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Front seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger’s seat belts are equipped
with a pretensioner which is designed to be activated in
response to a severe frontal impact.
The airbag system and each pretensioner operates
independently because each has its own separate sensor.
A pretensioner sensor is located in each front seat belt
retractor assembly. When the pretensioner sensor detects the
shock of a severe frontal impact, the front seat belt is quickly
drawn back in by the retractor so that the belt snugly restrains
the front seat occupant.
When a seat belt pretensioner is activated, an operating noise
may be heard and a small amount of smoke−like gas may be
released. This gas is harmless and does not indicate that a fire
is occurring.
Once the seat belt pretensioner has been activated, the seat
belt retractor remains locked.CAUTION
Do not modify, remove or strike the front seat belt
retractor assemblies or surrounding area. Doing any of
these may cause sudden operation of the front seat belt
pretensioners or disable the system, which could result
in personal injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in severe
injuries.
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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 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
between the arrows in the illustration.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the severity of the impact is
above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 20 km / h (14 mph) collision when impacting
straight into a fixed barrier that does not move or deform.
If the severity of the impact is below the above threshold level,
the SRS airbags may not deploy.
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if
the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign
pole, which can move or deform on impact, or if it is involved
in an underride collision (a collision in which the nose of the
vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck).
It is possible with collision severity at the marginal level of
airbag sensor detection and activation that only one of your
vehicle’s two airbags will deploy.
For your safety, be sure to always wear your seat belts.
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1
Collision from the side
2
Collision from the rear
3
Vehicle roll−over
The SRS airbags are not designed to inflate if the vehicle
is subjected to a side or rear impact, if it rolls over, or if it
is involved in a low−speed frontal collision.
1
Airbag sensor assembly
2
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and inflator)
3
Passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
4
SRS airbag warning light
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect deceleration and the
system triggers the airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction
in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with non−toxic
nitrogen gas to help restrain the forward motion of the
occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise and
release some smoke along with the nitrogen gas. This is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent minor skin irritation.
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Do not put objects on or in front of the dashboard or
steering wheel pad that houses the airbag system.
They might restrict inflation or cause personal injury
as they are projected rearward.
Do not modify, remove or open any component or
wiring, such as the steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front passenger airbag
or airbag sensor assembly. 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, cassette tape player or compact disc
player.
Modification of the suspension system.
Modification of the front end structure.
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to
the front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front
console, steering column, steering wheel or
dashboard near the front passenger airbag.