2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER airbag

iii2003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Important information about your Toyota
Occupant restraint systems
Toyota encourages you and your family to take the time
to read Section 13 of this Owner ’s Manual carefully. In
terms of helping you understand how you can receive
the maximum benefit of the occupant restraint systems
this vehicle provides, Section 13 of this Owner’s Manu-
al is the most important section for you and your family
to read.
Section 13 describes the function and operation con-
cerning seats, seat belts, SRS airbags and child re-
straint systems of this vehicle and some potential haz-
ards you should be aware of. These systems work to-
gether along with the overall structure of this vehicle in
order to provide occupant restraint in the event of a
crash. The effect of each system is enhanced when it is
used properly and together with other systems. No
single occupant restraint system can, by itself, provide
you or your family with the equal level of restraint
which these systems can provide when used together.
That is why it is important for you and your family to
understand the purpose and proper use of each of these
systems and how they relate to each other.
The purpose of all occupant restraint systems is to help
reduce the possibility of death or serious injury in the
event of a collision. None of these systems, either indi-
vidually or together, can ensure that there is no injury
in the event of collision. However, the more you know
about these systems and how to use them properly, the
greater your chances become of surviving an accident
without death or serious injury.
Seat belts provide the primary restraint to all occupants
of the vehicle, and every occupant of the vehicle should
wear seat belts properly at all times. Children should
always be secured in child restraint systems that are
appropriate for their age and size. SRS (Supplemental
Restraint System) airbags are, as their names imply,
designed to work with, and be supplemental to, seat
belts and are not substitutes for them. SRS airbags can
be very effective in reducing the risk of head and chest
injuries by preventing contact of the head and chest
with interior portions of the vehicle.
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iv2003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
In order to be effective, the SRS airbags must deploy
with tremendous speed. The rapid deployment of the
SRS airbags makes the SRS airbags themselves poten-
tial sources of serious injury if an occupant is too close
to an airbag, or if an object or some part of his or her
body has been placed between the occupant and the
airbag at the time of deployment. This is just one exam-
ple of how the instructions in Section 13 of this Own-
er ’s Manual will help ensure proper use of the occupant
restraint systems, and increase the safety they can pro-
vide to you and your family in the event of an accident.
Toyota recommends you to read the provisions in Sec-
tion 13 carefully and refer to them as needed during
your time of ownership of this vehicle.New vehicle warranty
Your new vehicle is covered by the following Toyota
limited warranties:
New vehicle warranty

Emission control systems warranty

Others
For further information, please refer to the “Owner’s
Warranty Information Booklet” or “Owner ’s Manual
Supplement”.
Your responsibility for maintenance
It is the owner ’s responsibility to make sure that the
specified maintenance is performed. Section 6 gives de-
tails of these maintenance requirements. Also included
in Section 6 is general maintenance. For scheduled
maintenance information, please refer to the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” or “Owner ’s Manual Supplement”.
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v2003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Accessories, spare parts andmodification of your Toyota
A wide variety of nongenuine spare parts and accesso-
ries for Toyota vehicles are currently available in the
market. You should know that Toyota does not warrant
these products and is not responsible for their perfor-
mance, repair, or replacement, or for any damage they
may cause to, or adverse effect they may have on,
your Toyota vehicle.
This vehicle should not be modified with nongenuine
Toyota products. Modification with nongenuine Toyota
products could affect its performance, safety or durabili-
ty, and may even violate governmental regulations. In
addition, damage or performance problems resulting from
the modification may not be covered under warranty.
Installation of a mobiletwoway radio system
As the installation of a mobile twoway radio system in
your vehicle could affect electronic systems such as
multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel
injection system, cruise control system, antilock brake
system, SRS airbag system and seat belt pretensi oner
system, be sure to check with your Toyota dealer for
precautionary measures or special instructions regarding
installation.
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vi2003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Tires and loading on your Toyota
Underinflated or overinflated tire inflation pres-
sure and the excess load may result in the
deterioration of steering ability and braking abil-
ity, leading to an accident. Check the tire infla-
tion pressure periodically and be sure to keep
the load limits given in this Owner ’s Manual.
For details about tire inflation pressure and
load limits, see pages 211 and 149.
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, this 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.
Sequential manual
transmission driving tips
(Models equipped with Sequential Manual
Transmission only)
The sequential manual transmission is a 6speed forward/
reverse transmission. With the basics of the traditional
manual transmission, the clutch operation and transmission
shifting is controlled electronically. Unlike automatic trans-
missions, this system does not upshift automatically at the
time of acceleration.
To understand the unique system and operation method of
the sequential manual transmission, read Section 16 on
page 85 thoroughly before driving. For starting procedures,
see “How to start the engine— ” on page 154 in Section 3.
Please refer to the “Important Information For Your
Sequential Manual Transmission” equipped in your vehicle
as well.
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272003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Occupant restraint systems
Seats28
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Seat belts 31
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SRS driver airbag and passenger airbag 37
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Passenger airbag manual onoff switch 45
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Child restraint 46
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SECTION 1 3

282003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Seats—
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 the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow any passengers to sit in
the luggage space. Persons not
properly seated and/or not properly
restrained by seat belts can be se-
verely injured in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
While the vehicle is moving, do not
allow any passenger to stand up in
the vehicle. Otherwise, severe inju-
ries can occur in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with
considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if
the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag
is the first 50—75 mm (2—3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety.
This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your
breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can
change your driving position in sever-
al ways:
Move your seat to the rear as far
as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
Slightly recline the back of the
seat. Although vehicle designs vary,
many drivers can achieve the 250
mm (10 in.) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the
seat somewhat. If reclining the back
of your seat makes it hard to see
the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, nonslippery cushion, or raise
the seat if your vehicle has that
feature.
If your steering wheel is adjustable,
tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as rec-
ommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
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—Seat precautions

292003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Passenger seat
CAUTION
The SRS passenger airbag also de-
ploys with considerable force, and
can cause death or serious injury es-
pecially if the passenger is very close
to the airbag. The passenger seat
should be as far from the airbag as
possible with the seat position and
the seatback adjusted, so the passen-
ger sits upright.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the seat while the
vehicle is moving as the seat may
unexpectedly move and cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Be careful that the seat does not
hit a passenger or luggage.
After adjusting the seat position, re-
lease the lever and try sliding the
seat forward and backward to make
sure it is locked in position.
After adjusting the seatback, re-
lease the lever and exert body pres-
sure to make sure the seat is
locked in position.
Do not put objects under the seats.
Otherwise, the objects may interfere
with the seatlock mechanism or
unexpectedly push up the seat posi-
tion adjusting lever and 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. Otherwise, you
may jam your hands or fingers may
be caught and injured.
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—Seat adjustment precautions

312003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Toyota strongly urges that the driver and
passenger in the vehicle be properly re-
strained at all times with the seat belts
provided. Failure to do so could increase
the chance of injury and/or the severity of
injury in accidents.
The seat belts provided for your vehicle
are designed for people of adult size,
large enough to properly wear them.
Child. Use a child restraint system ap-
propriate for the child until the child be-
comes large enough to properly wear the
vehicle’s seat belts. See “Child restraint—”
on page 46 for details.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child must be restrained using
the vehicle’s seat belt.
If a child must sit in the seat, the seat
belts should be worn properly. If an acci-
dent occurs and the seat belts are not
worn properly, the force of the rapid infla-
tion of the airbag may cause death or
serious injury to the child.
Do not allow the child to stand up or
kneel on the seat. An unrestrained child
could suffer serious injury or death during
emergency braking or a co llision. Also, do
not let the child sit on your lap. Holding
a child in your arms does not provide
sufficient restraint. Pregnant woman.
Toyota recommends the
use of a seat belt. Ask your doctor for
specific recommendations. The lap belt
should be worn securely and as low as
possible over the hips and not on the
waist.
Injured person. Toyota recommends the
use of a seat belt. Depending on the inju-
ry, first check with your doctor for specific
recommendations.
CAUTION
Persons should ride in their seats
properly wearing their seat belts
whenever the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, they are much more likely
to suffer serious bodily injury or
death in the event of sudden braking
or a collision.
When using the seat belts, observe
the following:
Use the belt for only one person at
a time. Do not use a single belt for
two or more people—even children.
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
driver and the passenger are sitting
up straight and well back in the
seats. If you are reclined, the lap
belt may slide past your hips and
apply restraint forces directly to the
abdomen. In the event of a frontal
collision, the more the seat is re-
clined, the greater the risk of per-
sonal injury.
Be careful not to damage the belt
webbing or hardware. Take care that
they do not get caught or pinched
in the seat or side doors.
Inspect the belt system periodically.
Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Damaged parts should be re-
placed. Do not disassemble or
modify the system.
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Seat belts—
—Seat belt precautions