OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
125
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 seat of the vehicle and properly restrained.
The rear seat is the safest for infants and children.
For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 141.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 deploy 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
front 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.
Always wear your seat belts properly.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
127
SV16180
1Airbag module for front passenger (airbag and inflator)
2Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
3SRS warning light
4Airbag sensor assembly
5Front airbag sensors
The SRS front airbag system consists mainly 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 front 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 ai rbag inflators. At this time a chemical reaction in
the inflators very quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to
help restrain the forward motion of the occupants. The front
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 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, 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 is 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.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover
and inflator) may be hot for several minutes after deployment,
so do not touch! The airbags inflate only once. The windshield
may be damaged by absorbing some of the force of the
inflating airbag.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
128
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger who is too close to the
steering wheel or dashboard during airbag deployment
can be killed or seriously injured. Lexus strongly
recommends that:
The driver sit as far back as possible from the
steering wheel while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
The front passenger sit as far back as possible from
the dashboard.
All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using
the available seat belts.
For instructions and precautions concerning the
seating position, see ºFront seat precautionsº on page
94 or 99.
SV16172
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean against the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use, since the front
passenger airbag could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Anyone who is up against, or very
close to, an airbag when it inflates, can be killed or
seriously injured. Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, and always use your seat belt properly.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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.
03 07.09
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
139
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes withoutconsulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the SRS side airbagand curtain shield airbag system 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 side structure of the passenger compartment.
Repairs made on or near the console or front seat.
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 side airbags and curtain
shield airbags are operating properly.
The 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 pretensioners. Contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
When the ignition key 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.
03 07.09