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162
Seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger's seat belt pretensioners
are designed to be activated in response to a severe
frontal impact or a vehicle rollover.
When the sensor detects a severe frontal impact or a vehicle
rollover, the front seat belts are quickly drawn back by the
retractors so that the belts snugly restrain the front seat
occupants.
The front passenger's seat belt pretensioner will not activate
if no passenger is detected in the front passenger seat by the
front passenger occupant classification system. However, the
front passenger's seat belt pretensioner may activate if
luggage is put on the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up
regardless of the presence of an occupant in the seat. (As for
the front passenger occupant classification system, see page
194.)
The seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags may not operate
together in case of collisions at a certain speeds and angles.
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off (RSCA OFF)indicator light
The seat belt pretensioners will not operate in a vehicle rollover
if the ªRSCA OFFº indicator light is on. For details, see ªRol\
l
sensing of curtain shield airbags off switchº on page 199.
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165
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ªONº position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the seat belt pretensioners are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver's seat position sensor, driver's seat belt buckle switch,
front passenger occupant classification system, ªAIRBAG ONº
indicator light, ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator light, front passenger's
seat belt buckle switch, front seat belt pretensioner
assemblies, inflators, warning light, ªRSCA OFFº indicator
light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details,
see ªService reminder indicators and warning buzzersº on
page 62.) 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.
The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªONº position or remains on for more than 6 seconds
or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing 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.
The front seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding
area has been damaged.
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170
1Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
2Front passenger occupant classification system(ECU and sensors)
3ªAIRBAG ONº and ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator lights
4SRS warning light
5Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
6Driver's seat position sensor
7Driver's seat belt buckle switch
8Front passenger's seat belt buckle switch
9Front airbag sensors
10Airbag sensor assembly
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 sensor. The airbag sensors constantly monitor the forward
deceleration of the vehicle. If an impact results in a forward
deceleration beyond the designed threshold level, the system
triggers
the 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 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 safely exit from the vehicle, you should
do so immediately.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
176
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ªONº 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
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver's seat position sensor, driver's seat belt buckle switch,
front passenger occupant classification system, ªAIRBAG ONº
indicator light, ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator light, front passenger's
seat belt buckle switch, front seat belt pretensioner
assemblies, inflators, warning light, ªRSCA OFFº indicator
light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details,
see ªService reminder indicators and warning buzzersº on
page 62.) 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.
The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªONº position or remains on for more than 6 seconds
or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
The SRS warning light and ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator light will
be illuminated if there is a malfunction in the front passenger
occupant classification system.
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179
SRS SIDE AIRBAGS AND CURTAINSHIELD AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags
and curtain shield airbags are designed to provide further
protection for the driver, front passenger and rear
outboard passengers 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 torso and the SRS
curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the
driver's, front passenger's or rear outboard passenger's head. The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat will not activate if
there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat.
However, the side airbag on the passenger seat may
deploy if
luggage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up
regardless of the presence of the occupant in the seat. (As for
the front passenger occupant classification system, see ªFront
passenger occupant classification systemº on page 194.)
Roll sensing function:
In response to a vehicle rollover, the curtain shield airbags on
both sides work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by
inflating. The curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly
to the driver's, front passenger's or second passenger's head
and help prevent them from being thrown out of the vehicle.
(This function can be turned off if inflation is not desired. See
ªRoll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switchº on page 199.)
The SRS curtain shield airbag on the passenger side are
activated even with no passenger in the front seat or second
outboard seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the
side airbags are not activated.
Always wear your seat belt properly.
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184
1Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
2Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
3ªAIRBAG ONº and ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator lights
4Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
5Curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
6SRS warning light and ªRSCA OFFº indicator light
7Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
8Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch
9Front passenger's seat belt buckle switch
10Airbag 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.
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186
Make sure the ªRSCA 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 ªRoll
sensing of curtain shield airbags off switchº on page
199. 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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192
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ªONº position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are
operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver's seat position sensor, driver's seat belt buckle switch,
front passenger occupant classification system, ªAIRBAG ONº
indicator light, ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator light, front passenger's
seat belt buckle switch, front seat belt pretensioner
assemblies, inflators, warning light, ªRSCA OFFº indicator
light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details,
see ªService reminder indicators and warning buzzersº on
page 62 for instructions.) 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.
The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªONº position or remains on for more than 6 seconds
or flashes.
The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
The SRS warning light and ªAIRBAG OFFº indicator light will
be illuminated if there is a malfunction in the front passenger
occupant classification system.