Passenger airbag light is on - 2nd gen TRD Sport

A while back I had a friend in my passenger seat, he was easily 400lbs+. Since then my passenger airbag light has been on. I have no clue if it is the bladder or the sensors that are shot. Any ideas?

 

What code are you getting on the scan tool?

I have the same problem that's a couple month old. I get a B1650. I've got a 06 TRD OR.

 

I've had this happen twice, had to take it to the dealer and have the seat weight sensor recalibrated.

 

I believe the seat pressure sensor is out of calibration when the B1650 code is thrown. Had the same problem with my wife’s 2007 RAV4

 

My research shows you need tech-stream or another capable scanner to do a “zero point” on the occupant classification sensor.
Most scanners with that ability are on the expensive side.

Aside from doing resistance checks, there isn’t much one can do themselves.
Not unless you have a scanner with advanced data PIDS.

 

This was my experience as well. Had to take the RAV4 to the dealership as I couldn’t perform the recalibration with my bootleg copy of Techstream at home

I didn’t realize you could do it with a fancy scanner. Can you recommend a unit that would work for this?

Side Note - I laughed my ass off at the thought of somebody on the heavier side pushing the sensor out of calibration haha

 

I can't, but @Dm93 probably can.
I'm betting the top tier Snap-on scanners can do it.

 

There's alot of scan tools that would have that function, your probably gona be in the $400-800 range unless you go with one of the smartphone based ones like the ThinkDiag or TopScan. The smartphone based ones are subscription based but they are very reasonable IMO for the capabilities they have.

That being said it's really hard to say what scanners have a particular function and if they do have it that it works although aftermarket scan tool support seems to be pretty good for most of Toyota's factory tool functions.

 

Zero point for the seat sensor is not the same as zero point for the ABS.
You may have understood that, but I haven't seen it on any lower budget scanners.

 

I know, it's not an option your average cheapo OBD scanner is gona do. You have to have an all systems scan tool with bi-directional support.

 

I'm my Xtool D8 tablet scanner seems to have worked. I found there's a special function dedicated to Seat Occupancy after i plugged it in. It asks to place a 66 pound weight (30 Kg) on the seat to calibrate. I didn't have one handy so I just sat in the passenger seat and lifted my bottom up until the sensor read around 66 pounds and clicked the "OK" button. I went for a drive and looked for codes afterward but got none so....time will tell, I'll report back if the code comes back.

Good Luck!

To the OP hope you get yours taken care of....Never did hear what code he had...I think I got mine sorted. Thanks everyone!

 

I feel obligated to warn that you should always follow service info when dealing with safety systems, you hope you never have to find out if they work properly but you want them to when they need to.
Service info shows to have the seat empty, in the upright position, and all the way back to calibrate and then use various weights to verify the calibration.

 

I know you're right. Doh!

What do you use for a 30 kg weight?

66 pounds is pretty considerable and the Manual says not to use water weight but a solid one....I'm not sure what could use.

I'm picturing a big steel weight shaped like a butt with a handle at the top. Kinda like a heart shape but upside down and in 3-D. Is it friday yet?

Oh well, I do appreciate the wisdom. Thank you!

 

I haven't had to do a Toyota seat calibration yet, I've done several GMs that I've had the seats out of to pull the dash but they just have you zero the sensor.

Such weights for seat weight calibration do exist but I don't have them, I'm sure you could use actual weights or a bag of something that's the correct weight too.

 

Yeah...in my imagination the kid at the dealership might just do what I did. I'm better off doing it right, on my own.

I was thinking a 5 gallon bucket, sand and old bathroom scale is the best I think I can do.

hopefully get 66 lbs in there and the lid on it. I think so....we will see. I take some pictures when I report back.

You're the best!

 

My B1650 stayed off until I put groceries on my seat. Now the light is back.

I haven't gotten to the store to buy sand to make a 66 pound weight. I don't have an old bath room scale either and I really don't want to buy one. Ugh!

Looking around I found I have a Harbor Freight Badlands Jack they says it weighs 70 lbs. I may have to use this to calibrate my seat. I'm gonna try it now. I'll report back soon.

 

Here's a few photo's of the process.
i only did the sensitivity check.

 

Thanks for the responses everybody! I don't have a scanner so I'm unsure what code it's throwing. I work for a school district in CA, I'll head over to the transportation department and have them scan for a code.

 

I ended up having to re-do this. I did the Zero Point Calibration first, then the sensitivity check and haven't had any problems since. Good Luck!