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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
11 5
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on
impact. It also may lock if you lean forward too quickly. A slow,
easy motion will allow the belt to extend, and you can move
around freely.
When a passenger's shoulder belt is completely extended and
is then retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that position
and cannot be extended. This feature is used to hold the child
restraint system securely.
(For details, see ºChild restraintº on
page 140.) To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then
pull the belt out once more.
If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the retractor, firmly pull
the belt and release it. You will then be able to smoothly pull
the belt out of the retractor.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle
are locked and that the belt is 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 seat until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot protect
an adult occupant or your child from injury.
SV16014
Adjust the position of the lap and shoulder belts.
1Position the lap belt as low as possible on your hips ± not
on your waist.
2Adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder portion
upward through the latch plate.
CAUTION
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 hips as possible.
For your safety, do not place the shoulder belt under
your arm.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
11 7
Rear center seat belt
SV16087
1Buckle with light gray buckle ±release button
2Buckle with red buckle ± release button
The rear center seat belt is a 3±point type restraint with 2
buckles. Both seat belt buckles must be correctly located and
securely latched for proper operation.
Make sure that buckle (with light gray buckle±release button)
is securely latched for ready use of the center seat belt.
SV16088
Two buckles and tabs for rear center seat belt.
The 2 buckles for the rear center seat belt are distinguished
with colors of the buckle release button. Also the 2 tabs have
different shape for its end so that the belt is not buckled in the
wrong place.
1Buckle with light gray buckle±release button ±
Properly matches with concave end tab
2Buckle with red buckle±release button ± Properly
matches with round end tab
CAUTION
Make sure the both buckles are correctly located and
securely latched. Failure to properly match the buckle
and tab may cause severe injury in case of an accident
or a collision.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
11 8
SV16089
To release the concave end tab, insert the key into the hole on
buckle (with light gray buckle±release button ) and allow the
belt to retract.
SV16090
CAUTION
Do not use the rear center seat belt with either buckle
released. Fastening only the shoulder belt or lap belt
may cause severe personal injury in case of sudden
braking or a collision.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
123
SV16061
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ºACCº or ºONº position. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the front seat belt pretensioners are
operating properly.
The 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 44.)
SV16068
1SRS warning light
2Front seat belt pretensioner assemblies
3Airbag sensor assembly
4Front airbag sensors
The front seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the
above components and their locations are shown in the
illustration.
The front seat belt pretensioners are controlled by the airbag
sensor assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.
When the front seat belt pretensioners are activated, an
operating noise may be heard and a small amount of
smoke±like gas may be released. This gas is harmless and
does not indicate that a fire is occurring.
Once the front seat belt pretensioners have been activated, the
seat belt retractors remain locked.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
125
SV16061
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 ºACCº or ºONº position, or 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.
SS16116
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.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
128
CAUTION
The curtain shield 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.
SV16061
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ºACCº or ºONº position. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the SRS airbags are operating
properly.
The 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 44.) The SRS front airbags are designed to deploy in severe
(usually frontal) collisions where the magnitude and
duration of the forward deceleration of the vehicle
exceeds the designed threshold level.
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 the vehicle has
the impact straight into a fixed barrier that does not move or
deform.
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 the vehicle 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 where the forward
deceleration of the vehicle is very close to the designed
threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the seat belt
pretensioners may not activate together.
For the safety of all occupants, always wear your seat belts
properly.
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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.
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COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
138
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes withoutconsulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the SRS airbagsystem in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobiletwo±way 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 tothe front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front endstructure, console, steering column, steering wheel,dashboard near the front passenger airbag or frontseats.
SV16061
This SRS front 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 ºACCº or ºONº
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 driver and front
passenger airbags fail. If the light flashes, the side airbags fail.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)