and store in the vehicle for future use.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure
the tab and buckle are locked and
that the seat belt extender is not
twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in
the buckle as this may prevent you
from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function
normally, immediately contact your
Toyota dealer. Do not use the seat
until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
ÐFront seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger 's seat
belt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in response to a severe fron-
tal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock
of a severe frontal impact, the front seat
belt is quickly drawn back in by the re-
tractor so that the belt snugly restrains
the front seat occupants.
The seat belt pretensioners are activated
even with no passenger in the front seat.
Page 804 of 4770

'99camry U
38
This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the front seat
belt pretensioners are operating proper-
ly.
This warning light system monitors the
front airbag sensors, airbag sensor as-
sembly, seat belt pretensioner assembly,
warning light, interconnecting wiring and
power sources. (For details, see ºService
reminder indicators and warning buzzersº
in Chapter 1±5.)The seat belt pretensioner system mainly
consists of the following components and
their locations are shown in the illustra-
tion.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS airbag warning light
3. Seat belt pretensioner assemblies
4. Airbag sensor assembly
The seat belt pretensioner is controlled by
the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag
sensor assembly consists of a safing sen-
sor and airbag sensor.When a seat belt pretensioner is acti-
vated, an operating noise may be heard
and a small amount of smoke±like gas
may be released. This gas is harmless
and does not indicate that a fire is occur-
ring.
Once the seat belt pretensioner has been
activated, the seat belt retractor remains
locked.
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open
the front seat belt pretensioner as-
semblies, airbag sensor or surround-
ing area or wiring. Doing any of
these may cause sudden operation of
the front seat belt pretensioners or
disable the system, which could re-
sult in serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in serious injuries.
Page 806 of 4770

'99camry U
40
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) airbags are designed to provide
further protection for 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 help prevent or reduce injury
by inflating, in order to decrease the likeli-
hood of the driver 's or front passenger 's
head or chest directly hitting the steering
wheel or dashboard. The passenger airbag
is activated even with no passenger in the
front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.
CAUTION
A driver or front passenger too close
to the steering wheel or dashboard
during airbag deployment can be
killed or seriously injured. Toyota
strongly recommends that:
The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the ve-
hicle.
The front passenger sit as far back
as possible from the dashboard.
All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.This indicator comes on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ºACCº or
ºONº position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the SRS airbags
are operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system
monitors the front airbag sensors, airbag
sensor assembly, inflators, warning light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources.
(For details, see ºService reminder indica-
tors and warning buzzersº in Chapter
1±5.)
SRS driver and front
passenger airbags
Page 807 of 4770

'99camry U
41
The SRS airbag system is designed to
activate in response to a severe frontal
impact within the shaded area between
the arrows in the illustration.
There may be the case that the SRS air-
bag will not activate with such an impact
in which the occupant wearing the seat
belt correctly would not get serious injury.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the severi-
ty of the impact is above the designed
threshold level, comparable to an approxi-
mate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision when
impacting 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.
However, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or
sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if it is involved in an underride
collision (e.g. a collision in which the nose
of the vehicle ºunderridesº, or goes under,
the bed of a truck, etc.).
It is possible with collision severity at the
marginal level of airbag sensor detection
and activation that only one of your ve-
hicle's two airbags will deploy.
For the safety of all occupants, be sure
to always wear seat belts.
Collision from the sideCollision from rear
Vehicle rollover
The SRS airbags are not designed to
inflate if the vehicle is subjected to a
side or rear impact, if it rolls over, or
if it is involved in a low±speed frontal
collision.
Page 808 of 4770

'99camry U
42
Hitting a curb,
edge of pavement
or hard materialFalling into or
jumping over a
deep hole
Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS airbags may deploy if a seri-
ous impact occurs to the underside of
your vehicle. Some examples are shown
in the illustration.The SRS airbag system mainly consists of
the following components and their loca-
tions are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS airbag warning light
3. Airbag module for passenger (airbag
and inflator)
4. Airbag sensor assembly
5. Airbag module for driver (airbag and
inflator)
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect
deceleration and the system triggers the
airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflators momentarily fills the air-
bags with non±toxic gas to help restrain
the forward motion of the occupants.
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 minor
skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent
minor skin irritation.
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 swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel
hub, dashboard) may be hot for several
minutes, but the airbags themselves will
not be hot. The airbags are designed to
inflate only once.
Page 812 of 4770

'99camry U
46
Do not modify or remove any wir-
ing. Do not modify, remove, strike
or open any components such as
the steering wheel column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front
passenger airbag, airbag sensor as-
sembly. Doing any of these may
cause sudden SRS airbag inflation
or disable the system, which could
result in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious inju-
ries.NOTICE
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 sys-
tem
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 front
fenders, front end structure, con-
sole, steering column, steering
wheel or dashboard near the front
passenger airbag
This SRS airbag system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of
operating problems. If either of the
following conditions occurs, this indicates
a malfunction of the airbags. 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 ºACCº or
ºONº position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.