RSCA Kill switch in 2014 4runner trail

[decker1]

I know the lack of a RSCA OFF button has been posted before, but after the incidents of this post http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/225706-side-curtain-airbags-deployed-cost-insurance.html and this problem wrapping up, I would very much like to be able to disengage these expensive buggers like a grown up.

Toyota says they ruled out the need for the kill switch in this model, and thats very irritating.
Any who, are we talking just a fuse here? Or is there some insight as to the complications of such a kill switch.

 

[1engineer]

I know the lack of a RSCA OFF button has been posted before, but after the incidents of this post http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/225706-side-curtain-airbags-deployed-cost-insurance.html and this problem wrapping up, I would very much like to be able to disengage these expensive buggers like a grown up.

Toyota says they ruled out the need for the kill switch in this model, and thats very irritating.
Any who, are we talking just a fuse here? Or is there some insight as to the complications of such a kill switch.

No, what is understood is they eliminated the off button and in place of that they made the side airbags hard to activate at low speed and higher lateral angles, like normal off road speed.

Installing a kill switch is not a good idea, even if you are a grown up. I personally wouldn't help you for the same reason Toyota got rid of the switch.... liability. Now if you figure it out yourself then great, good for you. But if someone here helps and God forbid, there was an accident and you, as a grown up, forgot to flip the switch to turn it back on and something severe happened to you or your passenger, then whoever involved is now liable.

As far as I know, at least among the hundreds here who off road, you are the only one that has experienced this. There are some who go hard off road too. So if nothing else you either had incredible bad luck or were doing something at a speed where the air bags needed to go off.
Good luck.

 

[tinman831]

Why not just unplug the harness that goes to each airbag? Personally I wouldn't recommend it though.

 

[JSparky]

I'm curious if anyone has gotten an official answer from Toyota regarding how the RSCA activate in various drivetrain modes (2WD/4HI/4LO). You mentioned in the linked thread above that you were in 2WD when the airbags deployed, it's very possible that Toyota has engineered the software such that the airbags deploy under different circumstances in the various drivetrain modes. I am in no way attempting to blame the victim here.. just stating that there may be other things at work. If the answer to avoiding airbag deployment when off-road is to be in 4wd it may be a really simple fix to your problem.

 

[flyrv9]

Why not just unplug the harness that goes to each airbag? Personally I wouldn't recommend it though.

For the same reason 1Engineer stated. If you put a plug back on wrong or forget one or damage one you get the same result. Besides you'd have a chore getting access to all those plugs.

 

[decker1]

I am not holding anyone accountable. I would simply like to modify my vehicle. If anything, I hold Toyota accountable for not allowing me to disable the RSCA like they used too, because this has already cost me in a perfect "if only" situation.

No, what is understood is they eliminated the off button and in place of that they made the side airbags hard to activate at low speed and higher lateral angles, like normal off road speed.

Installing a kill switch is not a good idea, even if you are a grown up. I personally wouldn't help you for the same reason Toyota got rid of the switch.... liability. Now if you figure it out yourself then great, good for you. But if someone here helps and God forbid, there was an accident and you, as a grown up, forgot to flip the switch to turn it back on and something severe happened to you or your passenger, then whoever involved is now liable.

As far as I know, at least among the hundreds here who off road, you are the only one that has experienced this. There are some who go hard off road too. So if nothing else you either had incredible bad luck or were doing something at a speed where the air bags needed to go off.
Good luck.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

I do a lot of off-roading; much of the time at some pretty extreme side angles. Most of the time I forget to turn OFF the RSCA. So far never had an airbag inflate.

 

[Engineer]

Better to have the 1 in a million it goes off when it shouldn't then risk having them not be activated when you roll down the side of the mountain.......:nono:

 

[BobsTrail]

:iagree:

I have an old 2013 with the switch. I usually forget to use it and I do like the idea that it resets upon restart when I do use it. I would trust Toyota on the newer ones without the switch.

I saw an older review where a Pathfinder triggered the side bags in their testing and the 4Runner and Jeeps did not trigger on the same run.

 

[JSparky]

:iagree:

I have an old 2013 with the switch. I usually forget to use it and I do like the idea that it resets upon restart when I do use it. I would trust Toyota on the newer ones without the switch.

I saw an older review where a Pathfinder triggered the side bags in their testing and the 4Runner and Jeeps did not trigger on the same run.

Nissan's had some trouble with this for awhile, I've heard of a more than a few Xterra's that had their side bags deploy offloading.

 

[gm350reratliff]

:iagree:

I have an old 2013 with the switch. I usually forget to use it and I do like the idea that it resets upon restart when I do use it. I would trust Toyota on the newer ones without the switch.

I saw an older review where a Pathfinder triggered the side bags in their testing and the 4Runner and Jeeps did not trigger on the same run.

Nissan's had some trouble with this for awhile, I've heard of a more than a few Xterra's that had their side bags deploy offloading.

It wasn't just the Xterras that had this problem. The titans had this problem as well. I had a neighbor that was injured from his 2 day old titan that set the bags off on a pretty mild trail about a .25 mile away from our houses.

I do wish we had some sort of ability that allowed us to turn off the side curtain airbags, at least when we are off-road, like my 4th gen does. That being said, I've tackled some pretty steep, off camber trails in my 4th gen only to realize that I completed the trail without turning off the bags. Hopefully, I never have to experience an accidental airbag deployment, on or off road in any vehicle.

 

[decker1]

Yea it sucks. My trail was pretty mild too. It seems everyone voting against me turning these off has never had this situation happen. People: When it happens to you , you will want to disable them as well. Jeeze...

It wasn't just the Xterras that had this problem. The titans had this problem as well. I had a neighbor that was injured from his 2 day old titan that set the bags off on a pretty mild trail about a .25 mile away from our houses.

I do wish we had some sort of ability that allowed us to turn off the side curtain airbags, at least when we are off-road, like my 4th gen does. That being said, I've tackled some pretty steep, off camber trails in my 4th gen only to realize that I completed the trail without turning off the bags. Hopefully, I never have to experience an accidental airbag deployment, on or off road in any vehicle.

 

[decker1]

It only takes one time for you to be over it.

I do a lot of off-roading; much of the time at some pretty extreme side angles. Most of the time I forget to turn OFF the RSCA. So far never had an airbag inflate.