2001 TOYOTA SOLARA Owners Manual (in English)

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
532001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
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 ªACCº or
ªONº position. It goes off after about
6 seconds. This means the SRS front
airbags are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, side airbag sensors, front seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see ªService remind-
er indicators and warning buzzersº in Sec-
tion 1±5.)The SRS front airbag system is de-
signed to activate in response to a se-
vere frontal impact within the shaded
area between the arrows in the illustra-
tion.
The SRS front airbags will deploy if the
severity of the impact is above the de-
signed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 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 front air-
bags may not deploy.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
542001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
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 ªunderridesº, or goes under,
the bed of a truck, etc.).
It is possible that in some collisions at the
lower zone of airbag sensor detection and
activation the SRS airbags and seat belt
pretensioners will not operate all together.
For the safety of all occupants, always
wear your seat belts properly.
Collision from the rear
Collision from the side Vehicle rollover
The SRS front airbags are not designed
to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a
side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or
if it is involved in a low±speed frontal
collision.
Falling into or
jumping over a
deep hole
Landing hard or vehicle falling Hitting a curb,
edge of pavement
or hard material
The SRS front airbags may deploy if a
serious impact occurs to the underside
of your vehicle. Some examples are
shown in the illustration.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
552001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
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 desi
gned 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. A crash severe enough to inflate the air-
bags may break the windshield as the
vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a pas-
senger airbag the windshield may also be
damaged by absorbing some of the force
of the inflating airbag.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
562001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
CAUTION

The SRS airbag system is designed
only as a supplement to the prima-
ry protection of the driver side and
front passenger side seat belt sys-
tems. The front seat occupants can
be killed or seriously injured by the
inflating airbags if they do not wear
the available seat belts properly.
During sudden braking just before
a collision, an unrestrained driver
or front passenger can move for-
ward into direct contact with or
close proximity to the airbag which
may then deploy during the colli-
sion. To ensure maximum protection
in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle must
wear their seat belts properly. Wear-
ing a seat belt properly during an
accident reduces the chances of
death or serious injury or being
thrown out of the vehicle. For in-
structions and precautions concern-
ing the seat belt system, see ªSeat
beltsº in this section.

Improperly seated and/or restrained
infants and children can be killed
or seriously injured by the deploy-
ing front airbags. An infant or child
who is too small to use a seat belt
should be properly secured using a
child restraint system. Toyota
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
ªChild restraintº in this section.

Never put a rear±facing child re-
straint system on the front passen-
ger seat because the force of the
rapid inflation of the front passen-
ger airbag can cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
572001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
Move seat
fully back

A forward±facing child restraint sys-
tem should be allowed to be put on
the front seat only when it is un-
avoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of the deploying front airbag
could cause death or serious injury
to the child.

On vehicles with side airbags, do
not allow the child to lean against
the front door or around the front
door even if the child is seated in
the child restraint system. It is dan-
gerous 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 ªChild restraintº in this
section.

Do not sit on the edge of the seat
or lean over the dashboard when
the vehicle is in use. The front air-
bags inflate with considerable
speed and force; you may be killed
or seriously injured. Sit up straight
and well back in the seat, and al-
ways use your seat belt properly.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
582001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)

Do not allow a child to stand up,
or to kneel on the front passenger
seat. The front airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force; the
child may be killed or seriously in-
jured.

Do not hold a child on your lap or
in your arms. Use a child restraint
system in the rear seat. For instruc-
tions concerning the installation of
a child restraint system, see ªChild
restraintº in this section.

Do not put objects or your pets on
or in front of the dashboard or
steering wheel pad that houses the
front airbag system. They might re-
strict inflation or cause death or
serious injury as they are projected
rearward by the force of deploying
airbags. Likewise, the driver and
front passenger should not hold
things in their arms or on their
knees.

Do not modify or remove any wir-
ing. Do not modify, remove, strike
or open any components such as
the steering wheel pad, steering
wheel, column cover, front passen-
ger airbag cover, front passenger
airbag or airbag sensor assembly.
Doing any of these may cause sud-
den SRS front airbag inflation or
disable the system, which could re-
sult in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious injury.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
592001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the followingchanges without consulting yourToyota dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the
SRS front airbag system in somecases.
Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile two±way radio,cassette tape player or compactdisc player
Modification of the suspension sys-tem
Modification of the front end struc-ture
Attachment of a grille guard (bullbar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow,winches or any other equipment to
the front end
Repairs made on or near the frontfenders front end structure, con-sole, steering column, steeringwheel or dashboard near the front
passenger 's airbag
This SRS front 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 ªACCº or
ªONº position, or the light remains on.

The light comes on while driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:

The SRS front airbags have been in-
flated.

The front part of the vehicle (shaded
in the illustration) was involved in an
accident that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS front 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.

'01 SOLARA_U (L/O 0009)
602001 MY SOLARA (OM33527U)
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cablesbefore contacting your Toyota dealer.
SRS side airbags
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) side airbags are designed to pro-
vide further protection for the driver
and front passenger in addition to the
primary safety protection provided by
the seat belts.
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:

Wear their seat belts properly.

Remain properly seated with their
back upright and against the seat at
all times.