1996 Lexus LS400 driver seat adjustment

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
64
INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR
Pushing the switch changes the mode between
ªAUTOº and ªDAYº.
The indicator comes on when the ªAUTOº mode is selected.
ªDAYº mode: The mirror surface is normal.
ªAUTOº mode: If the mirror detects light from the
headlights of the vehicle behind you, the mirror surface
darkens slightly to reduce the reflected light.
When the inside rear view mirror surface changes, the
outside rear view mirror surfaces will also become darker.
When the ignition key is inserted and turned on, the inside
rear view mirror always turns on in the ªAUTOº mode.
Adjust it before driving so that the rear view is the best.
When the outside air temperature is low, it may take a little
longer for the mirror to darken in response to the detection
of headlights.
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt precautions
Lexus recommends that the driver and passengers in the
vehicle be properly restrained at all times with the seat belts
provided. Failure to do so could increase the chance of injury
and/or the severity of injury in accidents.
Baby or small child. Use a child restraint system which fits
your vehicle. See ªChild restraintº for details.
Child. If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the
child should sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using
the vehicle's seat belts. According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat. Do not allow the child to stand up or kneel
on either rear or front seats. If the shoulder belt falls across
the child's neck or face, have the child sit slightly closer to the
buckle so that the belt lays across the shoulder.
Pregnant woman. Lexus recommends the use of a seat
belt. Ask your doctor for specific recommendations. The lap
belt should be worn securely and as low as possible over the
hips and not on the waist.
Injured person. Lexus recommends the use of a seat belt.
Depending on the injury, first check with your doctor for
specific recommendations.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
65
CAUTION!
Persons should ride in their seats properly wearing
their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, they are much more likely to suffer
serious bodily injury in the event of sudden braking
or a collision.
When using the seat belts, observe the following:
Use the belt for only one person at a time. Do not
use a single belt for two or more people ± even
children.
Avoid reclining the seatbacks too much. The seat
belts provide maximum protection when the
seatbacks are in the upright position. (See
ªAdjusting seatback angleº.)
Be careful not to damage the belt webbing or
hardware. Take care that they do not get caught or
pinched in the seat or doors.
Inspect the belt system periodically. Check for cuts,
fraying, and loose parts. Damaged parts should be
replaced. Do not disassemble or modify the
system.
Keep the belts clean and dry. If they need cleaning,
use a mild soap solution or lukewarm water. Never
use bleach, dye, or abrasive cleaners ± they may
severely weaken the belts.
Replace the belt assembly (including bolts) if it has
been used in a severe impact. The entire assembly
should be replaced even if damage is not obvious.
Front seat belt buckle illumination
Opening the driver's door lights up the driver's seat belt
buckle for easy use. The same applies for the front
passenger 's door and seat belt buckle.
The light remains on for 15 seconds after the door is closed,
but goes off immediately when all doors are locked.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
70
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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71
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
Repairs on or near the front seat belt retractor
assemblies.
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.
In the following case, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
If either front seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled
out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner.
The front seat belt retractor assembly or surrounding area
has been damaged.
SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are
designed to provide further protection to the driver and
front passenger when added to the primary protection
provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS airbags
work together with the seat belts to prevent or reduce
injury by inflating, in order to decrease the likelihood of
the driver's or front passenger's head or chest directly
hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.
The passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger
in the front seat.

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.