Air bag light

jkaram7 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2007, 07:53 PM

My airbag light was flashing when it was about -2 degrees last weekend. The codes were B1140, B1141, B1143 which are side airbags. I know there is a TSB 012-03, however, I took it to my dealer and they claim that my 2001 highlander does not fall in the range even though the TSB states that 2001-2004 highlanders have this problem. What should I do.

jkaram7 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2007, 06:33 PM

can somebody chime in? Lifetech?

MattJB · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 09:51 AM

I had the same problem with the air bag light coming on every time we parked our 2001 HL outdoors overnight when it was below zero degrees F. We used to drive to Montgomery Center, VT, and would park the HL there, outdoors, every weekend. Whenever the overnight temperature fell below zero during the night we'd awaken to find the air bag light illuminated when the HL was started the next morning. My co-worker, Dan, had the same problem with his 2001 Highlander in sub-zero weather. Both of us took our HLs to our local Toyota dealership, both while under warrantee and afterwards, noted the problem, and were told by the Service Writer on all of the occasions we brought it up that nobody had ever seen that problem before with any HLs. Dan and I thought we were a little crazy 'til I read this thread. My wife and I still have our 2001 HL, now with 145000 miles, and still see the air bag light issue in sub-zero weather.

Has anyone who lives in the colder regions see this with their HLs?
Has there been a "cure" that I am clueless about?
This new member says "Hello" to all and thanks in advance.

sherwooa · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 11:00 AM

Same thing happened to our 2002 HL the other night here in Philly when the overnight temps were around 10 degrees F, with wind chills below 0. When my wife started the car in the am, the airbag light started flashing, and then once the car was warmed up and she turned it off and on, the light went away. I have found through Google search that sometimes the "Center Airbag Sensor" can go bad. Haven't had the dealer check it out yet, though I'm guessing no codes will come up since the light is now out.

DrRuckus13 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 12:20 PM

I had the exact same problem with my 01 any time it got below 15 degrees. But also my Transmission will also not shift past 2nd gear into 3rd or 4th until the engine gets warm. These 2 cold weather problems only happen below about 15.

Does anyone else have the transmission problem to? its sure gets old drving on streets not going past 45 MPH because you dont want to redline a frozen engine.

LifeTech · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrRuckus13

I had the exact same problem with my 01 any time it got below 15 degrees. But also my Transmission will also not shift past 2nd gear into 3rd or 4th until the engine gets warm. These 2 cold weather problems only happen below about 15.

Does anyone else have the transmission problem to? its sure gets old drving on streets not going past 45 MPH because you dont want to redline a frozen engine.

Regarding the Tranny, When very cold ambients are apparent, even though the engine maybe warmed up from idling, the tranny Fluid must rise above 140F or the 4the gear(OD) on 01-03 and 4th and 5th(also overdrives) on the 04-07's are locked out(disabled)for ATF pressure reasons. The fluid is too thick and the AT temp sensor monitors the fail safe temps to protect the Tranny.
I believ the temp lockouts are different for the 3.0 vs the 3.3
To correctly warm up the trans, it must be driven. Just warming up the engine at idle will not cut it. After a mile or so the OD's engage. This is normal.

I notice that the Aux. A/T Cooler makes the ATF fluid take longer to warm up than those non equipped.(HL's with the Tow Prep Package have this Cooler).

The SRS light is something I have no info on just yet. Let me work on it.

LT

MattJB · #7 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 09:44 AM

The tranny warm-up period is much more evident in our '99 RX-300 than in our '01 HL. We're stuck in lower gear for quite a while on colder days before the tranny fluid in the RX300 warms sufficiently to allow a shift. The '01 HL is far more forgiving in this regard, IMHO, and shifts earlier when cold than the RX300 allows. During the time when the tranny fluid is warming up we're very religious about keeping rpm to 3000 or less.

I'm happy to hear that my bud, Dan, and I are not alone with the SRS problem during colder temperatures. Thanks to all for adding their $0.02 and for your insight, moving forward.

sarahnade23 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 03:15 PM

I live in Northern Michigan with my '02 HL where freezing temps are normal ... I get the airbag light on regularly when temps fall below zero.

LifeTech · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattJB

The tranny warm-up period is much more evident in our '99 RX-300 than in our '01 HL. We're stuck in lower gear for quite a while on colder days before the tranny fluid in the RX300 warms sufficiently to allow a shift. The '01 HL is far more forgiving in this regard, IMHO, and shifts earlier when cold than the RX300 allows. During the time when the tranny fluid is warming up we're very religious about keeping rpm to 3000 or less.

I'm happy to hear that my bud, Dan, and I are not alone with the SRS problem during colder temperatures. Thanks to all for adding their $0.02 and for your insight, moving forward.

The quality and condition of the ATF Fluid and factoring whether yu have a Tranny cooler or not determines the warm up time period for the transmission when operating in extreme cold ambients.

LT.

MattJB · #10 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeTech

The quality and condition of the ATF Fluid and factoring whether yu have a Tranny cooler or not determines the warm up time period for the transmission when operating in extreme cold ambients.

LT.

Agreed, LT, with tranny cooler being the predominant factor of the two you mentioned, and another obvious variable being the ATF temperature sensor, which you mentioned earlier in this thread.

Have you or has anyone had any luck gleaning data re: the SRS issue in colder climates? When I feel the SRS might be most helpful to my family - say while driving on ice and snow on sub-freezing cold days - our HL SRS warning lamp is usually illuminated. Seeing that lamp illuminated does make me drive more conservatively. I guess that's a plus.

MattJB

LifeTech · #11 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 05:43 PM

I have yet to see one HL with an SRS DTC related to Temp. Not on mine or any other. I have asked around. Spoke to two Dealer Techs and they have never seen this on any Toyota. This is not say that it never happens. What temps are we talking about. I live in NYC. COLD here means maybe 8 deg. F in the wee hours of the morning!
Coldest day temps were only in the teens this winter.

I will venture to say it an impact sensor that intermittently goes south under very extreme temps and then comes back "online" when the temp rises. Does this SRS light stay on till the car warms up?? after driving a few miles?

A glitch for sure! A safety related one for sure.
I would call Toyotas 800 number and just let them know. Let them assign a case number. Let a dealer to look at it and tell yu it is ok. Then yu are legally in a better postion god forbid yu get into a bender and the SRS fails to deploy as designed.

I'm stumped on this one. But I have not given up.

Do yu have side air curtains as an option? Do yu have the side seat bolster air bags as well?
SRS packages were different across the 1st gen HL's. i.e A Yaw Rate sensor(senses G-force) may or may not apply here.
I looking for a common denominator.
LT