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1Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard surface
2Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
3Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags may deploy if a
serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle.
Some examples are shown in the illustration.
16PY169
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1Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
2Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
3Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
4Curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
5SRS warning light and RSCA OFFº indicator light
6Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch
7Airbag sensor assembly
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system consists
mainly of the above components, and their locations are shown
in the illustration.
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system is
controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sensor
assembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor.
In a severe side impact, the side and curtain shield airbag
sensor and/or the curtain shield airbag sensor trigger(s) the
side airbag inflators and/or the curtain shield airbag inflators.
At this time a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the lateral motion
of the occupants.
In a vehicle rollover, the airbag sensor assembly triggers the
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 lateral motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly 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 safely exit from the vehicle, you
should do so immediately.
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.
Front seats as well as parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof
side rail may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags
themselves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate
only once.
CAUTION
SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags inflate with
considerable force. To reduce the possibility of death
or serious injury when they inflate, the driver, front
passenger and second outside passengers must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
Remain properly seated with their backs upright and
against the seats at all times.
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Do not allow anyone to lean against the door when
the vehicle is in use, since the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, he/she 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 seats with a
side airbag and to the front pillar, rear pillar and roof
side rail with a curtain shield airbag.
Improper sitting and wearing of the seat belts may
not retain you inside the vehicle.
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Make sure the RSCA OFFº indicator light is off. The
curtain shield airbags will not inflate in a vehicle
rollover if this indicator light is on and you may be
killed or seriously injured. For details, see Roll
sensing of curtain shield airbags off switchº on page
193. Do not allow anyone to get his/her head closer to the
area where the side airbag and curtain shield airbag
inflate, since these airbags could inflate with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured. Special care
should be taken especially when you have a small
child in the vehicle.
Do not allow anyone to kneel on the passenger seat,
facing the passenger's side door, since the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag could inflate with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured. Special care
should be taken especially when you have a small
child in the vehicle.
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Do not allow anyone to get his/her head or hands out
of windows, since the curtain shield airbags could
inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, he/she may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle.
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Do not attach a cup holder or any other device or
object on or around the door. When the side airbag
and curtain shield airbag inflate, the cup holder or
any other device or object will be thrown with great
force, or the side airbag and curtain shield airbag
may not activate correctly, resulting in death or
serious injury. Likewise, the driver and front
passenger should not hold objects in their arms or on
their knees.
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Do not attach a microphone or any other device or
object around the area where the curtain shield
airbag activates such as on the windshield glass,
side door glass, front and rear pillars, roof side rail
and assist grips. When the curtain shield airbag
inflates, the microphone or other device or object will
be thrown away with great force or the curtain shield
airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death
or serious injury.
Do not hook a hanger, heavy or sharp pointed objects
on the coat hook. If the curtain shield airbag inflates,
those items will be thrown away with great force or
the curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly,
resulting in death or serious injury. When you hang
clothes, hang them on the coat hook directly.
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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 replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with side airbags. Such changes may
prevent the side airbag system form activating
correctly, 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 rails 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.
Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags
to inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacture's recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags and seat belt
pretensioners to inflate accidentally, which could
result in death or serious injury. For details, see
Checking and replacing tiresº on page 594.