2006 Lexus GS430 steering wheel

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
138
SEATS
While the vehicle is being driven, all vehicle occupants should
have the seatback upright, sit well back in the seat and properly
wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
 Do not drive the vehicle unless the occupants are
properly seated. Do not allow any passengers to sit
in the luggage compartment or cargo area. Persons
not properly seated and/or not properly restrained by
seat belts can be severely injured in the event of
emergency braking or a collision.
 During driving, do not allow any passengers to stand
up or move around between seats. Otherwise, severe
injuries can occur in the event of emergency braking
or a collision.
FRONT SEATS
Front seat precautions
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force,
and can cause death or serious injury especially if the
driver is very close to the airbag. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (”NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag is the first 5075
mm (23 in.) of inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10 in.)
from your driver airbag provides you with a clear margin
of safety. This distance is measured from the center of
the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less
than 250 mm (10 in.) away now, you can change your
driving position in several ways:
 Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still
reaching the pedals comfortably.
 Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle
designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 250 mm
(10 in.) distance, even with the driver seat all the way
forward, simply by reclining the back of the seat
somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes
it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm,
nonslippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle
has that feature.

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139
If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward.
This points the airbag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by
NHTSA above, while still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.
Front passenger seat
CAUTION
The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with
considerable force, and can cause death or serious
injury especially if the front passenger is very close to
the airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far
from the airbag as possible with the seatback adjusted,
so the front passenger sits upright.
Front seats
CAUTION
The SRS front side airbags are installed in the driver and
front passenger seats. Observe the following
precautions.
 Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle
is in use, since the front side airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, you may
be killed or severely injured.
 Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the front side airbags inflate. Such
accessories may prevent the front side airbags from
activating correctly, causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the front seats or upholstery
of the seats equipped with front side airbags. Such
change may prevent the side airbag system from
activating correctly, disable the system or cause the
front side airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in
death or serious injury.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
162The front 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 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 between 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, lower portion
of instrument panel, dashboard 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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163
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger who is too close to the
steering wheel, lower portion of instrument panel 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.
 If the seat belt extender has been connected to the
driver’s seat belt buckle but the seat belt extender
has not also been fastened to the latch plate of the
driver’s seat belt, the SRS driver’s airbag system will
judge that the driver is wearing the seat belt even
though the seat belt has not been connected. In this
case, the driver’s airbag may not activate correctly,
causing death or serious injury in the event of a colli-
sion. Be sure to wear the seat belt with the seat belt
extender. Otherwise, there will also not be any effec-
tive protection in a sudden stop or a collision pro-
vided by the seat belt.
For instructions and precautions concerning the
seating position, see “Front seat precautions” on page
138.
G16024
 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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164
G16025
Lexus strongly recommends that all infants and
children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and
be properly restrained.
 Do not allow a child to stand up or kneel on the front
passenger seat, since the front passenger airbag
could inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously
injured.
 Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms. Use
a child restraint system in the rear seat. For
instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ”Child restraint” on page 178.
G16026
Do not put anything or any part of your body on or in
front of the dashboard, lower portion of instrument
panel, steering wheel pad that houses the front
airbag system or in the areas where the SRS knee
airbags will inflate. They might restrict inflation or
cause death or serious injury as they are projected
rearward by the force of the deploying airbags.
Likewise, the driver and front passenger should not
hold objects in their arms or on their knees.
 If a vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS knee
airbag will deploy, be sure to remove it.

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165
Do not attach any objects except Lexus genuine
parts in the area where the SRS knee airbag for the
front passenger will inflate. When using an ashtray
or auxiliary box on the front passenger’s console
box, be sure to keep it closed. The attached object, or
opened ashtray or auxiliary box might restrict
inflation of the airbag or be thrown away by the force
of the deploying airbag, causing a danger.
 Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, st rike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag, front
passenger airbag cover, knee airbags 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 can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS front 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 front end structure.
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to
the front end.
 Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end
structure, console, steering column, steering wheel,
lower portion of instrument panel or dashboard near
the front passenger airbag.

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167
G16027
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, dashboard or lower
portion of instrument panel (shaded in the illustration) is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.

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199
Conditions for memorized position activation

Engine switch in “IG−ON” mode and selector lever in ”P”
position, with the vehicle stopped.
 Engine switch in “OFF” mode and within 30 seconds of
opening driver’s door.
The memorized position can be activated, except for the tilt
and telescopic steering.
If any driving position memory switch is pushed while one of
the memorized driving position profiles is being activated, the
operation will stop.
To activate the system, push the desired button (“1”, “2” or \
“3”)
again.
The driving position memory control system cannot be
operated while the vehicle is moving.
If the vehicle’s battery is disconnected, the computer’s
memory will be erased and the memorized positions will have
to be set again.
CAUTION
 Do not start the vehicle while the adjustments are
being made.
 Take care not to select the wrong button, or the seat
could strike the rear passenger or hit your body
against the steering wheel. If this happens, you can
stop the movement by pressing another driving
position memory switch.
MEMORY RECALL FUNCTION
You can recall the memorized position using the entry
function or wireless remote control.
If you unlock the door using the entry function or wireless
remote control, the memorized seat position is recalled when
the driver’s door is opened. The memorized steering wheel
position will be recalled when you push the engine switch.
This function can be used after setting by the following
procedure.
Setting the driving position onto the electronic key
The driver’s door must be closed with the engine switch turned
off.
1. Push and hold the previously memorized driving position
button “1”, “2” or “3”.
2. While depressing the button above, push and hold the
“LOCK” or “UNLOCK” button on the electronic key until a beep
sounds.
If you wish to set other driv ing position, repeat the above
procedure. The previous setting will be erased and the new
position will be set.
Resetting the driving position on the electronic key
The driver’s door must be closed with the engine switch turned
off.
1. Push and hold the “SET” button.
2. Push and hold the “LOCK” or “UNLOCK” button on the
electronic key until two beeps sound.