2006 Lexus GX470 airbag

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
142
Seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger’s seat belt pretensioners
are designed to be activated in response to a severe
frontal impact or a vehicle rollover.
When the sensor detects a severe frontal impact or a vehicle
rollover, the front seat belts are quickly drawn back by the
retractors so that the belts snugly restrain the occupants.
The front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner will not activate
if no passenger is detected in the front passenger seat by the
front passenger occupant classification system. However, the
front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner may activate if
luggage is put on the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up
regardless of the presence of an occupant in the seat. (As for
the front passenger occupant classification system, see page
168.)
The seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags may not operate
together in case of collisions at a certain speeds and angles.
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off (RSCA OFF)
indicator light
The seat belt pretensioners will not operate in a vehicle rollover
if the “RSCA OFF” indicator light is on. For details, see “Rol\
l
sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch” on page 174.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
143
1Front airbag sensors
2Seat belt pretensioner assemblies
3Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
4SRS warning light
5Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
6Airbag sensor assembly
The front seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the
above components, and their locations are shown in the
illustration.
The front seat belt pretensioners are controlled by the airbag
sensor assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.
When the front seat belt pretensioners are activated, an
operating noise may be heard and a small amount of non −toxic
gas may be released. This does not indicate that a fire is
occurring. This gas is normally harmless. Once
the front seat belt pretensioners have been activated, the
seat belt retractors remain locked.
CAUTION
 Do not modify, remove, strike or open the seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, airbag sensor or
surrounding area or wiring. Failure to follow these
instruction may prevent the seat belt pretensioners
from activating correctly, cause sudden operation of
the system or disable the system, which could result
in death or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer
about any repair and modification.
 Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags
to inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury . Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
 Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacture’s recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags and seat belt
pretensioners to inflate accidentally, which could
result in death or serious injury. For details, see
“Checking and replacing tires” on page 538.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
144
Do not place luggage heavier than specified on the
roof luggage carrier. Such luggage may cause the
curtain shield airbags and seat belt pretensioners to
inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury. For details, see “Roof luggage
carrier” on page 107.
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 seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or CD player
 Repairs on or near the front seat belt retractor
assemblies
 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, the front
end structure and console
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the 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,
front passenger occupant classification system, “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light, “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s
seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
inflators, warning light, “RSCA OFF” indicator light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details, see
“Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on page
51.)

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
145
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.
 The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the “ON” position or remains on for more than 6 seconds
or flashes.
 The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
 If either front seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled
out due to a malfunction or activation of the relevant front
seat belt pretensioner.
 The seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding area
has been damaged.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the front seat belt pretensioners to operate.
 The front seat belt pretensioner assembly is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
146
SRS DRIVER AIRBAG AND FRONTPASSENGER AIRBAG
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) front airbags
are designed to provide further protection for the driver
and front passenger in addition to the primary safety
protection provided by the seat belts.
Your vehicle is equipped with “ADVANCED AIRBAGS”
designed based on US motor vehicle safety standards
(FMVSS208). The airbag system controls airbag deployment
power for the driver and front passenger. The driver airbag
system consists of the driver seat’s position sensor etc. The
front passenger’s airbag system consists of the front
passenger occupant classification sensor etc. In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS front airbags
work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The
SRS front airbags help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s
or front passenger’s head or chest caused hitting the vehicle
interior.
The SRS front passenger airbag will not activate if there is no
passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the
front
passenger airbag 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. (As for the front passenger occupant
classification system, see “Front passenger occupant
classification system” on page 168.).
Always wear your seat belt properly.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
147
CAUTION
The SRS front airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the driver
and front passenger seat belt systems. The driver
and front passenger can be killed or seriously injured
by the inflating airbags if they do not wear the
available seat belts properly . During sudden braking
just before a collision, an unrestrained driver or front
passenger can move forward into direct contact with
or close proximity to the airbag which may then
deploy during the collision. 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 131.
 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 second or third seat of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The second or third seat is the safest for
infants and children. For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see “Child
restraint” on page 175.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
148The SRS front airbags are designed to deploy in severe
(usually frontal) collisions where the magnitude and
duration of the forward deceleration of the vehicle
exceeds the designed threshold level.
The SRS front airbags will deploy if the severity of the impact
is above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 25
km/h (15 mph) collision when the vehicle has
the impact straight into a fixed barrier that does not move or
deform.
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if
the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign
pole, which can move or deform on impact, or if the vehicle is
involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in which the
front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a
truck, etc.).
It is possible that in some collisions where the forward
deceleration of the vehicle is very close to the designed
threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the seat belt
pretensioners may not activate together.
Always wear your seat belts properly.
1Collision from the side
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS front airbags are not generally designed to inflate
if the vehicle is involved in a side or rear collision, if it rolls
over, or if it is involved in a lowspeed frontal collision.
But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient
forward deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the
SRS front airbags may occur.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
149
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.
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