1998 Lexus ES300 rear seat belt

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
72
16E134±1

1Collision from the rear
2Vehicle roll±over
The driver and front passenger airbags and seat belt pretensioners are
not designed to inflate if the vehicle is subjected to a rear impact, if it r olls
over, or if it is involved in a low±speed frontal collision.
The side airbags are designed to inflate when the passenger compartment
gets a severe impact from the side.
The side airbags may rather not to activate in the impact in which the occu\
pant
wearing the seat belt correctly would not get serious injury.
16E135

1 Collision from the side at an angle
2Collision from the side to the vehicle body other
than the passenger compartment
The side airbags may not inflate if the vehicle is subjected to a collis\
ion from the side at an angle, or a collision to the side of the vehicle body ot\
her
than the passenger compartment, which impact is not severe enough for
the passenger compartment.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
74
serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or abrasions and swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard, front seats)\
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 driver and front passenger airbags \
may
break
the windshield as the vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a front passeng\
er
airbag, the windshield may also be damaged by absorbing some of the force
of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION
 The SRS is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver side and front passenger side seat
belt systems. The front seat occupants can be killed or
seriously injured by an inflating airbag if they do not wear
the available seat belts. During sudden braking just before
a collision, an unrestrained driver or front passenger can
move forward into direct contact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then deploy during the collision. To
obtain maximum protection in an accident, the driver and
all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the chances
of death or serious injuries or being thrown out of the
vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the
seat belt system, see ºSeat beltsº on page 64.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children
can be killed or seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An
infant or child who is too small to use a seat belt should be
properly secured using a child restraint system. Lexus
strongly recommends that all infants and children be
placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The rear seat is the safest for infants and
children. For instructions concerning the installation of a
child restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 80 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
80

The front seat belt retractor assembly or surrounding area has been
damaged.
 The front part of the vehicle and portion of the doors (shaded in the
illustration) were involved in an accident that did not cause the SRS to
work.
 The surface of the seats with the side airbags or the pad section of the
steering wheel or front passenger airbag cover (shaded in the illustration)
is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of child restraint systems for children small
enough to use them.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. and Canada now require the use o\
f
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 ºSeat beltsº on
page 64 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 which
conforms to the size of the child and is put on the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT81
Never put a 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 a deploying
airbag could cause death or serious injury to the child.
Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint manufacturer
and that the system is properly secured. Do not allow the
child to lean over the front door or around the front door
even if the child is seated in a child restraint system. It is
dangerous if the side airbag inflates, and the impact could
cause death or serious injury to the child.Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with 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 put a 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
84
INSTALLATION WITH 3±POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
(A) Infant seat installation
16E103±2
An infant seat is used in rear±facing position only.
16E100-1
CAUTION
Never put a rear±facing child r
estraint 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT87
16E110±2
4. To remove the infant seat, press the buckle±release button and allow th\
e
belt to retract completely. The belt will move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or older child passenger. (B) Convertible seat installation
16E104±2
A convertible seat is used in forward±facing and rear±facing positions
depending on the age and size of the child. When installing, follow the
manufacturer 's instructions about the appropriate age and size of the child as
well as direction for installing of a child restraint system.

STARTING AND DRIVING
134
To allow proper operation of your vehicle's ventilation system, keep
the inlet grilles in front of the windshield clear of snow, leaves, or
other obstructions.
 If you smell exhaust fumes in the vehicle, drive with the windows
open and the trunk lid closed. Have the cause immediately located
and corrected.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Check the area around the vehicle before entering it.
2. Adjust seat position, seatback angle, head restraint height and steering
wheel angle.
3. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.
4. Lock all doors.
5. Fasten seat belts.
Remember to check that the service reminder indicators function when
turning the key to ºONº, and check the fuel gauge to see that you \
have
sufficient fuel.
IGNITION SWITCH WITH STEERING
LOCK
31E036
ºSTARTº ± Starter motor on. The key will return to the ºONº position
when released.
For starting tips, see page 136.
ºONº ± Engine on and all accessories on.
This is the normal driving position.
NOTICE
Do not leave the key in the ºONº position if the engine is not runni\
ng.
The battery will discharge and the electronic ignition system/distributo\
r
ignition system could be damaged.
ºACCº ± Accessories such as the radio operate, but the engine i\
s off.

BODY
238
Synthetic Leather Areas (Dash)
The synthetic leather areas may be easily cleaned with a mild soap or
detergent and water.
First vacuum over the upholstery to remove loose dirt. Then, using a sp\
onge
or soft cloth, apply the soap solution to the synthetic leather. After allowing
it to soak in for a few minutes to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt and wi\
pe off
the soap with a clean damp cloth. If all the dirt does not come off, repeat the
procedure. Commercial foaming±type cleaners are also available which work
well. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline or window cleaner on the interior.
Carpets, Windows and Seat Belts
Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to remove as much dirt as possible. Several
types of foam cleaners are available; some are in aerosol cans and others are\
powders or liquids which you mix with water to produce a foam. To shampoo
the carpets, use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping
circles. Do not apply water ± the best results are obtained by keeping the
carpet as dry as possible. Read the shampoo instructions and follow them
closely.
The seat belts may be cleaned with mild soap and water or with lukewarm
water.
Use a cloth or sponge. As you are cleaning, check the belts for excessi\
ve wear,
fraying or cuts.
NOTICE

Use a good foam±type shampoo to clean the carpets.

Do not use dye or bleach on the belts ± it may weaken them.

The windows may be cleaned with any household window cleaner.

When cleaning the inside of the rear window, be careful not to scratch
or damage the heater wires.