Front seat airbags

hozozco · 11-01-2007, 04:57 AM

Hi

Bought a second hand 2005 Prius about a fortnight ago. Very happy with it. A huge leap up from a 1999 Daihatsu Sirion and the fact that the Prius uses less petrol than a small car with a 1L, 3 cylinder motor is just remarkable.

Anyway, my question...

I'm planning to purchase some custom made sheepskin seat covers. They're locally made, so I can get whatever modifications I want. I've arranged to have holes left on either side to accommodate the airbags, but my question is - where exactly do they deploy from, and how much space to I need to leave?

I've been told that they deploy from the centre seam (obviously, on the outside of the seat). There is a tag that indicates this. I've also been told that this tag indicates where the airbag cannister is, and then from there it deploys upwards. Does anyone have any more detailed information. I don't want to cover this with sheepskin - I paid a little extra to get a Prius with these airbags, and while I don't want to use them, if I need them I want them to work correctly.

Oh, and this is an Australian version if it makes any difference.

Many, many thanks

:-)

patsparks · 11-01-2007, 07:09 AM

Tough question, is there anything in the manual?

If you want to see how they deploy have a look here, 3 videos near the bottom of the page
http://www.wetokole.com/seatcover/safety.html

Boo · 11-01-2007, 08:00 AM

Maybe the attached PDF file for assembling/disassembling Prius seats might be of some help (see especially page SE-3 which shows where the airbag cannister/device and the airbag sensor are located) to you and your seat cover maker: [EDIT: Note that I do not know for sure if Australian spec seats are the same.]

[attachmentid=12280]

Also, other people who have put aftermarket seat covers on their cars which accomodate front seat side airbags should be able to help.

Later today I'm expecting a delivery of a replacement set of the OEM seat covers. I'll take a close look inside and out of the front seat covers. If I find anything revealing, I'll post my findings.

Pat Sparks - I thought you had sheepskin covers put on yours. Do you have front seat side airbags?

prius2go · 11-01-2007, 08:57 AM

when removing front seats
Is it enough to disconnect the 12V battery to prevent air bags exploding?
Assume the car will be unlocked but not 'ready'
What information does the car forget when the battery is disconnected?

patsparks · 11-01-2007, 09:31 AM

Have a look here, it is from Toyota Australia and shows the airbags deployed, you need to unzip it to see it.
http://streams.toyota.com.au/media/digital...hures/Prius.zip

patsparks · 11-01-2007, 09:32 AM

Have a look here, it is from Toyota Australia and shows the airbags deployed, you need to unzip it to see it.
http://streams.toyota.com.au/media/digital...hures/Prius.zip

David Beale · 11-01-2007, 12:01 PM

They deploy forward from the side bolsters to get between you and the door and come out of the forward seam which they burst. They stay outside the seat, that is, they do not deploy towards the center of the car. Make sure your sheepskin covers end at the edge of the side bolsters and no strap goes around the side bolsters and you'll be fine (outside side bolster only, there is no airbag in the inside bolster). Yes, if the side airbags deploy you will probably need new seat covers. While it's usually the stitching that breaks, the seat covers, cloth and leather, usually also tears around and between the stitching holes.

Even with the battery disconnected the airbags are dangerous. It is -possible- to set them off with static, though unlikely. Hence all the warnings on them and in the manuals.

patsparks · 11-01-2007, 12:10 PM

I think from the tag down

hozozco · 11-01-2007, 06:31 PM

Thanks to all the posters above.

patsparks, many thanks. I had my car serviced yesterday and Toyota gave me a hard copy of the ebook you provided. It does appear to deploy from the tag down, but it is a bit hard to be sure, I'd love to see it from the other angle. The wetokole video is great, but you don't know what sort of seat is in the video and it's possible that the Prius is different.

Boo, the 'Prius Seat Assembly Instructions' clearly show where the cannister is, but I can't tell quite how it deploys (what angle etc).

I've actually seen another video that shows the deployment -

http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/...amp;make=Toyota

- but the angle is wrong to get a good look.

I think at the moment I'll probably go with having more cut away than is probably necessary. I'm a Registered Nurse and I've seen a lot of brain injuries and don't want to have one (although my area is cardiac, so they're usually as a result of heart attacks - put out that cigarette and put down that fried chicken wing). I even wear a helmet when I'm ice skating!

But thanks for the help, and Boo, if you can post anymore information based on your OEM seat covers that would be great.

:-)

galaxee · 11-01-2007, 07:18 PM

here's a shot of my seat cover- you can see where the breakway flap allows the airbag to go through.

11-01-2007, 04:57 AM	#1
hozozco Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 35 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi Bought a second hand 2005 Prius about a fortnight ago. Very happy with it. A huge leap up from a 1999 Daihatsu Sirion and the fact that the Prius uses less petrol than a small car with a 1L, 3 cylinder motor is just remarkable. Anyway, my question... I'm planning to purchase some custom made sheepskin seat covers. They're locally made, so I can get whatever modifications I want. I've arranged to have holes left on either side to accommodate the airbags, but my question is - where exactly do they deploy from, and how much space to I need to leave? I've been told that they deploy from the centre seam (obviously, on the outside of the seat). There is a tag that indicates this. I've also been told that this tag indicates where the airbag cannister is, and then from there it deploys upwards. Does anyone have any more detailed information. I don't want to cover this with sheepskin - I paid a little extra to get a Prius with these airbags, and while I don't want to use them, if I need them I want them to work correctly. Oh, and this is an Australian version if it makes any difference. Many, many thanks :-) __________________ R.N., B.Ng., B.Ed., Cert. IV I.T. 2005 Base model (Australian) with Curtain Airbags and Genuine Toyota Floor Mats.

11-01-2007, 12:01 PM	#7
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,551 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	They deploy forward from the side bolsters to get between you and the door and come out of the forward seam which they burst. They stay outside the seat, that is, they do not deploy towards the center of the car. Make sure your sheepskin covers end at the edge of the side bolsters and no strap goes around the side bolsters and you'll be fine (outside side bolster only, there is no airbag in the inside bolster). Yes, if the side airbags deploy you will probably need new seat covers. While it's usually the stitching that breaks, the seat covers, cloth and leather, usually also tears around and between the stitching holes. Even with the battery disconnected the airbags are dangerous. It is -possible- to set them off with static, though unlikely. Hence all the warnings on them and in the manuals. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" is a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius.

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11-01-2007, 07:09 AM	#2
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	Tough question, is there anything in the manual? If you want to see how they deploy have a look here, 3 videos near the bottom of the page http://www.wetokole.com/seatcover/safety.html

11-01-2007, 08:57 AM	#4
prius2go Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 254 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	when removing front seats Is it enough to disconnect the 12V battery to prevent air bags exploding? Assume the car will be unlocked but not 'ready' What information does the car forget when the battery is disconnected?

11-01-2007, 09:31 AM	#5
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	Have a look here, it is from Toyota Australia and shows the airbags deployed, you need to unzip it to see it. http://streams.toyota.com.au/media/digital...hures/Prius.zip

11-01-2007, 09:32 AM	#6
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	Have a look here, it is from Toyota Australia and shows the airbags deployed, you need to unzip it to see it. http://streams.toyota.com.au/media/digital...hures/Prius.zip

11-01-2007, 12:10 PM	#8
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	I think from the tag down

11-01-2007, 06:31 PM	#9
hozozco Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 35 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks to all the posters above. patsparks, many thanks. I had my car serviced yesterday and Toyota gave me a hard copy of the ebook you provided. It does appear to deploy from the tag down, but it is a bit hard to be sure, I'd love to see it from the other angle. The wetokole video is great, but you don't know what sort of seat is in the video and it's possible that the Prius is different. Boo, the 'Prius Seat Assembly Instructions' clearly show where the cannister is, but I can't tell quite how it deploys (what angle etc). I've actually seen another video that shows the deployment - http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/...amp;make=Toyota - but the angle is wrong to get a good look. I think at the moment I'll probably go with having more cut away than is probably necessary. I'm a Registered Nurse and I've seen a lot of brain injuries and don't want to have one (although my area is cardiac, so they're usually as a result of heart attacks - put out that cigarette and put down that fried chicken wing). I even wear a helmet when I'm ice skating! But thanks for the help, and Boo, if you can post anymore information based on your OEM seat covers that would be great. :-)

11-01-2007, 07:18 PM	#10
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,068 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	here's a shot of my seat cover- you can see where the breakway flap allows the airbag to go through.