2003 Lexus IS300 ESP

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
127
SJ16009

Side airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the side airbags for
the driver or front passenger work together with the seat
belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The side airbags
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.
CAUTION
The 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.
SV16093

Curtain shield airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the curtain shield
airbags for the driver or front passenger work together
with the seat belts by inflating to help reduce injury mainly
to the driver's or front passenger's head.
The curtain shield airbag is activated even with no passenger
in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
131
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 mainly consists of the above
components, and their locations are shown in the illustration.
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensors. The driver and front passenger airbag sensors constantly
monitor the forward deceleration of the vehicle. In an impact
results in a forward deceleration beyond the designed
threshold level, the system triggers the front airbag inflators. At
this time a chemical reaction in the inflators very quickly fills the
airbags with non±toxic gas to help restrain the forward or
lateral motion of the occupants. The airbags then quickly
deflate, so that there is no obstruction of the driver's vision
should it be necessary to continue driving.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a loud noise and
release some smoke and residue along with non±toxic gas.
This
does not indicate a fire. This smoke may remain inside the
vehicle for some time, and may cause some minor irritation to
the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to wash off any residue as
soon as possible to prevent any potential skin irritation with
soap and water. If you can physically and safely exit the vehicle
after a collision, you should do so at the first opportunity.
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, primarily to the
head and chest, it may also cause other, less severe injuries
to the face, chest, arms and hands. These are usually in the
nature of minor burns or abrasions and swelling, but the force
of a deploying airbag can cause more serious injuries,
especially if an occupant's hands, arms, chest or head are in
close proximity to the airbag module at the time of deployment.
This is why it is important for the occupant to: avoid placing any
object or part of the body bet ween the occupant and the airbag
module; sit straight and well back into the seat; wear the
available seat belt properly; and sit as far as possible from the
airbag module, while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
134
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.
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.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
135
SV16124
Do not get your head closer to the area where the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, since these
airbags inflate 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.
 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, since the side and curtain shield
airbags inflate with considerable speed and impact.
Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously in-
jured.
SS16056a
 Do not allow a child to stand up or to kneel on the
front passenger seat, since 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 140.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

AIR CONDITIONING
183
(a) Climate control
SETTING OPERATION ± automatic control
SV21018
1. Set the air flow control dial and the fan speed control
dial to ºAUTOº positions.
An indicator light will illuminate to show that the automatic
operation mode has been selected.
Air flow quantity and switching of the diffusers are
automatically adjusted.
When one of the manual control dials is turned while operating
in automatic mode, the operation corresponding to the dial
turned is set. Other conditions continue to be adjusted
automatically.
When the fan speed control dial is turned to ºOFFº, the fan is
turned off. If the ºA/Cº button indicator flashes, there is a problem in the
air conditioning system and the air conditioning automatically
shuts off. If this happens, take your vehicle to your Lexus
dealer for service.
SV21021a
2. Turn the temperature control dial to set the desired
temperature.
The temperature control dial is used to set the desired
passenger compartment temperature.
The temperature of air
delivered to the passenger compartment will be controlled
automatically according to the setting. The figures on the
panel indicate degrees Fahrenheit.
When you adjust the temperature control dial to maximum
cooling, the air intake mode will be automatically changed to
RECIRCULATED AIR.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

AUDIO
210(c) Automatic program selection
SV22061
ºRPTº button: The repeat feature automatically replays the
current program.
Push the º
RPTº button while the program is playing. When the
program ends, it will automatically be rewound and replayed.
Push the button again to turn off the repeat feature.
There must be at least 5 seconds of blank space between
programs for the repeat feature to work correctly.
ºSKIPº button: The skip feature allows you to fast forward
past long stretches of blank tape. This is especially useful at
the end of cassettes.
Push the ºSKIPº button. The player will automatically skip any
blank portions of 15 seconds or more and play the next
program. To cancel it, push the button once again.
SV22018
ºAutomatic program selectionº button: The automatic
program selection feature allows you to program your cassette
player to skip forward or backward to locate the song you want
to hear. You can skip up to nine programs at a time.
Push this button on the upper side to skip forward. ºFFº and
the number will appear on the display. Push the button until the
number you want to skip appears on the display. After that, the
player will automatically skip forward.
When the end of the tape is reached, the player automatically
reverses sides and resumes normal play.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

AUDIO
219
AM
Fading
± AM broadcasts are reflected by the upper
atmosphere ± especially at night. These reflected signals can
interfere with those received directly from the radio station,
causing the radio station to sound alternately strong and weak.
Station interference ± When a reflected signal and a signal
received directly from a radio station are very nearly the same
frequency, they can interfere with each other, making it dif ficult
to hear the broadcast.
Static ± AM is easily affected by external sources of electrical
noise, such as high tension power lines, lightening, or electrical
motors. This results in static. Caring for your cassette player and tapes
For the best performance for your cassette player and tapes:
Clean the tape head and other parts regularly.

A dirty tape head or tape path can decrease sound quality
and tangle your cassette tapes. The easiest way to clean
them is by using a cleaning tape. (A wet type is
recommended.)
Use high±quality cassettes:
 Low±quality cassette tapes can cause many problems,
including poor sound, inconsistent playing speed, and
constant auto±reversing. They can also get stuck or
tangled in the cassette player.
 Do not use a cassette if it has been damaged or tangled or
if its label is peeling off.
 Do not leave a cassette in the player if you are not listening
to it, especially if it is hot outside.
 Store cassettes in their cases and out of direct sunlight.
 Avoid using cassettes with a total playing time longer than
100 minutes (50 minutes per side). The tape used in these
cassettes is thin and could get stuck or tangled in the
cassette player.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

AUDIO
221
20E424

Special shaped discs
20E425

Low quality discs
20E423

Labeled discs
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the player or changer, do not usespecial shaped, low quality or labeled discs such asthose shown in the illustrations.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)