2020 Hiace Van rear seat removal issue

[Willdat? 4,198]

My folks have just picked up one of these. I know ugly AF, but at least they got the bumper sprayed to match the rest of it...

https://www.toyota.co.nz/new-car/hiace/HIACE-HSHA-SI2/?skuCode=HIACE-HSHA-SI2-058-11#

The major issue is that apparently they can't remove the rear seats without creating issues for the curtain airbags in the rear. The reality is that the seats in the rear is a once or twice a year kind of thing and it will be used as a trades van 99% of the time.

Can we make up a plug to fool the airbag computer into thinking the seats are still there? Or is it a little more complicated than just detecting that the seats are occupied?

Cheers, Will

[AllTorque 41,166]

Are there any yellow plugs that plug into the seat?

[a.craw4d 5,546]

Might find you'll need to disable the curtain airbags, possibly cert required?

If it's a trades van full of tools or gear and an airbag goes off, that gear is going to become a projectile.

@cletus may have some insight.

[Willdat? 4,198]

On 25/09/2020 at 05:44, AllTorque said:

Are there any yellow plugs that plug into the seat?

That's what I can see? 

[AllTorque 41,166]

Any airbag related wiring should have a yellow plug. If that black plug is the only wiring going into the seat, unplug it and see if the airbag light comes on. If not, rip that shit out, no problem.

[Willdat? 4,198]

I'll check and report back.