1996 Lexus LS400 lexus LS400 1996 Audio System / 1996 LS400: SEAT BELTS, SRS AND CHILD RESTRAINTS

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
72
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªACCº or ªONº 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 assemblies, inflators, warning lights, 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 (e.g. a collision in which the
nose of the vehicle ªunderridesº, 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
73 For the safety of all occupants, be sure to always wear seat
belts.

Collision from the side
Collision from the rear
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.

Airbag sensor assembly
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and
inflator)
Passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
74Deployment of the airbags happen in a fraction of a second,
so the airbags must inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor burns or abrasions and swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard)
may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags themselves
will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may break the
windshield as the vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a front
passenger airbag the windshield may also be damaged by
absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION!

The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the 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 ªSeat beltsº
on page 64.
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.
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. Vehicles with a passenger airbag
display a caution label on the passenger side
instrument panel as shown above to remind you
not to install a rear±facing child restraint system on
the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
75
Move fully back
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 ªChild
restraintº on page 78.
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use. The airbags
inflate 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.
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the
front passenger seat. The airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force; the child may be
severely injured.
Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms. Use
a child restraint system in the rear seat. For
instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ªChild restraintº on page 78.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
76
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.), snow plow, 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
77
This SRS airbag system has a service reminder indicator to
inform the driver of 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 ªACCº or ªONº position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The SRS airbags have been inflated.

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78
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.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before
contacting your Lexus dealer.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of child restraint systems
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 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, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
79 When installing a child restraint system, follow the
instructions provided by the manufacturer of the system.
General directions are also provided 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 passenger compartment. This will prevent it
injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or
accident.Top strap anchors and locations
Your vehicle has anchors for securing the top strap of a child
restraint system. The anchor nuts are welded beneath the
sheet metal to permit installation of an anchor bracket for a
child restraint system.
To install an anchor bracket, use an 8 mm X 30 mm X 1.25
mm coarse thread metric bolt and a 15 mm (0.6 in.) spacer.
Note that the bolts accompanying many child restraint
systems are not metric. You can damage the anchor nuts on
your vehicle if you force bolts with different thread into the
anchor nuts.