SRS light on (sort of) and B181 Code

There should a forth number to the code given that tells which air bag circuit has the fault and if it is an open or short circuit. For instance (B1810) = short circuit in drivers side squib, (B1811) = open circuit in drivers side squib. Squib being the term used for each of the airbag deployment circuits.
The most common fault is a loose connector under one of the front seats. With the ignition off make sure all the connectors under the seats are firmly home. They can easily get disturbed while cleaning under the seats or by objects pushed under the seats from the rear.
Sometimes just moving the seat position is enough to cause or remove the fault.
There are only 8 (B181-) codes and all relate to open or short circuit squib circuits.

John

 

If you have a Windows lap top I would really recommend purchasing a Mini VCI (off Ebay or Amazon about 25$). This will give you the ability to read all of the Prius codes yourself "in fact any Toyota ,Lexus, or Scion vehicle" and clear them. This gives dealer level of diagnostics.

John

 

You can run the VCI on a Mac using "Boot Camp". As long as it say's Mini VCI with Techstream that is what your looking for. Techstream "the software can be downloaded hear at PC or from the net" but the VCI normally comes with it on a CD. An old windows laptop with 32 bit XP is the quickest to setup but it can run on later 64 bit Windows 7,8, or 10.

John.

 

I have a MacBook Pro and use Mini VCI with BootCamp running Windows 7, 32 bit OS. It is not easy to get Mini VCI to run using a 64 bit OS.