2006 Lexus GS430 airbag

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
165
G16022
 1Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard surface.
2Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
3Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS front airbags may also deploy if a serious impact
occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples
are shown in the illustration.
G16023
 1 Occupant detection sensor
2Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
3 Knee airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
4 Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
5SRS warning light
6Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
7Knee airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
8Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
9Driver’s seat position sensor
10Airbag sensor assembly
11Front 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
166The 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
167
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
142.
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
168
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 182.
G16026a
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
169
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
170
16G017
This indicator comes on when the engine switch is
selected in “IGON” mode. 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,
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 74.)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 engine switch is selected in “IG−ON” mode, the
light does not come on or remains on for more than 6
seconds.
 The light comes on while driving.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
171
G16027a
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
172
SRS SIDE AIRBAGS AND CURTAINSHIELD AIRBAGS
G16028
 1Curtain shield airbag
2Front side airbag
3Rear side airbag (for some models)
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 front side airbags help reduce
injuries mainly
to the driver’s or front passenger’s chest. The
SRS curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the
driver’s, front passenger’s or rear outboard passenger’s head.
The SRS front side airbag on the passenger seat will not
activate if there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger
seat. However, the front 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.
Vehicles equipped with SRS rear side airbags—
The SRS rear side airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the
rear outboard passenger’s chest.
The SRS rear side airbags will activate regardless of the
presence of the occupant.