1994 Lexus ES300 airbag

SECTION 1 – 6
47
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Comfort adjustment
Front seats48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trunk storage extension50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headrests52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside rear view mirrors53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inside rear view mirror
54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
61 When releasing the seat belt, press on the buckle release
button on the extender, not on the seat belt. This helps prevent
damage to the vehicle interior and extender itself.
When not in use, remove the extender and store in the vehicle
for future use.
CAUTION:
After inserting the tab, make sure the connection is secure
and that the seat belt extender is not twisted.
SRS AIRBAG
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbag is
designed to provide further protection to the driver and
front passenger when added to the protection provided by
the seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the airbags inflate
and reduce the likelihood of the driver and passenger’s
heads from directly hitting the steering wheel and
instrument panel.
The passenger airbag is activated together with the driver
airbag, even with no passenger in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
62
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the
“ACC” or “ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS airbags are operating properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system monitors the front airbag
sensors, center airbag sensor assembly, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power sources.The SRS airbag system is designed to activate in response to
a severe frontal impact within the shaded area shown in the
illustration.
The SRS airbags do not work in the following cases.

Impact from the side or rear

Vehicle overturn

Frontal collision at low speeds
For your safety, be sure to always wear your seat belts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
63
Front airbag sensorWarning lightFront airbag sensor
Passenger airbag module
(airbag and inflator)
Center airbag sensor assembly
Steering wheel
pad assembly
(airbag and
inflator)
The center airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor
and center airbag sensor. In a severe frontal impact, a front
airbag sensor and safing sensor, or center airbag sensor and
safing sensor detect the shock and the center airbag sensor
assembly triggers the inflators. Then the inflators fill the
airbags to help restrain forward motion of the occupants.
When the SRS airbags operate, they produce an operating
noise and release a small amount of smoke-like gas. This gas
is harmless and does not indicate a fire.CAUTION:

The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the conventional seat belt systems of
the driver and front passenger. The front seat
occupants are particularly susceptible to injury if they
do not wear their seat belts; when sudden braking or a
collision occurs, they may be thrown forward. To obtain
further protection in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle should always wear their seat
belts when driving. For instructions and precautions
concerning the seat belt system, see “SEAT BELTS” on
page 55.

A baby or small child who is too small to use a seat belt
should be properly secured in a rear seat using a child
restraint system.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
64
Far back

Do not use a rear-facing child restraint system in the
front seat because the force of the rapid inflation of the
passenger airbag may cause severe injury to the child.
When using a forward-facing child restraint system in
the front seat, the seat must be moved as far back as
possible. For instructions concerning the installation
of a child restraint system, see “CHILD RESTRAINT” on
page 67.
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
instrument panel when the vehicle is in use. The airbag
inflates with considerable speed and force; you may be
severely injured. Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, and always use your seat belt.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
65

Do not put objects on or in front of the instrument panel
that houses the airbag system. They might restrict
inflation or cause personal injury.

Do not modify, remove or open any component or
wiring, such as the steering wheel, column cover, front
passenger airbag, center airbag sensor assembly, front
airbag sensors. Doing any of these may cause sudden
SRS airbag inflation or disable the system, which could
result in personal injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in severe
injuries.
NOTICE:
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag system
in some cases.

Installation of electronic items such as a mobile
two-way radio or cassette tape player.

Modifications to the suspension system.

Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front
console, steering column, steering wheel or
instrument panel near front passenger airbag.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
66
This SRS airbag system has a warning light to indicate
operating problems. If either of the following conditions occurs,
this indicates a malfunction of the airbags. Contact your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible to service the vehicle.

The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the “ACC” or “ON” position, or remains on.

The light comes on while driving.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:

The airbags have been inflated.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
67
The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident not of the extent to cause the SRS
airbags to inflate.

The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger
airbag cover (shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of child restraint system for
children small enough to use it.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. and Canada now
require the use of a child restraint system.
CAUTION:
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, children must be properly restrained.
Holding a child in your arms is not a substitute for a child
restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed
against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle’s
interior if you are unrestrained.
Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must
itself be restrained on the seat with either the lap belt or
the lap portion of the lap / shoulder belt.
The child restraint system should conform to the size of the
child and properly fit the vehicle seat. For greater safety, the
child restraint system should be installed in the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
When installing a child restraint system, refer to the
instructions provided by its manufacturer and follow the
directions under the following illustrations.
CAUTION:
After installing the child restraint system, make sure it is
secured in place. If it is not restrained securely, it may
cause injury to the child in the event of a sudden stop or
accident.
When not using the child restraint system, keep it secured with
the seat belt or place it in the trunk or somewhere other than
in the vehicle. This will prevent it injuring passengers in the
event of a sudden stop or accident.