1998 Lexus LS400 lexus LS400 1998 Engine / LEXUS 1998 LS400 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM50498U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
90
16L1882
Vehicle rollover
The side airbags are not designed to inflate if the vehicle is rolled
over.
If the impact on the body of the passenger compartment is not strong
as illustrated above, the relevant side airbag may not inflate.
16L1931
1
Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2
Front passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
3
Side airbag sensor assembly
4
Seat belt pretensioner
5
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and inflator)
6
SRS warning light
7
Driver and front passenger airbag sensor assembly
The SRS airbag sensor assemblies consist of a safing sensor and
driver and front passenger airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger airbag
sensor detects deceleration and the system triggers the front airbag
inflators and seat belt pretensioners. In a severe side impact, the side
airbag sensor triggers the side airbag inflator. Then a chemical
reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with nontoxic
gas to help restrain the forward or lateral motion of the occupants.
Then the inflators fill the airbags and the seat belts are quickly drawn
back in by the retractors to help restrain forward motion of the
occupants.
When the SRS operates, it produces a fairly loud noise and release

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
92
16L180-4
Never put a rearfacing child restraint system on the front
seat because the force of the rapid inflation of the front
passenger airbag can cause death or serious injury to the
child.
16L146
Move seat fully back
A forwardfacing child restraint system should be allowed
to 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. Do not allow the child to lean against 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. 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
94
16L107
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
”Child restraint” on page 98.
16L034-2
Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of the
dashboard or steering wheel pad that houses the driver and
front passenger airbag system. They might restrict
inflation or cause death or serious injury as they are
projected rearward by the force of the deploying airbags.
Likewise, the driver and front passenger should not hold
things in their arms or on their knees.

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.