Passenger airbag and "occupant classification system"

[adam1991]

So yesterday, the occupant classification system in my 07 couldn't make up its mind. Was my wife a child (airbag off), or an adult (airbag on)? She's 118 pounds, 5 foot 5.5 inches tall.

It would switch around as I drove. First it was airbag off, then we'd hit a bump and it was airbag on. Go around a corner and it's airbag off again.

Put me in the seat, it's airbag on, period. Put my dad in the seat (40 pounds lighter than me), it's airbag on. But my wife was apparently right in the middle of its range somehow.

Took it to the dealer this afternoon. The service writer was able to make the problem happen, and he's 140 pounds. He found no codes in the computer.

They recalibrated the system and we all crossed our fingers. I think he said it's supposed to trigger the adult setting at 66 pounds.

We'll see.

I'd hate for this to be an issue. The occupant classification system is obviously a weak point. The engineers and lawyers have got to be walking a tightrope with that one--they want to keep the airbag from deploying if someone is foolish enough to put a child in the front seat, but they want the airbag to deploy for an adult. A mistake either way is potentially fatal, on an equal level.

But of course, the nanny Toyota won't give me a key slot to turn the airbag off and let me make the decision on who is in the passenger seat.

It would have been easier and more reliable simply to say, "You should never put children under the age of 13 in the front passenger seat" and simply leave the airbag on if it senses weight, and off (to save on repair costs) if it doesn't sense weight. If the sensor is broken, fail safe to airbag on.

But trying to sense the appropriate weight/dimensions for an adult so the computer can make the decision for you--in the end, that's destined to cause more problems than it's worth.

[edselpdx]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 5 2007, 04:46 PM) [snapback]418511[/snapback]</div>

So yesterday, the occupant classification system in my 07 couldn't make up its mind. Was my wife a child (airbag off), or an adult (airbag on)? She's 118 pounds, 5 foot 5.5 inches tall.

It would switch around as I drove. First it was airbag off, then we'd hit a bump and it was airbag on. Go around a corner and it's airbag off again.

[/b]

It actually doesn't sound right. My 13 pound dachshund make it flicker, and my briefcase turns the airbag on (and flashes the seatbelt warning) if my laptop's in it.

[priussoris]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(edselpdx @ Apr 6 2007, 07:37 PM) [snapback]419128[/snapback]</div>

It actually doesn't sound right. My 13 pound dachshund make it flicker, and my briefcase turns the airbag on (and flashes the seatbelt warning) if my laptop's in it.
[/b]

I know I have put a small bag of groceries on the front seat and placed my arm up on the headrest of the passenger seat and the airbag light goes off, then sometimes the fasten seatbelt flashes and beeps like crazy. not often enough to take in though due to 90 miles round trip to any dealer.

weight sensor is all messed up I think

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(edselpdx @ Apr 6 2007, 05:37 PM) [snapback]419128[/snapback]</div>

It actually doesn't sound right. My 13 pound dachshund make it flicker, and my briefcase turns the airbag on (and flashes the seatbelt warning) if my laptop's in it. [/b]

The airbags system in the 06 and 07 model years is more sophisticated than the one in the 04 and 05 model years. In the newer models the passenger airbag is actually turned off when the seat is unoccupied or has a child or a very small adult seated in it. I do not believe that is so in the older models. There, I think, the sensor only triggers the seatbelt reminder light and beep.

[JimN]

With the help of my co-workers we performed a passenger airbag sensor test today on my 2006. Participants were weighed on a doctor office type scale before the test. Participant "A" weighs 94 pounds and did not activate the airbag. Participant "B" weighs 100 pounds and did activate the airbag. I conclude my airbags are activated between 95-100 pounds. Participant "Driver" weighs more than "A" and "B" combined so this is not a practical problem for me. However, this is worth mentioning to lighter people who may then choose to ride in the back.

[ystasino]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Apr 24 2007, 11:24 PM) [snapback]429517[/snapback]</div>

With the help of my co-workers we performed a passenger airbag sensor test today on my 2006. Participants were weighed on a doctor office type scale before the test. Participant "A" weighs 94 pounds and did not activate the airbag. Participant "B" weighs 100 pounds and did activate the airbag. I conclude my airbags are activated between 95-100 pounds. Participant "Driver" weighs more than "A" and "B" combined so this is not a practical problem for me. However, this is worth mentioning to lighter people who may then choose to ride in the back.
[/b]

The problem is that the weight sensor setting seems to vary from car to car. Hasn't Toyota given any guidelines?

[hobbit]

How is the weight sensing actually done in the newer cars? In my
'04 there's a single very definite spot where the weight sensor
switch is; I marked it with a little Sharpie dot, in fact, so I know
exactly where it is when I might be loading something into the front
seat. Took a bit of finger probing, but once I got there I could
feel a slight bump where the switch is.
.
_H*

[qbee42]

Storing things under the seat will also mess up the weight reading. My wife likes to stuff her purse under there, but it can make the car think the seat is empty. Watch out for that.

Tom

[priussoris]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Apr 24 2007, 10:12 PM) [snapback]429539[/snapback]</div>

How is the weight sensing actually done in the newer cars? In my
'04 there's a single very definite spot where the weight sensor
switch is; I marked it with a little Sharpie dot, in fact, so I know
exactly where it is when I might be loading something into the front
seat. Took a bit of finger probing, but once I got there I could
feel a slight bump where the switch is.
.
_H*
[/b]

I did notice where the sensor must be in ours due to placing objects on the seat, it appears to be located on the inner most side of the seat (closest to the console side) sio if I place a bag on the seat I have to put it next to the door.