2003 Lexus ES300 Owner's Manuals (in English)

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131
Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly,
causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, st rike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover or airbag sensor
assembly. Doing so may cause sudden front airbags
inflation or disable the system, which could result in
death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of
front seats with side airbags. Such changes may
disable the system or cause the side airbags to inflate
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
 Do not disassemble or repair the front and rear pillars
and roof side rail containing the curtain shield
airbags. Such changes may disable the system or
cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repairs and modifications.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS in some
cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or compact disc
player
 Modification of the suspension system
 Modification of the front end structure and side
structure of the passenger compartment
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to
the front end
 Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end
structure, console, steering column, steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag or front
seats

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132
This SRS airbag system has an indicator to inform the driver
of operating problems. If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags. Contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to service the vehicle.
When the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position, the light
does not come on, stays on or flashes.
 The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the SRS front airbags have
a problem. If the light flashes, the SRS side and curtain shield
airbags have a problem.16E470
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
 Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
 The front 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.

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133

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.
 The portion of the front and rear pillars and roof side rail
garnish (padding) containing the curtain shield airbags
inside (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 “Seat belts” on page 108 for details.
CAUTION
 For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint system depending
on age and size. Holding a child in your arms is not
a substitute for a child restraint system. 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
system which conforms to the size of the child,
installed on the rear seat. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat.

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134
Never install a rearfacing 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 rearfacing child restraint system
is installed on the front seat.
 Unless it is unavoidable, do not install a
forwardfacing child restraint system on the front
seat.
 A forwardfacing child restraint system should be
allowed to be installed 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.
 Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly
secured. On vehicles with side airbags and curtain
shield airbags, do not allow the child to lean over 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 and curtain shield airbag inflate,
because the impact could cause death or serious
injury to the child.Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must
itself be properly restrained on the seat with the lap
portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must carefully
consult the manufacturer’s instructions which
accompany the child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system
following the manufacturer’s instructions about the
appropriate age and size of the child for the child restraint
system.
Install the child restraint s ystem correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer. General directions
are also provided under the following illustrations.
The child restraint system should be installed on the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
CAUTION
 Never install a rearfacing 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 rearfacing child restraint system
is installed on the front seat.
 Unless it is unavoidable, do not install a
forwardfacing child restraint system on the front
seat.

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135
A forwardfacing child restraint system should be
allowed to be installed 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.
 On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield
airbags, do not allow the child to lean over 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 and curtain shield airbag inflate,
because the impact could cause death or serious
injury to the child.
 After installing the child restraint system, make sure
it is secured in place according to the manufacturer’s
instructions. If it is not restrained securely, it may
cause death or serious injury to the child in the event
of a sudden stop or accident.
When 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. 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 syst em following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
Your vehicle has anchor brackets for securing the top strap of
a child restraint system.
For instructions about how to use the anchor bracket, see
“Using a top strap” on page 147.
The child restraint lower anchorages approved for your vehicle
may also be used. See “Installation with child restraint lower
anchorages” on page 150.
(A) Infant seat

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136(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
INSTALLATION WITH 3POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
(A) Infant seat installation
An infant seat is used in rear−
facing position only.

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137
CAUTION
Never install a rearfacing 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.
If the driver’s seat position does not allow sufficient
space for safe installation, install the child restraint
system on the rear right seat.

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138
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the infant
seat following the instructions provided by its manufacturer
and inserting the tab into the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt tight.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle
are locked 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 you from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
 If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately contact your Lexus dealer. Do not use
the child restraint system until the seat belt is fixed.
It cannot protect your child from injury.
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode.
When the belt is then retrac ted even slightly, it cannot be
extended.
To hold the infant seat securely, make sure the belt is in the lock
mode before letting the belt retract.