1998 Lexus LS400 seats

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
91 some smoke along with nontoxic gas. This 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 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, 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 passenger 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 ”Seat belts” on page 80.
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 ”Child restraint” on page 98 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
93
16L033
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.
16L1782
Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle is in use.
The side airbag inflates with considerable speed and force;
you may be killed or seriously injured.
Do not apply excessive weight to the outer side of the front
seats on vehicles with side airbags.
The child head should not be leaned against the vicinity of
the part where the side airbag activates.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
95
16L179
Do not attach a cup holder or any other device on or around
the door. When the side airbag inflates, the cup holder or
any other device will be thrown with great force, or the side
airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death or
serious injury. Likewise, the driver and front passenger
should not hold things in their arms or on their knees.
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.
Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, strike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel column cover, front passenger airbag cover,
front seats, airbag sensor assembly or seat belt assemblies.
Doing any of these may cause sudden SRS operation or
disable the system, which could result in death or serious
injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats or surface of the front
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.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or
serious injuries.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
96
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting
your Lexus dealer. Such changes can interfere with proper
operation of the SRS in some cases.
Installation of electronic items such as a mobile twoway
radio, cassette tape player or compact disc player.
Modification of the suspension system.
Modification of the front end structure and side structure of
the passenger compartment.
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, front end
structure, console, steering column, steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag, front seats or seat
belt assembly.
16L136-2
This SRS has an indicator to inform the driver of operating problems.
If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners. Even if the
seat belt pretensioners should fail, the seat belts will operate
conventionally. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on as described above.
The light stays on or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the driver and front passenger
airbags fail. If the light flashes, the side airbags and/or seat belt
pretensioners fail.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
97
16L036-6
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible:
Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
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.
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.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting your
Lexus dealer.

MAINTENANCE
215 Tire rotation
Rotate the tires every 12000 km (7500 miles). See page 242 for
additional information.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other fluid after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes or notice
any leak, have the cause found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, including trunk lid, operate smoothly and all
latches lock securely. Make sure the engine hood secondary latch
secures the hood when the primary latch is released.
Vehicle interior
Items listed below should be checked regularly, e.g. while
performing periodic services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal lights,
and other lights are working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
function properly.Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified freeplay. Be alert for changes in
steering condition, such as hard steering, excessive freeplay or
strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as seat adjusters, seatback
recliner, etc. operate smoothly. Check that the head restraints move
up and down smoothly and that the locks hold securely in any latched
position.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as buckles, retractors and
anchors operate properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt webbing
is not cut, frayed, worn or damaged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and uneven pedal effort or
catching.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and the proper clearance and
freeplay. Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do not pull to one side when
applied.

INDEX (R S)
283
R
Radiator coolant, Engine 233. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radio 137. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radio, FM reception tips 149. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear door childprotector 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear vents 131. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear view mirror, Antiglare inside 79. . . . . . . .
Rear view mirrors, Folding 79. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear view mirrors, Outside 77. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear view mirrors, Power 78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window defogger switch 27. . . . . . . . . . . .
Reporting safety defects
for U.S. owners 276. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S
Safety
Reporting safety defects
for U.S. owners 276. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scrapping of your vehicle Introduction. . . . . . . .
Seats, Seat adjustments 70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt extender 84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt pretensioners 86. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt reminder light 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts
Cleaning 274. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening 81. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt precautions 80
Seat heater switch 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service and maintenance 213. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service reminder indicators 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shoulder belt anchor adjustment 83. . . . . . . . . .
Side vents 130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slip indicator light 173. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare tire 198. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spark plugs 234. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Specifications
Engine 225, 226. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chassis 237, 238. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electrical component 249, 250
Body 269. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS warning light 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting
Cold weather 182. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine 159. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jump starting 194. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering
Column lock 157. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Telescopic steering column 76. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel 76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sun visors 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) 86. . . . . . .
Suspension and chassis 247. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Switch
Emergency flasher 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fog light 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headlight 5, 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headlight cleaner 5, 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headlight dimmer and turn signal 24. . . . . . . .
Ignition 157. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window defogger 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper and washer 25. . . . . . . . . . .