2000 Lexus ES300 airbag

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
148This front seat belt pretensioner system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of operating
problems. If either of
the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags or pretensioners.
Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
 The light does not come on when the ignition key is
turned to the ªACCº or ªONº position, or the light
remains on.
 The light comes on or flashes while driving.
 If either front seat belt does not retract or can not be
pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the
pretensioner.
 The front seat belt pretensioner assembly or
surrounding area has been damaged.
 The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration)
was involved in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the seat belt pretensioners to
operate.
 The front seat belt pretensioner assembly is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SRS)
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags
are designed to provide further protection for the
driver and front passenger in addition to the primary
safety protection provided by the seat belts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
149
16E231

Driver and front passenger airbags
In response to a severe frontal impact, the driver and
front passenger airbags work together with the seat
belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The driver
and front passenger airbags help to reduce injuries
mainly to the driver's or front passenger's head or
chest from directly hitting the steering wheel or
dashboard.
The front passenger airbag is activated even with no
passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
150
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard during airbag deployment can be
killed or seriously injured. Lexus strongly recommends
that:
The driver sit as far back as possible from the
steering wheel while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
 The front passenger sit as far back as possible from
the dashboard.
 All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using
the available seat belts.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
151


Side airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the side airbag
for the driver or front passenger works together with
the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The
side airbag for the driver or front passenger help to
reduce injuries mainly to the driver or front
passenger's chest.
The side airbag on the passenger seat is activated even
with no passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
152
CAUTION
Side airbags inflate with considerable force. To avoid
potential death or serious injury when they inflate, the
driver and front passenger must:
Wear their seat belts.
 Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
153
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is
turned to the ªACCº or ªONº position. It goes off
after about 6 seconds. This means the SRS is
operating properly.
The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag
sensor assembly, side airbag sensor assemblies, front
airbag sensors, inflators, warning light, interconnecting
wiring and power sources. (For details, see ªService
reminder
indicators and warning buzzersº on page 60 for
instructions.)
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
154The SRS airbag system is designed to activate in
response to a severe frontal impact within the
shaded area between the arrows in the illustration.
The SRS airbags will work if the severity of the impact
is above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision when impacting
straight
into a fixed barrier that does not move or deform.
If the severity of the impact is below the above threshold
level, the SRS airbags may not work. However, this threshold velocity will be considerably
higher if the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked
vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if it is involved in an underride collision (e.g.
a collision in which the nose of the vehicle ªunderridesº,
or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
It is possible that in some collisions at the lower zone of
airbag sensor detection and activation the SRS airbags
and seat belt pretensioners will not operate all together.
For the safety of all occupants, always wear your seat
belts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
155
16E134±1

1Collision from the rear
2Vehicle rollover
The SRS airbags are not designed to inflate if the
vehicle is involved in a rear collision, if it rolls 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 collision
from the side.
The side airbags may rather not to activate in the impact
in which the occupant wearing the seat belt correctly
would not get serious injury.