Middle seat removal - airbag question

[ggroot30]

I removed part of the middle seat, just the section behind the passenger front seat. It provides much improved access to the third row, allows the passenger seat to lie almost completely flat (great for sleeping on long trips) and you only lose one seat belt.

After removing the seat, the airbag light goes on. My question is, does removing that one seat turn off all the airbags in the vehicle?

Thanks

 

[ggroot30]

has anyone else removed seats in the middle row? anyone??

 

[White Stripe]

Usually if the airbag light is on, the whole system is disabled if I recall. When you removed the seat did you unplug any wires? Can you take a pic of what light you are worried about for us to see more of what your talking about?

 

[Markuson]

Usually if the airbag light is on, the whole system is disabled if I recall. When you removed the seat did you unplug any wires?

Which airbag light? I ask because when there is no passenger...the airbag light comes on to let me know it's turned off *for the empty seat...*

It would seem a HUGe oversight for ALL airbags to be shot off simply because a seat is removed. Just doesn't sound like something Toyota's lawyers would ever allow. I'd be more inclined to suspect that it disables the airbags surrounding the removed seat, just as it can disable the front passenger airbag.

 

[White Stripe]

Which airbag light? I ask because when there is no passenger...the airbag light comes on to let me know it's turned off *for the empty seat...*

It would seem a HUGe oversight for ALL airbags to be shot off simply because a seat is removed. Just doesn't sound like something Toyota's lawyers would ever allow. I'd be more inclined to suspect that it disables the airbags surrounding the removed seat, just as it can disable the front passenger airbag.

That is a separate light for the passenger airbag only. I am talking about the main srs light on the dash by the gauges. If while removing the seat, he unplugged or broke a SRS wire, then likely the whole system shut down. If he takes a pic of the light for us, we could discern better what he is talking about.

 

[Markuson]

That is a separate light for the passenger airbag only. I am talking about the main srs light on the dash by the gauges. If while removing the seat, he unplugged or broke a SRS wire, then likely the whole system shut down. If he takes a pic of the light for us, we could discern better what he is talking about.

Hmmm.

It would seem very odd if a mechanism (airbag controller) specifically designed to function ONLY during catastrophic events...would be built so that all 10 airbags fail to function due to a single disconnect.

Just can't imagine that would make it past Toyota's legal department.

 

[White Stripe]

Thats how most manufacturers airbag systems work. SRS Warning Light- What You Need to Know | Openbay

 

[Markuson]

Thats how most manufacturers airbag systems work. SRS Warning Light- What You Need to Know | Openbay

I get that SRS light would mean that. I would just be surprised if removing a rear seat would be the trigger for full system disconnect, as it's not uncommon for folks to remove the middle seats in expedition rigs.

 

[MScruiser]

I'm with you; imagine if one sensor failed or vibrated loose--the whole trucks system would be disabled? I doubt that.

 

[White Stripe]

An SRS system is a pretty delicate system. Its similar to an abs system. It has to work as a whole as designed, if allowed to continue to operate with some sort of system fault-that could cause more damage than good. It's possible Toyota has developed a setup that only disables part of the SRS system, but I've never heard of that. Some owners manual research and service manual research would shed more light.

 

[TJsTACOMA]

Yes there are SRS connectors to the middle seats. Found this out when I wanted to remove mine. SRS connectors will always be yellow and have yellow wrap around them along with locking connectors so they do not come disconnected by accident. If you pop off the plastic caps you will see the connectors. I ended up leaving mine in.

 

[tam88]

This vehicle is sold all over the world. I find it hard to believe that one can not remove the middle seats!
I have a sleeping platform in my US spec '13 and desperately want the seats removed.
One way is to find the algorithm in the computer to turn off the seat airbag sensor and airbag. The other would be to find a resistor tha tricks the SRS into thinking the airbag and sensor are still connected. There has to be a original Toyota part that can do this.