1995 drivers airbag replacement

I'm not familiar with the 1st gen tacomas or forum. I bought a 1995, 4cyl, 2wd, single cab, manual work truck. The previous owner got into a fender bender and I'm replacing the blown airbag.

I want to buy an oem airbag and cover but I'm not sure the compatibility of different years. I found a 1999 for a good price, but I'm not sure it'll work.

 

If it fits and is the same dimension as the present one, it will work. they only have 2 wires.

Any problem with horn or cruise control? Many times when the bag blows, the ribbon cable can be damaged.

You will have to get the SRS ECU reset or replaced for the system to work properly.

 

No cruise control, and horn works. I've never replaced an airbag, but that's kind of what I was thinking, it should be a plug and play. I'm wondering if once it's hooked up, I can just swing into the dealership for a reset. Honestly, I don't know, but I'll research how to do that.

Thanks

 

The dealer won't help you.

My hobby is to rebuild wrecked Toyota truck's. Most have blown bags, so I've played around with the issue more than most. Not a pro, but have knowledge on what it takes to fix the SRS.

After you replace the bag, the SRS ECU, the air bag computer will show a fault. It can't be erased by just unplugging the battery. The SRS ECU is located in front of the shifter on the hump under the dash. it has to be removed and sent in to be re programmed.

I use a company called: Myairbags.com. You send them your ECU and they will send it back to you in less than a week. Last time I did this the fee was $50.

Are your seat belts okay? Most times when the bag goes the seat belt retractor needs to be rebuilt as well. Same as above, remove them and sent them to the above listed company.

 

Very helpful, thank you. The seat belt works, but sometimes has a little slack where I have to help it retract a little to be snug across my chest. I thought it was just because it was older. It may be.

 

The 1st gen seatbelts are notoriously bad, it could be just age. But if I'm not wrong the front seatbelts had an explosive mechanism to lock the seatbelt in a crash.

 

Agreed, I'm just not sure about a 1995.

 

You ever had an issue with the explosive seatbelt stoppers on crashed trucks? I don't know if they ever worked or not.

 

95 does not have pre-tentioner. Dealer told me they have but it was a BS. I have replaced my seat belts in my 95 ext cab and they are simple as thy used to be in old 80-cars.

Yes they go "sticky" with age and when I looked at it, any trick with washing or winding the spring are just short term solution. The belt itself became swollen and metal and plastic guides beame worn. Seat belts are not cheep (150 bucks or more each) but you need to replace them once in 20 years so better do it.

See my post here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...k-or-rysium-build.457350/page-4#post-15406401

 

The sticky seatbelts really suck. Mine are starting to fray too. I'm going to end up buying them new from Toyota, how much did you pay?

 

I have a steering wheel with airbag from a '96 for sale here on the forum. The '95 and '96 airbags are definitely compatible because I had both at the same time. The '95 was turned into a hunting truck, so the steering wheel was replaced. I kept the '96, but the '95's steering wheel was in better shape so now the '96's is up for sale.

 

Yep. Those belts tightened up so taught you could use them to strum a tune. They were a bitch to get out with all that tension on them.

 

I would jump on this. Parts for a 20+ year old vehicle are getting rare.

By the way, the air bag is not the part that will fail when it comes to a crash. The sensors are much more the weak link. The air bag will only go off when it is told to.

Any emergency responder will tell you seat belts are the number one life savior in a crash.

Count on the belts,the bags are just added insurance.

 

By the way, an air bag that has been on the shelf is the same as one that had been stored in someone's steering wheel.

 

Now this is the pretensioner doing that in a crash? Does it not retract again?