2002 Lexus IS300 Gauges, Meters And Service Reminder Indicators / LEXUS 2002 IS300 WAGON OWNER'S MANUAL (OM53423U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
124The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensors, front seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators,
warning light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For
details,
see ºService reminder indicators and warning buzzersº
on page 42.)
SS16042
The SRS front 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 front 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 front 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 ºunderridesº, 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
properly.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
125
SV16019

1Collision from the rear
2Vehicle rollover
The SRS front 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 and curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate
when the passenger compartment area suffers a severe
impact from the side.
SS16044

1Collision from the side at an angle
2Collision from the side to the vehicle body otherthan the passenger compartment
The side and curtain shield airbags may not inflate if the
vehicle is subjected to a collision from the side at certain
angles, or a collision to the side of the vehicle body other
than the passenger compartment as shown in the
illustration.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
126
SV16020

1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The side and curtain shield airbags are not designed to
inflate if the vehicle is involved in a front or rear collision,
if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a low±speed side
collision.
SV16021

1Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard material
2Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
3Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS front airbags may deploy if a serious impact
occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples
are shown in the illustration.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
127
SV16094

1Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
2Airbag module for front passenger (airbag and inflator)
3Side and curtain shield airbag sensors
4Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
5SRS warning light
6Airbag sensor assembly
7Front airbag sensors
8Curtain shield airbag module (airbag and inflator)
The SRS airbag system consists mainly of the above
components, and their locations are shown in the illustration.
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensors. In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger
airbag
sensors detect deceleration and the system triggers the
front airbag inflators. In a severe side impact, the side and
curtain shield airbag sensor triggers the side and curtain shield
airbag inflator. At this time a chemical reaction in the inflators
quickly fills the airbags with non±toxic gas to help restrain the
forward or lateral motion of the occupants.
When the SRS operates, it produces a fairly loud noise and
release 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 a
minor skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any residue as soon
as possible to prevent any potential 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 swelling.
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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
128
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 ºSeat beltsº on page 109.
 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 ºChild restraintº on page 135 .
SV16023
 Never put a rear±facing child restraint system on the
front passenger seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the front passenger airbag can cause
death or serious injury to the child.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
129
SV16053

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
and curtain shield airbags inflate, because the impact
could cause death or serious injury to the child.
 For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 135.
SS16052
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use. When the front
airbags inflate with considerable speed and force;
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured. Sit
up straight and well back in the seat, and always use
your seat belt properly.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
130
SV16025
Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle
is in use. When the side and curtain shield airbag
inflates with considerable speed and force;
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle.
 Sit up straight and well back in the seat, distributing
your weight evenly in the seat. Do not apply
excessive weight to the outer side of the front seats
on vehicles with side airbags.
SV16124
Do not get your head closer to the area where the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate. These
airbags inflate with considerable speed and force;
you may be killed or seriously injured. Special care
should be taken especially when you have a small
child in the vehicle.
 Do not allow a child to kneel on the front passenger
seat facing the front passenger's side door when the
vehicle is in use. The side and curtain shield airbags
inflate with c onsiderable speed and impact; the child
may be killed or seriously injured.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
131
SS16056a
Do not allow a child to stand up or to kneel on the
front passenger seat. When the front airbag inflates
with considerable speed and force; Otherwise, 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 135.
SV16065
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 objects in their arms or on
their knees.