Chinaski420
New member
Anyone know? I know a lot of passenger cars started getting them in 1998. Thanks
first year 4Runner to get second generation airbags?
- Thread starter Chinaski420
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ToyotaBrah
Member
Not sure. However, I do know that beginning in 2000 or 2001, Toyota added a weight sensor to the passenger side seat that disables the airbag if it falls below a certain weight (IIRC below 79 lbs), which it interprets as a child occupying the seat.
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Chinaski420
New member
This sounds right. Any way to verify on the vehicle itself? I don't see anything in the 98 or 99 owners manuals.
If it's the new style (98+) steering wheel do you just assume it's been fitted with second gen airbags?
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gamefreakgc
Elite Member
The part number for the airbags changed in 1998. Prior to that they used a different part. I'd assume that's when the change happened. Oddly enough, 2002's have a different part number for the airbags as well though.
phattyduck
Elite Member
Steering wheel shape changed in '98 - not sure if it was driven by an airbag change or the airbag change was driven by the steering wheel shape change...
-Charlie
Chinaski420
New member
My guess is the second generation airbag design necessitated a change in the steering wheel, but have not been able to confirm.
brillo_76
Elite Member
I misread that one.. However, I will check if my 1997 has the 2nd Gen bags.. I kinda doubt it though as i think it is a late model 1996..:-(
brillo_76
Elite Member
No they are asking when the 2nd Gen Airbags came out. Not airbags in general..
Best answer so far is mid 1998..
I misread it too. 1996 through 1998 early half of the year are 1st gen airbags.
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No they are asking when the 2nd Gen Airbags came out. Not airbags in general..
I misread it too. 1996 through 1998 early half of the year are 1st gen airbags.
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My bad, so whats the difference, weight sensor and an off switch? Or is the bag itself different?
phattyduck
Elite Member
The bag/inflator itself. Gen 1 airbags inflated with much more force and are possibly dangerous to smaller people. Gen 2 airbags are safer for smaller passengers. Only later (gen 3 or 'advanced' airbags) ones got multi-stage squibs, etc.
-Charlie
Chinaski420
New member
Yep I want the Gen 2 for the wife and kids.
brillo_76
Elite Member
Makes perfect sense to want the better airbags. For smaller kids etc.
I learned something from the thread. Thanks for sharing.
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RodrickHeffley
Member
something that I am wondering is how the "firing" is determined, I swapped a 96 airbag (1st gen) into my '98, which I would assume had 2nd gen ones. I'm planning a steering wheel swap with steering wheel controls from the mid 00's toyotas, but am stumped at the airbag.
The 2003/04 tundras and sequoias used a single plug connector like this:
and the rest all use a dual plug one like this:
my question is if this dual plug one can be used (assuming i get the corresponding clockspring, they use the same wiring as the single plug (12 pin connector), only difference is that dual plug for the airbag) or if they're different somehow. Does anybody know?
The 2003/04 tundras and sequoias used a single plug connector like this:
and the rest all use a dual plug one like this:
my question is if this dual plug one can be used (assuming i get the corresponding clockspring, they use the same wiring as the single plug (12 pin connector), only difference is that dual plug for the airbag) or if they're different somehow. Does anybody know?
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2nd Generation Airbags first came with 4th Gen 4Runners
I’ve been doing a lot of research for my 3rd Gen 4Runner, because I want to add steering wheel controls (swc) for audio. None of the 3rd gen’s have swc, so it requires finding a suitable later model steering wheel to substitute in. The problem is that swc and dual stage airbags started being installed at roughly the same time for the majority of Toyota models (2003-2004, with a few exceptions). You can’t (or at least shouldn’t) put a 4-wire dual stage airbag into a model whose wiring only accommodates a 2-wire single stage airbag. Long story short, I’ve learned that the dual stage airbags the OP is asking about started in 2003 for 4Runnners…aka 4th Gen’s.
I’ve been doing a lot of research for my 3rd Gen 4Runner, because I want to add steering wheel controls (swc) for audio. None of the 3rd gen’s have swc, so it requires finding a suitable later model steering wheel to substitute in. The problem is that swc and dual stage airbags started being installed at roughly the same time for the majority of Toyota models (2003-2004, with a few exceptions). You can’t (or at least shouldn’t) put a 4-wire dual stage airbag into a model whose wiring only accommodates a 2-wire single stage airbag. Long story short, I’ve learned that the dual stage airbags the OP is asking about started in 2003 for 4Runnners…aka 4th Gen’s.
T4R2014
Elite Member
Dual stage airbag inflators were added in 1998MY. This means anything built 8/97 and beyond. This is when the PN changed. I've seen people swap a 1998 airbag into a 1996/1997. I would highly recommend looking into whether controllers and sensors are the same in earlier systems and if the changes are only to the airbag assembly itself. I can tell you the seatbelts in a 1998 are different as well. Without knowing this you don't really know how the airbag will inflate until you crash.
