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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
169
CAUTION
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system
is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver and front passenger and
second outside passenger seat belt systems. 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 Seat beltsº on page 140.
Do not allow anyone to lean his/her head or any part
of his/her body against the door or the area of the
seat, front pillar, rear pillar or roof side rail from which
the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag deploy
even if he/she is a child seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the SRS side airbag and
curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact of the
deploying airbags could cause death or serious
injury to the occupant.
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 second or third seats of the vehicle and
properly restrained. The second or third seats are the
safest for infants and children. For instructions
concerning the installation of a child restraint
system, see Child restraintº on page 184.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
173
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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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
174
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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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
179
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 574.
Page 210 of 656
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
182
16PY153
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
Any of the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags have
been inflated.
The portion of the doors (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags to inflate.
The surface of the seats with the side airbag (shaded in the
illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
The portion of the front pillars, rear pillars or roof side rail
garnishes (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.
Page 235 of 656
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
207
CAUTION
When using the lower anchorages for the child
restraint system, be sure that there are no irregular
objects around the anchorages or that the seat belt is
not caught.
Push and pull the child restraint system in different
directions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the
installation instructions provided by its
manufacturer.
Do not install a child restraint system on the second
seat if it interferes with the lock mechanism of the
front seats. This can cause death or serious injury to
the child and front passenger in case of sudden
braking or a collision.
When using the left side lower anchorages for the
child restraint system, do not sit in the center seat.
The performance of the center seat belt cannot be
brought out sufficiently because the belt may be
high-positioned or the seat belt may be loose-fitting,
posing the risk of serious injury in the case of
collision.
Page 262 of 656

AIR CONDITIONING
234This button allows the air intake to select the OUTSIDE AIR
mode automatically. This is to clean up the front view more
quickly. If you want to return the setting to the
RECIRCULATED
AIR mode, push the air intake control button
once again.
Push the A/Cº button for dehumidified heating or cooling. This
setting clears the front view more quickly.
CAUTION
Do not use the windshield air flow button during cooled
air operation in extremely humid weather. The
difference between the temperature of the outside air
and that of the windshield could cause the outer surface
of the windshield to fog up blocking your vision.
(c) Operating tips
To help cool down the interior after parking in the hot sun,
drive for the first few minutes with the windows open. After
the excess heat has blown away, close the windows.
Make sure the air inlet grilles in front of the windshield are
not blocked by leaves or other obstructions.
If air flow control is not satisfactory, check the side vents and
rear vents. (See (d) Center vents and side ventsº.)
On humid days, do not blow cold air on the windshield. The
windshield could fog up because of the difference in air
temperature on the inside and outside of the windshield.
Keep the area under the front seats clear to allow air to
circulate throughout the vehicle.
On cold days, set the fan speed to high for a minute to help
clear the intake ducts of snow or moisture. This can reduce
the amount of fogging on the windows.
When driving on dusty roads, close all windows. If dust
thrown up by the vehicle is still drawn into the vehicle after
closing the windows, it is recommended that the air intake
be set to the OUTSIDE AIR mode and the fan speed to any
setting except OFFº.
Page 304 of 656

AUDIO
276
REAR SEAT AUDIO SYSTEM
The rear seat audio system is designed for the rear seat
passengers to enjoy the audio sound separately between
the front seats and the rear seats.
The rear seat audio system can be turned on with the rear
audio system controller even if the front audio system is off.
When the front audio is turned off, the rear audio system will be
turned off simultaneously.
The rear passengers can enjoy all the modes (AM and FM
radio, cassette tape player and compact disc player with
changer) with the rear seat audio system when a cassette tape
and a compact disc are loaded in the front audio system.
When the same mode is selected on the front and rear audio
systems at the same time, the system can be operated on the
front audio system.
If the radio mode is selected on the front and rear audio
systems at the same time, AM and FM modes cannot be
changed on the rear seat audio system.
22PY142
1Front audio system
2Rear seat audio system display
3Rear seat audio system controller
4Headphone input jacks
5Headphone volume control dials
6Controller holder