2006 LEXUS LX470 Owners Manual

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
131
CAUTION
Make sure the roll sensing of curtain shield airbags
off indicator light is not on.
 When the roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off
switch is turned on (and the roll sensing of curtain
shield airbags off indicator light is on), the seat belt
pretensioners will not operate in a vehicle rollover
and turning off the seat belt pretensioners can
reduce the occupant protection which your vehicle
safety systems can provide to you in certain
accidents and increase the likelihood of death or
serious personal injuries.
16X676a
 1
Airbag sensor assembly
2Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
3 SRS warning light
4Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
5Seat belt pretensioner assemblies
6Front airbag sensors
The seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the
above components, and their locations are shown in the
illustration.
The seat belt pretensioners are controlled by the airbag sensor
assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing
sensor and airbag sensor.
When the 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 seat belt pretensioners have been activated, the seat
belt retractors remain locked.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
132
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open the seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, airbag sensor or
surrounding area or wiring. Failure to follow these
instructions 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.
 Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacturer’s recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags and seat belt
pretensioners to inflate accidentally, resulting in
death or serious injury. For details, see “Checking
and replacing tires” on page 438.
 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, resulting in death or serious
injury. For details, see “Roof luggage carrier” on
page 88.
 Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may 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 before
performing 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 seat belt retractor assemblies.
 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 or console.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
133
16x502a
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 and indicator
light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, inflators, roll sensing of curtain
shield airbags off indicator light, interconnecting wiring and
power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers” on page 52.) If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the
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 any seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled out due
to a malfunction or activation of the relevant seat belt
pretensioner.
 The seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding area
has been damaged.
The SRS warning light will come on and front passenger
occupant classification indicator light will indicate “OFF” if
there is a malfunction in the front passenger occupant
classification system.

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134
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 seat belt pretensioners to operate.
 The seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding area is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
SRS DRIVER AIRBAG AND FRONT
PASSENGER AIRBAG
16X600
Front airbags
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 s eat’s position sensor, etc. The
front passenger’s airbag system consists of the front
passenger occupant classification sensor, etc.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
135
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 reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or
front passenger’s head or chest caused by 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 157.)
Always wear your seat belt properly.
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 121.

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136
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 seat 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 162.The 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
137
16X028a
 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.
16X245
 1 Hitting 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 severe impact
occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples
are shown in the illustration.

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138
16x604b
 1Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
2 Airbag sensor assembly
3Front passenger occupant classification
indicator light
4 Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
5 SRS warning light
6Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
7Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
8Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
9Driver’s seat position sensor
10Front 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. The 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.