my dad, who is 90, 5'8" and weighs 200lbs, does not engage the passenger airbag. no matter what he does it always shows off. I took it to the dealer and the service guy sat in the seat and it engages. I can sit in the seat, I'm 5'10" 150 and it will come on. this only happens with my dad. any clues? taking it to the dealer doesn't help because it can't be reproduced. would a seat cushion help, or would it do something funky to the seat sensor?
I know if I have lightweight passenger it'll go AIRBAG OFF, but I have trouble believing 200 lbs is too heavy for the airbag. Unless your dad is sitting funny or slouching in such a way that he's not triggering the sensors, you might want to have the dealer reset the sensor calibration. Its zero-point calibration might have shifted.
thanks, I'll have them do that. he also could be sitting funny, his left leg doesn't bend so that might be contributing to it.
Taking your dad to the dealer is not the worst idea. Maybe he is sitting funny. You don't really want to lose that extra protection, especially for someone that old. (No offense intended, but as we get older we get more fragile and you are lucky to have him around.) I have been in two accidents where the bags inflated and I have become a believer. Cars were totaled and all I got was a slight bag burn on my face and my watch cut my wrist.
Obviously your Pruis has decided that living to 90 is long enough. After all, it is the most environmentally advanced car.
got it figured out. it was the seatbelt extender. it is plugged in when dad gets in the car and I fire it up. I just have to power up after dad gets in the car then install the seatbelt extender and all is good. FYI: the seatbelt extender is FREE from the parts department and come in 6" and 9" lengths. it is good for pregant women, large people or people like dad with limited mobility.
