Drivers side grab handle / A pillar question

..On my 2019, drivers side A pillar, the tab that reads "SR5 Curtain Airbag", I can pop it off to access a bolt. Now, on the grab handle kit I ordered from "Sparks Parts", the "SR5 Curtain Airbag" does not open up. Is this a problem? Is the airbag deployed thru this oval tab?

 

The air bag does not deploy through the tab. It is a "curtain" that deploys out of the lower seam of the trim piece. The tab just covers the bolt on the original trim piece. The trim piece with the handle does not have the tab because the handle actually has the bolt cover tabs. I just installed the kit in my 2020 Limited.

 

Yea.....That's kinda what I thought, but wasn't sure. Thanks for the reply!

 

No prob! It is an easy install. Just make sure you cut the notch out if you have the speaker wire on your truck!

 

And kill the battery so you don't fire off the air bag by accident.

 

Just installed my grab handle 21 limited tundra. The trim running along the windshield looks deformed. Just curious if this normal?

 

no

 

Umm nope

 

Ok great because I emailed Sparks with pics showing them the defect. I was pretty sure that wasn't supposed to be like that lol. Thanks

 

If I’m not mistaken, you have to cut a notch to clear airbag harness at base where it meets dash. That could be issue with deforming.

 

loose the bolts. Adjust it to your liking and re-snug would be my first suggestion.

..but, looking at where it is deformed, maybe you need to reassess the area you cut out. If it wasn’t cut deep enough, it could be hitting the wiring harness and not fully seating.

 

I cut the notch for the speaker wire far I could almost touching the long trim piece. I tried resetting the trim along the piller a few times thinking it was me forcing it, but no same thing. I even took the entire piller trim off and it clearly without a doubt had the defect in it. So it's not like I'm forcing it into a weird shape. At the point I gave up and just installed it until I can figure out a solution atleast use the grab until then.

 

Did you install the speed nut in the correct location? Maybe it is too high up inside the pillar?

maybe the bolt it too long?

Just some troubleshooting ideas.

 

Yeah atleast I believe I did it right. The flat part of the speed nut facing the plastic. I did take the whole assembly out and it still had the bulge in it. It didn't go flat again. It seems like it was a deformity during manufacturing or it got packaged while it was still warm from stamping or casting. I have ocd and it's gonna bother me especially after paying a good chunk for this lol

 

Tonight I removed the piller trim. Completely out of truck. Is this normal?

 

Looks like it was impinged and retained some memory...

 

I received it just like it is, thought it was designed that way from Toyota.After installing I noticed not aligned like it should along the windshield and just didn't look right. reason I made the Post asking you guys. In reality not a big deal, functions find, as it should but the whole setup wasn't cheap either.

 

Heat it up with a hair dryer and try to bend it in a little..
Although the summer sun may flex it back out..

As trivial as it may seem, that would bug me too...

 

Just now had mine come in from Sparks. Most beat up box I've ever seen plus it was open..... People need to stop using Fedex. Mine looks a little warped in various areas as well but I think everything is in the box. I'll have to see how it goes tomorrow and maybe use the heat gun to straighten it out. Sigh

 

I find the drivers side pillar is a bit of a blind spot. Does the grab handle add to that?

 

Did Sparks say that you can return it?

 

Just opened up one I received yesterday, yours definitely defect ,
Parts warranty

 

Update: Just installed mine and I was able to get out about half of the bend using my heat gun. Opposite of OP, mine was bowed inwards but in the same area.

@GCanuck no it doesn't add to the blind spot. The only way I could see that happening is if you are extremely tall and have the driver's seat all the way back. Then it might take about 1/4 inch of your forward view. I'm 6ft for reference.

 

Spoke with Sparks they wanted me to send it back they would pay for shipping. They would inspect it and if it was defect they would replace it if not I would have to pay for shipping back to me. Even after all the pics they still wanted it back for inspection. Now the weirdest thing happened now. Late last week we had a very sunny warm day here in upstate NY. The truck sat all day in my driveway, which it gets direct sunlight pretty all day till about 6pm. In which I believe temps in the cab must of gotten the piller very warm , darn thing straighten it self out. Still has a small very unnoticeable bulge nothing has before and it aligns straight with the window. So instead of going through all the BS shipping etc. I kept it and told sparks we're all set. It looks awesome now and doesn't bother at all now.
After

Before

 

Nice! I was hoping the same will happen with mine. No biggie either way since I fixed most of it already. Glad it worked out for you, the handle helps so much.

 

I absolutely love the handle use all the time. I don't know why would Yoda leave it out. Also when I reinstalled it, after taking pics for Sparks I tightened the bolts just enough, which it may of helped smooth it self out with all the heat build up in the cab. Extremely happy with it now! And Sparks treated me fairly, enough that I bought painted match mirror caps, hate Chrome!

 

Where did you get grab handle.Not familiar with Sparks.Sparks Toyota?Feel naked without a grab handle another Toyota goof

 

Yes, Sparks parts is an often used vendor on this forum due to their prices shipping costs.

https://www.sparksparts.com/p-2014-toyota-tundra-grab-handle-kit-gray-pktungrabb0

 

^
And you can also use a code for 5% off. I think most of them are YouTube content streamers.

I’m drawing a blank at the moment for some. I’ll edit once I think of one or find one… or someone will drop one