2006 Lexus GS430 airbag

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEXUS
ii
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUTYOUR LEXUS
Occupant restraint systems
Lexus encourages you and your family to take the time to read
Section 1 −6 of this Owner’s Manual carefully. In terms of
helping you understand how you can receive the maximum
benefit of the occupant restraint systems this vehicle provides,
Section 1 −6 of this Owner’s Manual is the most important
section for you and your family to read.
Section 1 −6 describes the function and operation concerning
seats, seat belts, SRS airbags and child restraint systems of
this vehicle and some potential hazards you should be aware
of. These systems work together along with the overall
structure of this vehicle in order to provide occupant restraint
in the event of a crash. The effect of each system is enhanced
when it is used properly and together with other systems. No
single occupant restraint system can, by itself, provide you or
your family with the equal level of restraint which these
systems can provide when used together. That is why it is
important for you and your family to understand the purpose
and proper use of each of these systems and how they relate
to each other. The purpose of all occupant
restraint systems is to help reduce
the possibility of death or serious injury in the event of a
collision. None of these systems, either individually or
together, can ensure that there is no injury in the event of
collision. However, the more you know about these systems
and how to use them properly, the greater your chances
become of surviving an acci dent without death or serious
injury.
Seat belts provide the primary restraint to all occupants of the
vehicle, and every occupant of the vehicle should wear seat
belts properly at all times. Children should always be secured
in child restraint systems that are appropriate for their age and
size. SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are, as
their names imply, designed to work with, and be supplemental
to, seat belts and are not substitutes for them. SRS airbags
can be very effective in reducing the risk of head, chest and
knee injuries by preventing contact of the head, chest and knee
with interior portions of the vehicle.
In order to be effective, the SRS airbags must deploy with
tremendous speed. The rapid deployment of the SRS airbags
makes the SRS airbags themselves potential sources of
serious injury if an occupant is too close to an airbag, or if an
object or some part of his or her body has been placed between
the occupant and the airbag at the time of deployment. This
is just one example of how the instructions in Section 1 −6 of
this Owner’s Manual will help ensure proper use of the
occupant restraint systems, and increase the safety they can
provide to you and your family in the event of an accident.
Lexus recommends you to read the provisions in Section 1− 6
carefully and refer to them as needed during your time of
ownership of this vehicle.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEXUS
iii
Event data recorder
Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control certain
aspects of your vehicle. These computers assist in driving and
maintaining optimal vehicle performance. Besides storing
data useful for troubleshooting, there is a system to record data
in a crash or a near car crash event. This is called an Event
Data Recorder (EDR).
The SRS airbag sensor assembly contains the EDR. In a
crash or a near car crash event, this device may record some
or all of the following information:
 Engine speed
 Whether the brake pedal was applied or not
 Vehicle speed
 To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
 Position of the transmission selector lever
 Whether the driver and front passenger wore the seat belts
or not
 Driver’s seat position
 Front passenger’s occupant classification
 SRS airbag deployment data
 SRS airbag system diagnostic data If your vehicle is equipped with a vehicle stability control (VSC)
system,
its Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may contain another
EDR. There are a variety of driving situations which include
activating the VSC under wh ich the VSC EDR will record
certain information. The VSC EDR may record some or all of
the following information:
 Behavior of the vehicle
 Steering wheel angle
 Vehicle speed
 To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
 To what extent the brake pedal was applied
 To what extent the ECU controlled the condition of the 4
wheels
 Vehicle stability control system diagnostic data
The information above is intended to be used for the purpose
of improving vehicle safety performance. Unlike general data
recorders, the EDR does not record sound data such as
conversation between passengers.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEXUS
v
Accessories, spare parts and modification of
your Lexus
A wide variety of non−genuine spare parts and accessories for
Lexus vehicles are currently available in the market. You
should know that Toyota does not warrant these products and
is not responsible for their performance, repair, or
replacement, or for any damage they may cause to, or adverse
effect they may have on, your Lexus vehicle.
This vehicle should not be modified with non −genuine Lexus
products. Modification with non −genuine Lexus products
could af fect its performance, safety or durability, and may even
violate governmental regulations. In addition, damage or
performance problems resulting from the modification may not
be covered under warranty.
Spark ignition system of your Lexus
The spark ignition system in your Lexus meets all
requirements of the Canadian Interference− Causing
Equipment Standard.
Installation of a mobile twoway radio system
As the installation of a mobile two −way radio system in your
vehicle could affect electronic systems such as the multiport
fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system,
cruise control system, dynamic radar cruise control system,
anti− lock brake system, SRS airbag system and seat belt
pretensioner system, be sure to check with your Lexus dealer
for precautionary measures or special instructions regarding
installation.
Smart access system with pushbutton start
Users of any electrical medical devices such as implanted
pacemakers should consult the manufacturer of the device for
information about its operation under the influence of radio
waves. Radio waves could have unexpected effects on the
operation of such medical devices. For details, see “Keys” on
page 8 and “Smart access system with push −button start” on
page 11.
Tires and loading on your Lexus
Underinflated or overinflated tire pressure and the
excess load may result in the deterioration of steering
ability and braking ability, leading to an accident. Check
the tire inflation pressure periodically and be sure to
keep the load limits given in this Owner’s Manual. For
details about tire inflation pressure and load limits, see
page 548 and 462.
Scrapping of your Lexus
The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner devices in your
Lexus contain explosive c hemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped
with the airbags and seat belt pretensioners left as they are,
this may cause an accident such as fire. Be sure to have the
systems of the SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner removed
and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your Lexus
dealer before you scrap your vehicle.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
78Once the engine switch is selected in “IG
−ON” mode, the
reminder light flashes and buzzer sounds if the driver’s seat
belt is not fastened. Unless the driver fastens the belt, the light
continues flashing and the buzzer stops after about 4 to 8
seconds.
If the vehicle speed exceeds about 15 km/h (10 mph) with the
driver’s seat belt reminder light flashing, beeps sound
intermittently for about 20 seconds.
(d) Front Passenger’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
The light acts as a reminder to have the front passenger buckle
up the seat belt.
Once the engine switch is selected in “IG −ON” mode, the
reminder light flashes if a passenger sits in the front passenger
seat and does not fasten the seat belt. Unless the front
passenger fastens the belt, the light continues flashing.
However, if a front passenger uses an additional seat cushion,
the indicator light may not flash even when the seat belt is not
buckled up.
If luggage or other load is placed on the front passenger seat,
depending on its weight and how it is placed on the seat,
built−in sensors in the seat cushion may detect the pressure,
causing the reminder light to flash.
(e) SRS Warning Light
The indicator comes on when the engine switch is
selected in “IGON” mode. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the SRS airbags and seat belt
pretensioners 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.
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 to service the vehicle.
 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.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the SRS driver and front
passenger airba gs, SRS side and curtain shield airbags and/or
seat belt pretensioners have a problem.

SECTION 1 – 6
141
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Occupant restraint systems
Seats142
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seats 142
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 147
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . .
Armrest 148
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraints 148
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . .
Seat belts 151
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . .
SRS driver airbag and front passenger airbag 162
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags 172
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint 182
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
Driving position memory system 202
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front passenger seat position memory system 204
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
142
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
143
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 area
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 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
147
Adjusting lumbar support
G16005
Push the control switch on either side.
The amount of lumbar support will change while the switch is
pushed.
REAR SEATS
Rear seat precautions
Rear seats (with SRS rear side airbags)
CAUTION
The SRS rear side airbags are installed in the outboard
rear seats. Observe the following precautions.
Do not lean against the rear door when the vehicle is
in use, since the rear side airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, you may
be killed or severely injured.
 Do not use seat accessories which cover the area
where the rear side airbags inflate. Such accessories
may prevent the rear side airbags from activating
correctly, causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the outboard rear seats or
the upholstery of the seats with rear side airbags.
Such change may prevent the side airbag system
from activating correctly, disable the system, or
cause the rear side airbags to inflate accidentally,
resulting in death or serious injury.