1997 Lexus ES300 Seat Belts, Srs And Child Restraints

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71

Airbag sensor assembly
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and
inflator)
Passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
SRS airbag airbag warning light
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
center 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 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.Deployment of the airbags happens 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 operate only
once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may break the
windshield as the vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a
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 maximum
protection in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle should always wear
their seat belts when driving because death or
serious injuries can result to unrestrained
occupants. For instructions and precautions
concerning the seat belt system, see ªSeat beltsº
on page 63.

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72
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.
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system in
the front seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the passenger airbag can cause death
or serious injury to the child.
Move seat fully back
A forward±facing child restraint system should
be put on the front seat only when it is
unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as
possible, because the force of the deploying
airbag could cause death or serious injury to the
child. For instructions concerning the installation
of a child restraint system, see ªChild restraintº
on page 76.

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73
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 killed or seriously 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
killed or seriously 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 76.

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74
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
serious injury as they are projected rearward by
the force of the deploying airbags.
Do not modify or remove any 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 death or serious
injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
death or serious 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,
console, steering column, steering wheel or
dashboard near the front passenger airbag.

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75
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.
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.

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76
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 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.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
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 belt. See ªSeat beltsº on page 63 for details.
CAUTION!
For effective protection in automobile accidents
and sudden stops, children must be properly
restrained using a seat belt or child restraint
depending on age and size. 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.
Lexus strongly urges use of a proper child
restraint conforms to the size of the child on the
rear seat. According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly restrained in the rear
seat than in the front seat.
Never install of rear±facing child restraint system
on the front seat. In the event of an accident, the
force of the rapid inflation of the airbag can cause
death or serious injury if a rear±facing child
restraint system is installed on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not install a
forward±facing child restraint system on the front
seat.

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77
A forward±facing child resistant system should
be put on the front seat only when it is
unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back
as possible, because the force of a deploying
airbag could cause death or serious injury to the
child. Make sure you have compiled with all
installation instructions provided by the child
restraint manufacturer and that the system is
properly secured.
Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must
itself be properly restrained on the seat with either the
lap or the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must
carefully consult the manufacturer's instructions
which accompany by your child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system
following the manufacturer's instructions about the
appropriate age and size of the child for the restraint system.
Install the child restraint system correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer of the system.
General directions are also provided under the following
illustrations.
The child restraint system should be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
CAUTION
Never install of rear±facing child restraint system
on the front seat. In the event of an accident, the
force of the rapid inflation of the airbag can cause
death or serious injury if a rear±facing child
restraint system is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a
forward±facing child restraint system on the front
seat.
,A forward±facing child restraint system should
be put on the front seat only when it is
unavoidable.. Always move the seat as far back
as possible, because the force of deploying
airbag could cause death or serious injury to the
child.
After installing the child restraint system, make
sure it is secured in place according to the
manufacturer 's instructions. If it is not restrained
securely, it may cause death or serious 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.
Your vehicle has anchors for securing the 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
78To 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.
For instructions about how to install the anchor bracket, see
ªTop strap anchors and locations.º
If your child restraint system does not provide any of the
necessary parts, you can purchase the following items from
your Lexus dealer.
CRS installation kit (Part No. 04731±22012)
± contains 1 bolt, 3 types of spacer and 1 locking clip.
Bolt (Part No. 91511±60830)Types of child restraint system
Child restraint systems are classified into the following 3
types depending on the child's age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint system following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
(A) Infant seat