1997 Lexus ES300 light

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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.
Fastening front and rear seat belts
Adjust the seat as needed and sit up straight and well
back in the seat. To fasten your belt, pull it out of the
retractor and insert the tab into the buckle.
You will hear a click when the tab locks into the buckle.
The seat belt length automatically adjusts to your size and
seat position.The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on
impact. It may also lock if you lean forward to quickly. A slow,
easy motion will allow the belt to extend, and you can move
around freely.
When a passenger's shoulder belt is completely extended
and is then retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that
position and cannot be extended. This feature is used to hold
the child restraint system securely. (For details, see ªChild
restraintº on page 76.) To free the belt again, fully retract the
belt and then pull the belt out once more.
If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the retractor, firmly pull
the belt and release it. You will then be able to smoothly pull
the belt out of the retractor.
CAUTION!
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and
buckle are locked and tha the belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as this
may prevent you from properly latching the tab
and buckle.
If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately contact your Lexus dealer. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your child from
injury.

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69
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 help preventing 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.
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 front
airbag sensors, center airbag sensor assembly, inflators,
warning light, interconnecting wiring and power sources.

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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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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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2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode.
When the belt is then retracted even slightly, it cannot be
extended.
To hold the infant seat securely, make sure the belt is in the
lock mode before letting letting the belt to retract.
3. While pressing the infant seat firmly against the seat
cushion and seatback, let the shoulder belt retract as far as
it will go to hold the infant seat securely.
CAUTION!
Push and pull the child restraint system in different
diractions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the
installation instructions provided by its
manufacturer.

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1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the
convertible seat following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into the buckle taking care
not to twist the lap belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt tight.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and
buckle are locked and that the lap belt is not
twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as this
may prevent you from properly latching the tab
and buckle.
If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately conact your Lexus dealer. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect an adult occupant or your child from
injury.!
2. Fully extened the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode.
When the belt is then retracted,slightly, it cannot be
extended.
To hold the convertible seat securely, make sure the belt is
in the lock mode before letting the belt to retract.