2001 Lexus ES300 Drive belt

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147
Front seat belt pretensioners
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The driver and front passenger's seat belt
pretensioners are designed to be activated in
response to a severe frontal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock of a severe
frontal impact, the front seat belts are quickly drawn
back in by the retractors so that the belts snugly restrain
the front seat occupants.
The front seat belt pretensioners are activated even with
no passenger in the front seat.
Collisions occurring at certain speeds and angles may
cause the seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags not
to operate all together.

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This front seat belt pretensioner system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of operating
problems. If any 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 cannot be
pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the
relevant front seat belt pretensioner.

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In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible:
The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration)
was involved in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the front seat belt pretensioners to
operate.
 Either front seat belt pretensioner assembly or
surrounding area is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.SRS AIRBAGS
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.
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153


SRS front airbags
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS front
airbags work together with the seat belts to help
reduce injury by inflating. The SRS front airbags
help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver's or front
passenger's
head or chest caused by 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 properly.

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154
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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155


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

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156
CAUTION
SRS 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 properly.
 Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.
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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 airbags
are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side airbag sensors,
front seat belt pretensioner assemblies, 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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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 the inflating airbags if they do not wear the
available seat belts properly. During sudden braking
just bef ore 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 ensure maximum
protection in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly. Wearing a seat belt properly during an
accident reduces the chances of death or serious
injury or being thrown out of the vehicle. For
instructions and precautions concerning the seat
belt system, see ªSeat beltsº on page 136.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by the
deploying ai rbags. 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 ªChild restraintº on page 175 .