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Major Safety Issue with my 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by White-Wagon, Mar 9, 2011.

  1. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    I noticed when my wife was riding with me in the Prius the other day that the passenger airbag "off" light was on. :eek: She is thin, about 95 pounds. Does this men if I were to get in a head on crash, the airbag would not protect her? None of them??? This is a major problem. How do I fix it??

    BTW, when my dad rode in the passenger seat, the airbag was on and intact. I believe the sensor is set to believe she is a child because she weighs so little. I need this fixed. Please help.
     
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  2. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    BTW, otherwise I am love love loving my Prius!!!!
     
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    She needs to gain some weight. :)

    The sensor will disable if there is not enough weight to justify the bag going off (children usually).
     
  4. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Did you marry Angela from the Office..wait, Dwight, is that you?? ;-)

    There must be a simple fix - have you checked the owner's manual? My passenger seatbelt alert will annoy me when my work bag is too heavy. Just weighed it, it's only 6 pounds, so if it were really heavy, it might reach 10 pounds, and my passenger light comes on, and the airbag is also activated. It's been happening so frequently I just leave the passenger seatbelt perpetually buckled.

    In other news, I'm visiting Duluth in a couple days! Any good restaurants I should know about?
     
  5. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    Maybe you should take the car to the dealer for service - just a thought :cool:

    Funny how people make crazy titles for basic issues.........
     
  6. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    She is about Angela's size, but MUCH more attractive. Ha!!

    Hmmm... good restaurants.. What type of food do you like? What are you coming to Duluth for?
     
  7. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    I understand the dealer is an option for advise or solutions. I thought i'd ask here first. I made the title strong for a reason... so it would get read and so I would get feedback. BTW, I wanted advise now and the dealers aren't open this late in my area! :blah:

    Plus... Isn't the point of a "forum" to be able to ask these sorta questions? My spouses life is not a "basic issue".

    Thanks anyways for your response.
     
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  8. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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  9. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    I'd like to thank the op for posting this, as it is something of interest to me, whether or not I have the same occurrence.

    Also, I would have the dealer check this out ASAP under the basic warranty.
     
  10. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    Awesome. Thanks. I'll have the dealer check it out if I get time...

    :)
     
  11. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    I'm going to conduct the DSSO as part of a conducting workshop...you know what, really should be studying the music instead of Priuschatting.

    Restaurants: Anything near UMD is best, and I would say I'm a fan of anything spicy/ethnic/Thai/Indian/Ethiopan, etc. Or traditional German parlors, I assume they're the norm out in the midwest :)
     
  12. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    Hmm... I don't have much experience with ethnic foods because I am allergic to both chicken and turkey, severely. But, around UMD, the best place is likely "Bulldog Pizza". They have a solid gluten free menu and lots of choices besides pizza. It's your basic american restaurant though, with a UMD Bulldog heritage.

    Otherwise I'll have to ask my brother... he's one of those people that likes the rareties in his diet. I'll get back to ya! Watch out for the potholes here... they are REALLY bad.
     
  13. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    "Here, Honey. Wear this 20lb backpack...." :p
     
  14. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Considering the OPs' first post mentions..

    Later....

    If I get time ???? If the little woman finds that out, you had better duck![​IMG]

    How about ASAP, tomorrow morning would be a good.
    You know what's at stake here,.
    Don't dwaddle, hopefuly it's just a bad seat switch.
    Should be a warranty non-issue.

    Flasback moment...sorry
    I spent what seems like a month Duluth one weekend, It was a cheerful -22 actual, I kept telling the Band I worked with mxing sound, hey, drop the last set, we all want to go back to where it's warm. When we finally got back to Madison that Sunday night late, it was like Tee shirt weather again...+28 [​IMG]

    Wonder what ever motivated me to relocate to Los Angeles???[​IMG]
     
  15. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    The following is in the manual:

    "The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a
    smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may rec-
    ognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and pos-
    ture."

    Looks like it's designed not to go off because of her size for her safety.
     
  16. Harshlife

    Harshlife Junior Member

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    if the seat occupant is small (size and/or weight) it can be dangerous for them if the airbag deploys. For this reason children should never sit in the front seat - and its why the sensor deactivates it if enough weight isnt registered.
     
  17. TheSpoils

    TheSpoils Member

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    Really strange. why don't you attach a picture of the light, hey?
     
  18. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    You might have more to worry about if you have to tell the wife to sit in the back
     
  19. my-prius

    my-prius New Member

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    Also from the manual

    "
    If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the “AIR BAG ON” indicator
    light is illuminated. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, ask
    the passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and
    with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light still
    remain illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or if​
    that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward."

    It also states as long as someone is in the seat even with the airbag off light on that the side airbags and seatbelt tensioner are still active.
     
  20. White-Wagon

    White-Wagon New Member

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    Hey, if she has to sit in the back for safety reasons, thats just the way it is! Haha. LOL. :behindsofa:

    But seriously... if she is so small that the airbag would be unsafe for her, i guess thats it.
    :pout:

    I'll be going to the dealer tomorrow to ask.