2005 LEXUS LS430 Owners Manual

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
190
SRS SIDE AIRBAGS AND CURTAINSHIELD AIRBAGS
16L620
 1Curtain shield airbag 2Side airbag
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 chest, 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 an occupant in the seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the
side airbags are not activated.
Always wear your seat belt properly.
CAUTION

The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system
is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver, front passenger and rear
outboard 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 belts” on page 168.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
191
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 airbags. 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 “Child
restraint” on page 199 .
16L655
 1 Collision 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
192
16L656
 1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are not
generally 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 lowspeed side collision.
16L657
 1 Curtain shield airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
3Curtain shield airbag sensor assembly
4Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assembly
5SRS warning light
6Airbag 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
193
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.
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 rear outboard passengers must:
 Wear their seat belts properly.
 Remain properly seated with their backs upright and
against the seats at all times.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
194
16L344
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.
16L583
 Do not allow anyone to get his/her head close 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
195
16L623
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.
16L640
 Do not attach a cupholder or any other device or
object on or around the door. When the side airbag
inflates, the cupholder 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
196
16L348
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.
 Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags inflate. Su ch 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 from 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.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
197
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS side airbag
and curtain shield airbag system in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or CD player.
 Modification of the suspension system.
 Modification of the structure of the passenger
compartment.
 Repairs made on or near the console or front seat.
16L330b
The indicator comes on when the ignition switch is turned
to the “ON” 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 airba g sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch,
occupant detection sensor, front passenger’s seat belt buckle
switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning
light, interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details,
see “Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on
page 82.)