btruong1

This past sunday, I reared ended a mini van, and my front end of my 4runner got smashed. Luckily the 4runner was lifted and damage wasn't as bad. The only real problem I have right now is airbags.... My airbags ended up deploying and now I am running into the problem of getting them fixed. If my memory serves me right on the drivers side there only 1 airbag and that is from the steering wheel. My plan of action is to go to junkyards and find another toyota made steering wheel and switch them out, instead of going to the stealership. But my concern is the passenger side. What i would like to know is, has anybody ever tried to changed the passenger side airbags? (I think there are two, one above and one below) i dunno if changing them myself is a possibility but I would like to know the option, otherwise I will have to wait to replacing those as money is quite an issue, since I only have liability coverage. Please let me know your input. Thanks

Joshs98Runner

I don't think they are terribly hard, if you find a writeup that tells you how to take off your steering wheel, the rest should be self explanatory. Of course make sure the battery is disconnected.

btruong1

i know how to do the steering wheel, I am asking about how to do the passenger side.

FUZION

Sorry to hear, good luck on fixing those air bags.

dibble9012

What year is your 4runner? I believe on the 3rd gen there is only one airbag behind the vinyl pad on the dash.

btruong1

its a 98 SR5, from i remember after the accident i remember seeing the air bag on top of the dash and one that popped out from under the glove. I am not really sure, gotta check it out again tomm, before junkyard searching.

kevin444

i always see airbags pop on ebay time and time for a couple hundred for the pair. but im not sure of the ebay regulations for the sale of airbags. Soo cross your fingers.

cackalak han

I don't think there is two on the passenger side. I totalled my rig last year (98 limited), and only remember one airbag on top of the dash that went off. If there were an airbag below, I believe the auto makers are required to put "SRS Airbag" or something like that to indicate that there is an airbag under there.

I don't know if I'd trust any airbags on ebay, myself. Most shops won't even touch it, because of liability reasons. I remember the only reason why my 4Runner was totalled is because the airbags went off. $2000/each to replace.

mt_goat

I replaced the airbags on a 2001 Taco, the passinger side (there is only one on that side) is a real PITA. You have to take the whole dash off to get it bolted in place. You can get the old one out without pulling the dash by working through the hole from the blown airbag but that doesn't help you any going back in with the new one.

I paid $700 for a set of salvaged airbags, seat belt retractors, and a airbag brain (computer box) I was told the brain needed to be replaced after a crash, but I don't know if it really has to be or not. I found the parts on car-part.com. http://www.car-part.com/ Don't bother replacing the crash sensors unless they look damaged, they can be reused most of the time. I replaced one crash sensor and took the old one apart to see how it worked. They just have a little plastic pendulum with switch contacts on it and when the vehicle makes a very sudden stop the pendulum swings and the contacts touch and all hell breaks loose.

Trustyrusty

Coudln't you just like not put airbags back in? I mean I've got something that will stop me faster than an air bag.. a STEERING WHEEL!