2006 Lexus GS430 airbag

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
173
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 151.
 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 airbag 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 182 .

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
174
G16029
 1Collision 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.
G16030
 1 Collision 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
175
G16031
 1Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
2Front side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
3Curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
4Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
5Occupant detection sensor
6Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
7SRS warning light
8Airbag sensor assembly
9Vehicles with rear side airbag only:
Rear side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
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.
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 (and outboard rear) seats as well as the parts of the front
and rear pillars, and roof side rail may be hot for several
minutes, but the airbags themselves will be hot. The airbags
are designed to inflate only once.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
176
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.
G16137
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
177
G16033
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 front passenger
(and outboard rear )seat, facing the front passenger’s
side (and rear outboard 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.
G16034
 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
178
G16035a
Do not attach a cupholder or any other device or
object on or around the doors. When the side airbag
inflate, 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.
G16036
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
179
Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly,
causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the front (and outboard rear)
seats or upholstery of the seats with front (and rear)
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 rail 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.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, front (or
outboard rear) seats .

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
180
16G017
The indicator comes on when the engine switch is
selected in “IGON” mode. 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,
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.