2005 LEXUS LS430 passenger seat

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
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
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.)

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
200
Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat. In the event of an accident,
the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger
airbag can cause death or serious injury to the child
if the rearfacing child restraint system is installed
on the front passenger seat.
 A forwardfacing child restraint system should be
allowed to be installed on the front passenger seat
only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the front passenger
airbag could inflate with considerable speed and
force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously
injured.
 Do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part
of his/her body against the door or the area of the
seat, front or rear pillar or roof side rail from which the
side airbags or curtain shield airbags deploy even if
the child is seated in the child restraint system. It is
dangerous if the side airbag and curtain shield airbag
inflate, and the impact could cause death or serious
injury to the child.
 Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a
child restraint system on the front or rear passenger
seat. If installing a child restraint system with the
seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat
belt will not securely hold the child restraint system,
which could cause death or serious injury to the child
or other passengers in the event of collision. Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly
secured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause
death or serious injury to the child in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
201
Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must
itself be properly restrained on the seat with the lap
portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must carefully
consult the manufacturer’s instructions which
accompany the child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system
following the manufacturer’s instructions about the
appropriate age and size of the child for the child restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer. General directions
are also provided under the following illustrations.
The child restraint system should be installed on the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
When not using the child restraint system, keep it secured with
the seat belt or place it in the trunk or somewhere other than
the passenger compartment. This will prevent it from injuring
passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
Types of child restraint system
Child restraint systems are classified into the following 3 types
depending on the child’s age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint syst em following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
Your vehicle has anchor brackets for securing the top strap of
a child restraint system.
For instructions about how to use the anchor bracket, see
“Using a top strap” on page 215.
The child restraint lower anchorages approved for your vehicle
may also be used. See “Installation with child restraint lower
anchorages” on page 217.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
203
INSTALLATION WITH 3POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
(A) Infant seat installation
16L306
An infant seat must be used in rearfacing position only.
16L310
CAUTION

Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat. In the event of an accident,
the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger
airbag can cause death or serious injury to the child
if the rearfacing child restraint system is installed
on the front passenger seat.