1999 LEXUS SC300 flat

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133
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
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
gas to help restrain the forward motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise.
And the driver airbag also releases some smoke and residue
along with non±toxic gas. This does not indicate a fire. This
gas is normally harmless, however, for those who have
delicate skin, it may cause minor skin irritation. 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 inflate 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.

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134
CAUTION

The SRS airbag system 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 115.

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 143.

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135

Never put a rear±facing child restraint 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.

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137

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.

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138

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 ºChild restraintº on page 143.

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139

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 pr ojected 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.

Do not modify or r emove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove or open any components, such as the steering
wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover, front
passenger airbag cover, front passenger airbag, or
airbag sensor assembly. Doing any of these may
cause sudden SRS airbag inflation or disable the
system, which could result in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injuries.

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143
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 that did not cause the SRS airbags
to inflate.

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.
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. now require the use
of 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 115 for details.

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144
CAUTION

For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, children must be properly restrained.
Holding a child in your arms is not a substitute for a child
restraint system using a seat belt or child restraint
depending on age and size. 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 r ear seat.
According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.

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 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.

Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint manufacturer
and that the system is properly secured.