4.2 Removing Airbag Installed A Pillar Trim?

[*srjp*]

Hi,

Is it safe to pull this piece of trim off? Are there any safety procedures to follow to prevent it firing the bag?

Seeking to fit the extra microphone with a TomTom and am accustomed to just peeling off the internal trim on the A pillar to fit it where the pillar meets the rooflining.

Suggestions for better placement welcomed if it's not possible.

Thanks

[Hoovie]

Hi there. obviously you have to take car with this, but the screen pillar covers just pull off to get access behind them, and you will be then able to see the which side inside there to route the cable (did this for an CAT5 ethernet cable from around the fuse box to Scanguage mounted on the rear view mirror)

FWIW, I mounted the microphone cable on the steering wheel cowling and found apart from being a lot easier, it was more effective.

[shcm]

A microphone potentially being shot across the cabin by a curtain airbag going off is probably the least of your worries in such a situation (e.g. side impact), but might be worth considering. Personally, I'd look elsewhere to install it - but that's just me. Hoovie's suggestion seems OK.

[Davrav]

Just be careful you don't break the fixing tabs/clips as you re-fix the covers. I don't know what they cost to replace on a 4.2 but for a 4.3 they are £80+ each

[*srjp*]

Thanks for the answers guys, looks like I might be moving it to the steering wheel cowling this time then!

[anchorman]

Once again I can't thank Tiscali enough for leaving me with no internet through the day over weekend :censor: :!Removed!: :censor:

The bluetooth kit instructions show how to get the trim off and where you can run the wires. I have has several off no problem but heed the advice of some of the others who have broken them (I don't know how). Look in these instructions but basically you pop the trim out at the top with a trim tool or screwdriver (I just get my fingers behind) and ease it out all the way down. If you hold it out but don't pull it too hard and hinge it up so you can see inside, you will see the retaining clips. If the air curtain were to go off these clips would stop it flying into the car. All you do is, starting at the top either with your fingers or long nose pliers, just turn the clips through 90 deg and they will then detach.

Follow the instructions to clip the wire above the airbag and you will be fine. You can disconnect the Battery but TBH as long as you don't disconnect any airbag wires they are quite safe. There is no doubt that the mic is better above your head near the console.

http://www.toyota-tech.eu/legacy/Toy/aimuploads/%7BEA0E005B-8712-4C99-C1AF-1578EAEE8712%7D/Bluetooth%20RHD%20PZ409-N0290-00%20AIM%20000%20685-2.pdf

[Davrav]

I have has several off no problem but heed the advice of some of the others who have broken them (I don't know how). Look in these instructions but basically you pop the trim out at the top with a trim tool or screwdriver (I just get my fingers behind) and ease it out all the way down. If you hold it out but don't pull it too hard and hinge it up so you can see inside, you will see the retaining clips. If the air curtain were to go off these clips would stop it flying into the car. All you do is, starting at the top either with your fingers or long nose pliers, just turn the clips through 90 deg and they will then detach.

Hey Anchs, perhaps you could run a training course at my MrT - it was them as broke mine

[anchorman]

If I think on, tomorrow I will find some photos that show the process and how easy it is. I'm not kidding when I say I think I could do it without looking

[shcm]

Hey Anchs, perhaps you could run a training course at my MrT - it was them as broke mine

They probably forgot the 90 degree twist which, as Anchs says is key to it. Otherwise it is supposed to hold the trim partly away from the A post if the airbag deploys, so it is fairly strong. With the twist they come away easily.

My concern was putting anything in front of the airbag, where it would deploy. Clearly harnesses run along the post, but they are clipped and away from/behind the bag.

I'm not kidding when I say I think I could do it without looking

We have the blindfold ready! (oh and just to make it harder, some rope to tie one hand behind your back) ;)

[*srjp*]

Just picked the car up this afternoon and got a hold of manual - it seems this side curtain airbag system uses the entire rooflining above the doors (diagram on p.82), so maybe sticking something up there is a bad idea.... In the manual it only says don't stick things to the A pillars, but same difference I imagine.

Steering wheel it is...

[anchorman]

Did you read post No6?

[*srjp*]

Did you read post No6?

Yes I did, thank you for the link, it suggests removal of the trim is safe but doesn't actually demonstrate how to do it - it seems to pop off by magic between two photos!

I'm also wondering is it perhaps for models without curtain airbags? It's very odd as they aren't mentioned at all in that link but then in the manual it says you can't even install a replacement radio without consulting Toyota for fear of damaging the system somehow. It's hard to believe both books come from the same source.

I'm loathe to pay a dealer to do something I've done successfully on all my previous cars (including removing seats/dash etc to fit ICE), but this side airbag stuff is completely new to me.

[anchorman]

These photos ar from a 4.3 which is just the same setup.

Pull the top of the trim back and the clips will allow about 50mm clearance;

Use long nose pliers or your fingers to turn the clips 90 degrees. They are a little hook that just retains the trim and as each one comes off you can get at the next easier;

When they are all off you just pull the trim up and back to take it off;

In this photo you can see the curtain rolled up at the bottom of the A pillar on the left. Run the cable above where it is perfectly safe and then use tie wraps to secure it;

Before tightening the tie wraps make sure you have fed the mic through the light apature;

Locate the wire neatly down the A pillar, tighten the cable ties and trim them so it is all tidy and above the curtain. You will see the void is used for other items and they are all quite safe too;

Then put the light back;

.....and fit the cover in the reverse order. In at the bottom first then push those clips through and turn through 90. Its no big deal, just pull the trim back and look on yours, if you ar still not happy use the steering cover but it is not very good if somebody in the passenger seat wants to join a conversation.

[*srjp*]

Thank you very much for your input guys, I took the plunge today and after a good few hours have fitted not only the microphone but a small LCD screen and a reversing camera too. I had a reversing camera in a previous 4x4 and consider them invaluable when around small walls, posts and even railway sleepers piled lengthways.

Hoovie's Flush mounted camera thread and the Toyota document linked within were very useful for the wiring explanations as I was not at all impressed at how little there was to play with tracing directly back from the reversing bulb! ( http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=88217 )

To fit both I decided to do away with the drop down sunglasses holder. I briefly considered keeping the panel but shaving off the sunglasses pocket and mounting the screen on the trapdoor in its place - very cool to simply 'click' and have the screen drop down, but from the look of it the clip that holds it in place would have been too weak without the pocket. So, back to plan A.

Here it is in place, attached with a 3M pad (included). You can see the microphone positioned slightly to the right, clipped in the hole left by the sunglasses thing:

Back in the car:

The screen can be titled through a variety of degrees but to start with I'm happy with it like this.

The camera wasn't a flush mounted type and best options seemed to be under the licence plate or the fog lamp. I opted for the fog lamp to 1) save wiring and hassle; and 2) as the camera is a 'nightvision' one and the glare of the licence plate lights would have troubled it:

Back in the car, working:

If you imagine the book you can see just at the bottom left of the screen were a wall or post, then the spare wheel cover would be just about to touch it. :) This seems good enough but the camera came with an insert to increase the angle so I may have a play with that tomorrow.

Cheers! :D

[anchorman]

Nice work

[Sooty torques]

Hi folks,

Reviving an old thread after a search: Been away in Spain (drove down as per) in our '08 / 58 plate RAV4 and when we returned to our car after a shopping trip (no shade & hot sunny day 30C+) found trim on LH curtain air-bag had decided to pop-off of it's own accord... Not happy as I assumed cars are tested in all sorts of climates / temps / etc - or is that just the advertising bull?

Can only assume the heat caused some form combination of expansion of plastic & metal parts sufficient to release the trim.

Anyway, the trim does not want to go back on. So is there something I'm missing in the re-fitting / re-clipping process? Sorry to sound dim

Cheers.

[Davrav]

If you mean the cover on the A pillar, these are tricky to get back in place. I have a vague memory that Anchorman may have a PDF to show fitting but, whatever you do, do not break the clips as a replacement cover is in the region of £80...........

Removal shown on the attached PDF - Instruction #2

I guess re-fitting is a reversal. The 90 degree twist is critical I believe.

BT Complementary RHD PZ456-00892-BT AIM 001 133-0.pdf

[anchorman]

The only reason that has come off is because it has not been refitted right. These cars operate in the Arizona desert and they don't fall apart there.

Putting the cover on is quite straight forward but just check the clips first. They look a bit like a small ships anchor and it fits into a corresponding slot in the trim. Make sure both parts are unbroken. If it is then don't risk it. If the curtain airbag deploys, that trim will fly off into the car like a rocket propelled sword. As long as it is in perfect condition, push the bottom end down into the corner of the windscreen behind the dash. Ease the trim into position and tilt it upwards so you can see inside. Start at the bottom and insert the anchors into the slots and turn them through 90 degrees - a pair of long nose pliers might help. When they are all in you can push the trim back to the A pillar where it will click in. You will tell if it is fitting right. It will fit perfectly and securely.

[Sooty torques]

Thanks for the replies and help. Been out of t'internet range so catching up. To clarify, the trim hasn't come all the way off; the clips are still in place holding the trim just clear of the A-pillar and at an angle identical to the first image in the removal photo. Will try again and see if I can ease it back into place...