1996 Toyota T100 Owners Manual - Page 33

When the airbag inflates, it produces a fairly loud noise and releases some smoke along with the nitrogen gas. This is not harmful and does not indicate a fire. Be sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent minor skin irritation. Deployment of the airbag happens in a fraction of a second, so the airbag must inflate with considerable force. While the system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or abrasions and swellings. The steering wheel hub may be hot for several minutes, but the airbag itself will not be hot. The airbag is designed to inflate only once. ! CAUTION The SRS airbag system is designed only as a supplement to the primary protection of the seat belt system of the driver. The driver is particularly susceptible to injury if he/she does not wear his/her seat belt; when sudden braking or a collision occurs, he/she may be thrown forward. To obtain further protection in an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear their seat belts when driving. For instructions and precautions concerning the seat belt system, see "Seat belts" in this chapter. ! CAUTION S Do not put objects on the steering wheel pad. They might restrict inflation or cause personal injury as they are projected rearward. S Do not modify, remove or open any component or wiring, such as the steering wheel, column cover, center airbag sensor assembly or front airbag sensors. Doing any of these may cause sudden SRS airbag inflation or disable the system, which could result in personal injury. Failure to follow these instructions can result in severe injuries. 27