Passenger Airbag Deployed

[freshley]

OK,
I mangled my cover for the passenger side airbag so I got one from a fellow member but I noticed that my cover has a weakened area in the center of it while this older used one does not. My concern is if I put this cover on, will my airbag work correctly? It's not something I want to find out the hard way.
It seems like maybe from 2000-2002 they changed them slightly with this weakened dent along the front. I'm wondering if they deploy the same but I couldn't find any pictures of the passenger side deployed in newer models and older ones to compare. Anyone have any good picts showing this?

Thanks!

 

[threadlessclimber]

I really can't help you with this but reading this makes me wonder what the life span of an airbag is--is my 15 year old airbag still functional? Not that I think they would dysfunction randomly but is there a expiration date? Just trying to kill cats with curiosity.

 

[Mahalas]

As long as the airbag is functional and bolts in directly, the cover fits properly with the 3-4 bolts at the back mounting the same you are fine. I tried to install a 97 bag in a 2000 truck and they are clearly not compatible.

 

[jb10]

As long as the airbag is functional and bolts in directly, the cover fits properly with the 3-4 bolts at the back mounting the same you are fine. I tried to install a 97 bag in a 2000 truck and they are clearly not compatible.

sorry to dig up an old thread but what did you do? get one from a 2000-2002?

 

[Toyotayoda]

The life span of an airbag according to most manufacturer is 10 years. That is mostly concern that the inflator has lost enough pressure to not inflate the bag fully, and quickly enough. The weekend areas of the cover are calibrated to break in such a way the the bag goes in the right direction in the event of deployment. The differences in the indentations could be due an engineering update, or perhaps the 2000-2002 is a dual stage inflator and the older version isn't(dual stage is two different charges in the inflator, will have a 4 wire connector). The other concern more recently is that there has been metal fatigue or corrosion of the inflator itself, causing the inflator to burst if deployed. Personally, if I was using the vehicle for off road purposes I would remove the airbags to prevent accidental deployment. I have a 97 daily driver, my SRS light works and is not illuminated except during bulb check, which means the system is intact. I would rather have the potential for it to work in the event that I need it, than not have it at all.