[Redline]

I recently purchased a Haynes manual for my Camry (finally!), and I noticed that with most (if not all) of the repairs come with a warning/precaution saying "You must disconnect the battery before performing this job", AND "Most vehicles include an airbag system. If the battery is disconnected for an extended period of time, the system may have to be reactivated by your dealership with a special tool."

Now, I know that the majority of you TNers do your own maintenance or DIY projects, which require you to disconnect your battery for extended periods of time. My question is: do you always bring your car to the dealership to "reactivate" the airbag system, OR is there a way out of it?

I find this to be a major inconvenience to someone like me, who wants to do his own work but does not want to go to the dealership each time I disconnect the battery.

 

[Admiral]

i personally don't usually dissconnect it, but if i do, i never have any problems with it - just reset the clock/radio. I think "extended period of time" is 3-5 hours. Someone here said it before but I can't remember.

 

[bgrieger]

You can also get a 9v battery feed to keep computer resting power running. Little device plugs into the lighter socket IIRC, depending on whether that circuit remains in the OFF position. They also have one with aligator clips.

Keeps the computers live, radio running, not enough juice to do damage or hurt you however.

Bob

 

[2wickedtoyz]

i find it a load of bs. i had my wagon disconnected for a couple of months and everything works fine. the only thing that would signal you to mess with the dealer is if the airbag light is on or doesn't come on when the car starts and shuts off like normal.

 

[Ruffrydasean]

O shit... I need to go reconnect my battery then.. it's been disconnected for a few days..

 

[prnc_chrmng]

yeah i just finally turned off my air bag light, after like a year or more...

 

[Tony the Tiger]

Same problem here... My SRS light is still on and I haven't found time to get it resetted. Based on the Toyota service manual for 1994-up airbag systems, if the battery is disconnected for more than 3 days, then the SRS system will have to be resetted (dealership, airbag tech, etc..).

 

[Redline]

cool...thx for all the replies. I'm hoping that one of the simple repair jobs won't take me longer than a few hours, forget a day. I need this car running every day...it's my daily driver

 

[BenG]

So will leaving your battery unhooked for a couple days DEACTIVATE your airbag? Or will it merely turn on the airbag light requiring the light to be reset??

 

[Toysrme]

ALL 1993 SRS airbags being affected is incorrect.
The airbag information is stored in ROM and CAN NOT be modified, NOR deleted by power outages. Diferent place, but same reason why you take your battery off and your car remembers the factory fuel maps and things of that nature.

I've had my ES-300's battery off for days, and a full week at one point. Right now it's been off for two weeks, and likely will stay off for three.

On my '93 Corolla I had it sit in college with no battery for two weeks. Yes when it got totalled I promise the airbag worked... If you can call that shitty SRS airbag "working".

Jesus christ anyone else been hit by one? It's like taking your skin and rubbing it against a brick it's so coarse. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it's made of kevlar because marching snare drum heads are made of kevlar, and they both have the same rough ass texture and weave pattern look.

We'd only be so lucky if the damned thing would stop working *rant off*.


*edit* And don't worry about the radio warnings either

 

[Conundrum]

I have my '95 Camry disconnected from the battery for approx. 3 months, and connected back without problems, no warning lights, and everything works, except the clock need adjustment.

I do like to know more about the reset/reactivation thing though, because it might apply to newer Toyota?

 

[Ne0z31]

I wonder how much toyota would charge for that? like 10000$? lol.. okay, thats a tad exagerated

 

[alex]

i have my batt out for 5 months at a time during the winter on my 93......

in 3 years i've never had it turn on

 

[BLUEMEANIE]

...the system may have to be reactivated by your dealership with a special tool."

I believe that applies mostly to European vehicles. ie Bimmers and such where you need a special reset tool for just about everything.