
  
’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
v2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Scrapping of your Toyota
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in
your Toyota contain explosive chemicals. If the vehicle
is  scrapped with  the airbags  and pretensioners  left as
they are, it may  cause an accident  such as  fire. Be
sure to have the systems of the SRS airbag and seat
belt pretensioner  removed and disposed of by a qualified
service shop or by  your Toyota dealer before you dis-
pose of your vehicle.
On pavement and off road
driving tips
This vehicle belongs to the utility vehicle class. Utility
vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. This vehicle will handle and
maneuver differently from an ordinary passenger  car be-
cause it is designed for off road use also. In addition,
this vehicle has a higher ground clearance and center of
gravity than that of an ordinary passenger car. This
vehicle design feature causes this type of vehicle to be
more likely to rollover. Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result  in loss of control, accidents or
vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. Be sure
to read “Off road vehicle precautions” in Section 2 and
“Off road driving precautions” in Section 3.
ProCarManuals.com 

  
’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
502001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
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 front seat belt pretensioners
are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, front seat belt pretensioner assem-
blies, warning light, inflators, interconnect-
ing wiring and power sources.  (For details,
see “Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzers” in Section 1 5.)The front seat belt pretensioner system
mainly consists of the following compo-
nents and their locations are shown in the
illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS warning light
3. Front seat belt pretensioner assemblies
4. Airbag sensor assembly
The front seat belt pretensioners are con-
trolled by the airbag sensor assembly. The
airbag sensor assembly consists of a saf-
ing sensor and airbag sensor.When the front seat belt pretensioners are
activated, an operating noise may be
heard and a small amount of smoke like
gas may be released. This gas is harm-
less and does not indicate that a fire is
occurring.
Once the front seat belt pretensioners
have been activated, the seat belt retrac-
tors remain 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 death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious inju-
ries.
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’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
522001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) airbags are designed to provide
further protection for the driver and
front passenger in addition to the pri-
mary safety protection provided by the
seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact,
the SRS airbags work together with the
seat belts to help reduce injury by inflat-
ing. The SRS airbags help to  reduce inju-
ries mainly to the driver’s or front passen-
ger ’s head or  chest  caused by directly
hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.
The front passenger airbag is activated
even with no passenger in the  front  seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.Your vehicle is equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module, which will
record the use of  the seat  belt restraint
system by the driver and the front pas-
senger when the SRS airbags are inflated.
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 “ON” position.
It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS airbags are operating
properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, 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.)
SRS driver and front 
passenger airbags
ProCarManuals.com 

  
’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
542001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
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 consists mainly of
the following components, and their loca-
tions are shown in the illustration.
1. Front airbag sensors
2. SRS warning light
3. Airbag module for front 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, the sensors
detect deceleration and the system trig-
gers the airbag inflators. Then a chemical
reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags 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 a minor
skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent
any potential 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 swelling.
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.
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