2001 Lexus ES300 Page 31

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
148
16E179
This 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 front seat belt
pretensioners 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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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.
16E179
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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164
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 .

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166
16L146

Move seat fully back
A forward±facing child restraint system should
be allowed to be put on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move
the seat as far back as possible, because the
force of the deploying front passenger 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 ªChild restraintº
on page 175.

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169
16E029
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on
the front passenger seat. The front 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 ªChild restraintº
on page 175.

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175
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible:

Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
 The front part of the vehicle and portion of the doors
(shaded in the illustration) were involved in an
accident that was not severe enough to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate.
 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.
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. and Canada 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 ªSeat beltsº on page 136 for
details.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
180When not using the child restraint system, keep it
secured with the seat belt or place it in the trunk or
somewhere other than in the passenger compartment.
This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the event
of a sudden stop or accident.
Your vehicle has anchors for securing the top strap of a
child restraint system.
For instructions about how to use the anchor bracket,
see ªUsing a top strapº on page 201.
Types of child restraint system
Child restraint systems are classified into the following
3 types depending on the child's age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint system following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer.
(A) Infant seat
16E181

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
2001. Sit the child on a booster seat. Run the lap and
shoulder belt through or around the booster seat and
child following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer and insert the tab into the buckle.
Make sure the shoulder belt is correctly across the
child's
shoulder and that the lap belt is positioned as low
as possible on child's hips. See ªSeat beltsº on page 136
for details.
CAUTION
 Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned
across the center of child's shoulder. The b elt should
be kept away from child's neck, but not falling off
child's shoulder. Failure to do so could reduce the
amount of protection in an accident and cause
serious injuries in a collision.
 Both high±positioned lap belts and
loose±fitting belts could cause serious injuries
due to sliding under the lap belt during a
collision or other unintended result. Keep the
lap belt positioned as low on a child's hips as
possible.
 For child's safety, do not place the shoulder
belt under child's arm.
 After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and
buckle are l ocked and that the lap and shoulder
portions of the belt are not twisted.
 Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as
this may prevent your child from properly
latching the tab and buckle.
 If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately contact your Lexus dealer. Do not
use the seat until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot
protect your child from injury.