I am an owner of 1995 camry with an driver/passenger airbags. I have just noticed on the visor warning label that the airbags require maintenance after 10 years from the date of manufacturing.
What this "airbag maintenance" really is in technical terms ? Can it be done at the dealer for free, as a part of the vehicle safety components (together with seatbelts, etc) ? Anybody with older car has this done already ?
When we requested this "air bag maintainance" (same reason: the note on the visor), the dealer told us that no such maintainance was needed. Maybe Toyota was playing it safe, and later found that their equipment is, as usual, long-lived.
In theory the technician should put a dummy load on the squib circuit and check that the backup capacitor can fire the charge if battery power is lost. He should also check the accelerometers.
What is this "free" of which you speak? What is free in America? :)
Originally all manufacturers recommended service at 10 years. But I remember that at least one manufacturer, I think it was Volvo, had tested 20 year old airbags and found all worked fine.
The factory service manual does not list a maintenance procedure for the air bag.
FWIW, i saw a 1984 S-class benz at the pick-a-part that still had the drivers side airbag. never knew they were available that long ago.
Can you please point me to some service manuals describing this procedure?
By "free" I meant "free of charge to customer". In other words: on warranty :-) I am not sure if this is true, but I have heard that problems with seat belts are fixed free of charge under the presumption that it is safety equipment of your car you are forced by law to use.
===================== The main check for the Owner is to observe that the airbag light iluuminates on the dash with the key in the "on" position and then goes out when the car is started. This reflects the self test procedure for the air bag circuits has been completed. I thought I saw something in the Factory Service Manual about checking the air bag connections for corrosion, but I'm not sure. Those connections are quite robust. I think they're yellow in color with a fold over locking latch and accordian rubber seals on both sides. There doesn't seem to be any procedure for taking the car to the dealer to perform a "10 year aig bag service."
Why would they put such a thing then on the visor sticker ?
The inspection process outlined in the factory repair manual is to hook up the diagnostic scanner and check for trouble codes and make sure that the air bag cover is not damaged or deformed. Hooking up the scanner to check for trouble codes is redundant, since the air bag malfunction warning light would illuminate if there are any trouble codes stored.
The warranty for seat belts and supplemental restraint systems is the same as the base vehicle and is not lifetime.
There is a lot of safety equipment in a modern passenger vehicle that does not have a lifetime warranty like rearview mirrors, laminated windshield, tempered glass, headlights, tail lights, brake lights, dual channel brakes, collapsible steering column, side impact door beams, head restraints, padded dash, crumple zones in the chassis and body, horn, fuel pump shutoff, dual hood latch, door latches, center high mounted stop lamp, etc. If you include optional equipment like antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, seat belt pre-tensioners, laser cruise control, etc., then most of the vehicle would be covered for life.
Maybe a theory that changed after further information was discovered? Sometimes this happens.
to cover their ass in case someones in a serious front end collision in a 1995 or older car and the airbag doesnt deploy.
"gee, sorry about the massive head injuries, but you didnt have the 10 year SRS system check"
But it looks like there is nothing about it in the service manuals...
Air bags do /Not/ deploy easily enough. You can have a massive crash, and the darn bags still /won't/ deploy. They need to come out more easily.
What this have to do with the discussed subject ?
================== Air bags were new to Toyota at that time and most likely taking the view that an air bag malfuntion could result in death. They were probably seeking to err on the side of caution where subsequent events led mechanics to discover problems did not develop. Just a guess. I wasn't there when they put on the stickers. I'm just glad I don't have to contend with an expensive ongoing required service.
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