2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

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The SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system consists mainly of the fol-
lowing components, and their locations are
shown in the illustration.
1. SRS warning light
2. Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
3. Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
4. Curtain shield airbag sensors
5. Side and curtain shield airbag sensors
6. Airbag sensor assembly The SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system is controlled by the airbag
sensor assembly. The airbag sensor as-
sembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensor.
In a severe side impact, the side and
curtain shield airbag sensor and/or the
curtain shield airbag sensor trigger(s) the
side airbag inflators and/or the curtain
shield airbag inflators. At this time a
chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non
−toxic gas to help
restrain the lateral motion of the occu-
pants.
In a vehicle rollover, the airbag sensor
assembly triggers the curtain shield airbag
inflator. At this time, a chemical reaction
in the inflators quickly fills the airbags
with non −toxic gas to help restrain the
lateral 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 smoke may
remain inside the vehicle for some time,
and may cause some minor irritation to
the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to
wash off any residue as soon as possible
to prevent any potential skin irritation with
soap and water. If you can safely exit
from the vehicle, you should do so imme-
diately.
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.
Front seats as well as parts of the front
and rear pillars, front, center and rear
garnish and roof interior may be hot for
several minutes, but the airbags them-
selves will not be hot. The airbags are
designed to inflate only once.

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CAUTION
SRS side airbags and curtain shield
airbags inflate with considerable
force. To reduce the possibility of
death or serious injury when they in-
flate, the driver, front passenger and
rear/second passengers must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
Remain properly seated with their
backs upright and against the seats
at all times.
Improper sitting and wearing of the
seat belts may not retain you inside
the vehicle.
Do not allow anyone to lean against
the door when the vehicle is in use,
since the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag could inflate with con-
siderable speed and force. Other-
wise, he/she may be killed or seri-
ously injured. Special care should
be taken especially when you have
a small child in the vehicle.
Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, distributing your weight evenly
in the seat. Do not apply excessive
weight to the outer side of the
seats with a side airbag, and to the
front pillar, rear pillar and roof side
rail with a curtain shield airbag.
Ty p e A
Ty p e B

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Make sure the “RSCA OFF” indica-
tor light is off. The curtain shield
airbags will not inflate in a vehicle
rollover if this indicator light is on
and you may be killed or seriously
injured. For details, see “Roll sens-
ing of curtain shield airbags off
switch” on page 87 in this Section.
Do not allow anyone to get his/her
head closer to the area where the
side airbag and curtain shield air-
bag inflate, since these airbags
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken espe-
cially when you have a small child
in the vehicle.Do not allow anyone to kneel on
the passenger seat, facing the pas-
senger ’s side door, since the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken espe-
cially when you have a small child
in the vehicle.

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Do not allow anyone to get his/her
head or hands out of windows
since the curtain shield airbags
could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken espe-
cially when you have a small child
in the vehicle.Do not attach a cup holder or any
other device or object on or around
the door. When the side airbag in-
flates, the cup holder or any other
device or object will be thrown with
great force or the side airbag may
not activate correctly, resulting in
death or serious injury. Likewise,
the driver and front passenger
should not hold objects in their
arms or on their knees.Do not attach a microphone or any
other device or object near the area
where the curtain shield airbags ac-
tivate such as on the windshield
glass, side door glass, front, center
and roof side garnish, roof interior
or assist grips. When the curtain
shield airbags inflate, the micro-
phone or other device or object will
be hurled with great force or the
curtain shield airbags may not acti-
vate correctly, which could result in
death or serious injury.

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Do not hook a hanger, heavy or
sharp pointed objects on the coat
hook. If the curtain shield airbag
inflates, those items will be thrown
away with great force or the curtain
shield airbag may not activate cor-
rectly, resulting in death or serious
injury. When you hang clothes,
hang them on the coat hook direct-
ly.
Do not use seat accessories which
cover the parts where the side air-
bags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from acti-
vating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats
or upholstery of the seats with side
airbags. Such changes may prevent
the side airbag system from activat-
ing correctly, disable the system or
cause the side airbags to inflate ac-
cidentally, resulting in death or seri-
ous injury.
Do not disassemble or repair the
front pillars and roof side rails con-
taining the curtain shield airbags.
Such changes may disable the sys-
tem or cause the curtain shield air-
bags to inflate accidentally, result-
ing in death or serious injury.
Do not modify or change the sus-
pension system. Such changes may
cause the curtain shield airbags to
inflate accidentally, which could re-
sult in death or serious injury.
Do not use tires or wheels other
than the manufacturer ’s recom-
mended size. Such a use may cause
the curtain shield airbags to inflate
accidentally, which could result in
death or serious injury. For details,
see “Checking and replacing tires”
on page 370 in Section 72.
Do not place luggage heavier than
specified on the roof luggage carri-
er. Such luggage may cause the
curtain shield airbags to inflate ac-
cidentally, which could result in
death or serious injury. For details,
see “Roof luggage carrier” on page
266 in Section 110.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in death or serious injury.
Consult your Toyota dealer about any
repair and modification.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following
changes without consulting your
Toyota dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the
SRS side airbag and curtain shield
airbag system in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices
such as a mobile twoway radio,
cassette tape player or compact
disc player
 Modification of the side structure of
the passenger compartment
 Repairs made on or near the con-
sole or front seat

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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 side airbags and curtain
shield airbags are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the
airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sen-
sors, side and curtain shield airbag sen-
sors, curtain shield airbag sensors, driv-
er ’s seat position sensor, driver ’s seat belt
buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner as-
semblies, inflators, warning light, “RSCA
OFF” indicator light, interconnecting wiring
and power sources. (For details, see “Ser-
vice reminder indicators and warning buzz-
ers” on page 137 in Section 1 −6.) If any of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction of the airbags
or seat belt pretensioners. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
When the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position, the light does not come
on, remains on or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing
while driving.

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In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible:
Any of the SRS side airbags and cur-
tain shield airbags have been inflated.
The portion of the doors (shaded in the
illustration) was involved in an acci dent
that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags to inflate.
The surface of the seats with the side
airbag (shaded in the illustration) is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
The portion of the front, center and
rear garnish, and roof interior contain-
ing the curtain shield airbags inside
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables
before contacting your Toyota dealer.
The roll sensing of curtain shield air-
bags off switch (“RSCA OFF” switch)
can turn off the curtain shield airbags
and seat belt pretensioners in a vehicle
rollover. This switch should only be
used if inflation is not desired (such as
extreme offroad driving). When you push the “RSCA OFF” switch
for a few seconds with the ignition switch
on, the “RSCA OFF” indicator light comes
on and the roll sensing function is turned
off. When you push the switch again, the
indicator light goes off and the roll sens-
ing function is turned on. (For details
about the roll sensing function, see “SRS
side airbags and curtain shield airbags” on
page 77 in this Section.)
In a severe side impact, the curtain shield
airbags on impacted side will inflate even
if the roll sensing function is turned off.
(For details about the curtain shield air-
bags, see “SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags” on page 77 in this Sec-
tion.)
In a severe frontal impact, the seat belt
pretensioners will work even if the roll
sensing function is turned off. (For details
about the seat belt pretensioners, see
“—Seat belt pretensioners” on page 67 in
this Section.)
If the ignition switch is turned to “ACC” or
“LOCK” with the roll sensing function off
and then the ignition switch is turned back
to “ON”, the roll sensing function will turn
back on automatically.
Roll sensing of curtain shield
airbags off switch

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CAUTION
Before normal driving, make sure
the “RSCA OFF” indicator light is
off.
When the roll sensing function is
turned off (and the “RSCA OFF”
indicator light is on), the curtain
shield airbags and seat belt preten-
sioners will not work in a vehicle
rollover. Turning off the curtain
shield airbags and seat belt preten-
sioners reduces occupant protection
which your vehicle safety systems
can provide in accidents and in-
crease the likelihood of death or
serious injuries.
Toyota strongly urges the use of ap-
propriate child restraint systems for
children.
The laws of all 50 states in the U.S.A.
and Canada now require the use of a
child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint
system, the child s hould sit in the rear
seat and must be restrained using the
vehicle’s seat belt. See “Seat belts” on
page 61 in this Section for details.CAUTION
For effective protection in automo-
bile accidents and sudden stops, a
child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint
system depending on the age and
size of the child. Holding a child in
your arms is not a substitute for a
child restraint system. In an acci-
dent, the child can be crushed
against the windshield, or between
you and the vehicle’s interior.
Toyota strongly urges use of a
proper child restraint system which
conforms to the size of the child,
and is put on the rear seat. Accord-
ing to accident statistics, the child
is safer when properly restrained in
the rear seat than in the front seat.
Never install a rearfacing child re-
straint system on the front passen-
ger seat. In the event of an acci-
dent, the force of the rapid inflation
of the front passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the
child if the rearfacing child re-
straint system is installed on the
front passenger seat.
Child restraint—
—Child restraint precautions