Tree branch through windshield

We had a tropical storm last Sunday. A tree branch landed on the roof and windshield. Windshield got replaced today.

But, it cracked the dashboard. The guy said that's going mess with the air bags. (picture attached).

Anyone familiar with the dash and airbag system? The crack is close to the defroster vents.

I know I'll have to bring it to a body shop, but hoping to get some of your thoughts.

 

Insurance should still cover that . I think that's where the airbag will exit when it deploys in a crash

 

I completely changed interiors when I changed Gen 1 trucks a few years ago, moving the better condition/better color interior from my 2001 into the better body and frame 2003.

So I learned ALL about taking apart Toyota instrument panels...

I'm sure, from what I've gotten into on my Gen 2 so far, that there's a lot commonality in the basic way things go together. Changing that dashboard cover is very doable. There are a TON of screws and bolts to take out, 'cause it's a big plastic piece that all kinds of stuff hangs off of, but the damage you have doesn't scare me at all. If you're inclined and have the time/space, it's a DIY-able project. If not, it's a piece of cake for a body shop.

The airbag stuff is very manageable -- not much to fear there if you're careful. I'm sure the parts needed will still be available from Toyota.

 

How much time would you say is involved for a body shop?

 

It would be covered under an insurance claim with the windshield. It will not affect airbags.

 

Hopefully a helluva lot less than the month or three it took me to unhurriedly change interiors between my Gen 1s! I'd guess if someone knew what they were doing and stayed at it, it would probably be the better part of a day.

Here's a stripped-out Gen 1 for reference:

 

Balls of steel.

 

I assume the white thing at the upper right part of the dashboard is the airbag?

 

Just curious, how certain are you that it won't affect the airbag? (I realize it's only a picture and you can't see it in real life).

 

I believe that the airbag comes out farther towards the door, so that score line going laterally is about the right area. Where its cracked is some dead space over the radio and HVAC ducting. I relatively confident it would suffice in an accident. I'd have the insurance claim fix it for sure even if just for cosmetic reasons, but I don't think its a safety issue. (your healthy and safety decisions are obv up to you though.)

 

Nah -- it's a piece of cake if one works methodically and takes lots of digital pix. Here's the Gen 1 almost back together. I got to do this twice as the charcoal interior went into the truck I kept and the oak went into the truck I sold. Being able to mount the GPS puck underneath the dash/on top of the center vent duct for the nav system was nice.

 

The passenger-side airbag on a Gen 1 truck stays mounted to the instrument panel main piece when it's removed. The airbag isn't visible in my stripped-out-interior photo above.

Here are the two IPs -- charcoal going in and oak going out of the 2003 I'm driving now (along with my 2015 Gen 2). Note the passenger-side airbags above the glovebox.

 

It’s definitely a doable DIY. Just take your time and mark the plugs were they go.

 

I was an auto damage adjuster/manager for over 20 years. I-car certified in airbag and other safety systems. Also been in the shops for that long and seen all the set ups. The airbag is an individual assembly. It is similar to a parachute packed away waiting to be deployed. The damaged dash will not prevent deployment.