1998 Lexus ES300 seats

SWITCHES
26
NOTICE
Do not put unevenly weighted objects on the seat and do not stick sharp
objects (needles, nails, etc.) into the seat.
 When cleaning the seats, do not use organic substances (paint thinner,
benzine, alcohol, gasoline, etc.). They may damage the heater and seat
surface.
 To prevent the battery from being discharging, turn the switches on
when the engine is running.

SECTION 1 ± 6
56
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Comfort adjustment
Front seats57
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Trunk storage extension 60
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Head restraints 61
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Tilt steering wheel 62
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Outside rear view mirrors 62
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Inside rear view mirror 64
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Seat belts 64
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Supplemental restraint system (SRS) 69
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Child restraint 80
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Driving position memory system 95
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT57
FRONT SEATS
Front seat precautions
CAUTION
The SRS side airbags are installed in the driver and front
passenger seats. Observe the following precautions.
Do not lean over the front door when the vehicle is in use.
The side airbag inflates with considerable speed and force;
you may be killed or severely injured.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or the surface of the seats
with side airbags. Such changes may disable the system, or
cause the side airbags to inflate, resulting in death or
serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer.
 Do not use accessories for the seats which cover the parts
where the side airbags should inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly, causing
death or serious injury.
Seat adjustment precautions
Adjust the driver's seat so that the foot pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of the driver.
CAUTION
 Do not adjust the seat while the vehicle is moving as the seat
may unexpectedly move and cause the driver to lose control
of the vehicle.
 Be careful not to hit the seat against a passenger, luggage or
the rear seat.
NOTICE
Do not operate the control switch in more than one dimension at a time.
It may cause electrical overload.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
58
Adjusting front seats
16E145

1Seat position control switch, seat cushion angle
and height control switch
2 Seatback angle control switch
3Lumbar support control switch
Adjusting seat position
16E146
Move the control switch in the desired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat in that position. Do not place anything
under the seat. It might interfere with the seat movement.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT59
Adjusting seatback angle
16E143
Move the control switch in the desired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seatback in that position.
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a
collision, avoid reclining the seatback any more than needed.
The seat belts provide maximum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the passenger are sitting up
straight and well back in the seats. If you are reclined, the lap
belt may slide past your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. Therefore, in the event of a frontal
collision, the risk of personal injury may increase with
increasing recline of the seatback.
Adjusting seat cushion angle and height
16E144
Move the control switch in the desired direction.
Releasing the switch will stop the seat cushion in that position.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT61
HEAD RESTRAINTS
Front seats
16E007
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, press the lock release
button and push the head restraint down. To move the head restraint
forward or rearward, pull or push on the top.
The head restraint is most effective when it is close to your head. Therefore,
using a cushion on the seatback is not recommended.
CAUTION
Adjust the top of the head restraint so that it is closest to the
top of your ears.
 After adjusting the head restraint, make sure it is locked in
position.
 Do not drive with the head restraints removed.
Rear seats
16E049±2
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, press the lock release
button and push the head restraint down.
The head restraint is most effective when it is close to your head. Therefore,
using a cushion on the seatback is not recommended.
CAUTION
Adjust the top of the head restraint so that it is closest to the
top of your ears.
 After adjusting the head restraint, make sure it is locked in
position.
 Do not drive with the head restraints removed.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
64
INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR
16E013

1Day 2Night
When driving at night, pull the lever toward you to reduce the glare from
the headlights of vehicles behind you.
Before adjusting the mirror to the position with most clarity, push the
day±night change lever forward (daylight driving position).
Remember that by reducing glare you also lose some rear view clarity.
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt precautions
Lexus strongly urges 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.
Child. Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child
becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle's seat belts. See ºChild
restraintº for details.
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. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the\
front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the seat belts should be worn properl\
y. Do
not let the child sit on your lap. It does not provide sufficient restraint. If an
accident occurs and the seat belts are not worn properly, the force of the rapid
inflation of the airbag may cause severe injury to the child.
Do not allow the child to stand up or kneel on either rear or front seats. An
unrestrained child could suffer serious injury during emergency braking or a
collision.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT65
Pregnant wom
an. 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.
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 ºAdjusting 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.
Fastening front and rear seat belts
16E014±1
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 the seat pos\
ition.