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130
Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, strike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag, front
passenger airbag cover, front passenger airbag or
airbag sensor assembly. Doing so may prevent the
front airbag system from activating correctly, cause
sudden activation of the system or disable the
system, which could result in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the SRS front 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.
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 wheelor dashboard near the front passenger airbag.
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131
SV16061
The indicator comes on when the ignition switch is turned
to the ºACCº or ºONº position. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the SRS front airbags are operating
properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensors, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details,
see ºService reminder indicators and warning buzzersº on
page 48.)If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the airbags or seat belt pretensioner. Contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
When the ignition switch is turned to the ºACCº or ºONº
position, the light does not come on, remains on or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the front airbags have a
problem. If the light flashes, the side and curtain shield airbags
have a problem.
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132
SV16183
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The SRS front airbags have been inflated.
The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause the SRS front airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger
airbag cover (shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contactingyour Lexus dealer.
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133
SRS SIDE AIRBAGS AND CURTAINSHIELD AIRBAGS
SV16177
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags
and curtain shield airbags are designed to provide further
protection for the driver and front passenger in addition
to the primary safety protection provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe side impact, the SRS side airbags and
curtain shield airbags work with the seat belts to help reduce
injury by inflating. The SRS side airbags help reduce injuries
mainly to the driver's or front passenger's chest and the SRS
curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the driver's
or front passenger's head.
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag on the
passenger side are activated even with no passenger in the
front seat.
The curtain shield airbags may activate even when the side
airbags are not activated. Always wear your seat belt properly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which will record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver and passenger when the SRS side
airbags and curtain shield airbags are inflated.
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 seat belt
systems. To ensure maximum protection in an
accident, the driver and all passengers in the veh icle
must wear their seat belts properly. Wearing a seat
belt pro perly 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 ºSeat beltsº on
page 110.
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, side 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.
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134
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 rear seats of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The rear seats are the safest for infants
and children. For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see ºChild
restraintº on page 141.
SV16179
1Collision from the side to the vehicle body other
than the passenger compartment
2Collision from the side at an angle
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system may
not activate if the vehicle is subjected to a collision from
the side at certain angles, or a collision to the side of the
vehicle body other than the passenger compartment as
shown in the illustration.
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are designed
to inflate when the passenger compartment area suffers a
severe impact from the side.
Always wear your seat belts properly.
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135
SV16020
1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are not
designed to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a front or
rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a
low-speed side collision.
SV16181
1Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
2Side and curtain shield airbag sensors
3SRS warning light
4Airbag sensor assembly
5Curtain shield airbag module (airbag and inflator)
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 triggers the side airbag inflators and 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.
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136When 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 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 and front
passenger must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
Remain properly seated with their backs upright and
against the seats at all times.
SV16025
Do not allow anyone lean against the front door when
the vehicle is in use. When the side 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, side pillar and roof
side rail with a curtain shield airbag.
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137
SV16124
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.
SV16175
Do not attach a cup holder or any other device or
object on or around the door. When the side airbag
inflates, the cup holder or any other device or object
will be thrown with great force, or the side 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.
03 07.09