OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
146
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.
12x600a
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch
The roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch can
turn off the curtain shield airbags in a vehicle rollover.
This switch should only be used in a situation where the
inflation is not desired (such as during extreme offroad
driving).
When you push the roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off
switch for a few seconds with the ignition switch on, the roll
sensing of curtain shield airbags off indicator light comes on
and the roll sensing function is turned off. When you push the
switch again, the indicator light goes off and the roll sensing
function is turned on.
In a severe side impact, the curtain shield airbag on the
impacted side will inflate even if the roll sensing function is
turned off.
If the ignition switch is turned to “ACC” or “LOCK” with the r\
oll
sensing function off and then the ignition switch is turned back
to “ON”, the roll sensing function will be back on automatically.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
148
16x527
1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS side 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 low speed side collision.
16X501a
1 The angle of vehicle tip up is marginal
2Skidding vehicle hitting a curb stone
The SRS curtain shield airbags may inflate if the angle of
vehicle tip up is marginal or if the skidding vehicle’s tires
hit a curb stone laterally as shown in the illustration.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
149
16X500
1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Pitching end over end
The SRS curtain shield airbags are not generally designed
to inflate if the vehicle is involved in a front or rear
collision, if it pitches end over end or if it is involved in a
low speed side collision.
16x24516X245
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 side airbags and curtain shield airbags may
deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of your
vehicle. Some examples are shown in the illustration.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
150
16x607c
1Curtain shield airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
3Front passenger occupant classification
indicator light
4 Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
5 SRS warning light
6Curtain shield airbag sensor assembly
7Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assembly
8Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
9Airbag sensor assembly
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 sensors. 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.
In a vehicle rollover, the airbag sensor assembly triggers the
curtain shield airbag inflator. At this time a chemical reaction
in the inflators very quickly fills the airbags with non
−toxic gas
to help restrain the forward or lateral motion of the front and
second seat occupants.
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, it may also
cause minor burns or abrasions and swelling.
Front seats as well as parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof
side rail may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags
themselves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate
only once.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
151
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.
16x520a
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.
Improper sitting and wearing of the seat belts may
not retain you inside the vehicle.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
154
16x512a
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, center and roof side garnish,
roof interior or 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 hurled away with great force or the
curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly,
which could result in death or serious injury. When
you hang clothes, hang them on the coat hook
directly.
Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags inflate. Su ch accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly,
causing death or serious injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with 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.
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.
Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacturer’s recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate
accidentally, which could result 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 to inflate accidentally, which
could cause in death or serious injury. For details,
see “Roof luggage carrier” on page 88.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
157
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
Any of the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags have
been inflated.
The portion of the doors (shaded in the illustration) were
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags to inflate.
The surface of the seats with the side airbags (shaded in the
illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
The portion of the front, center and rear pillar garnish, roof
interior containing the curtain shield airbags inside (shaded
in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.
FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant
classification system. This system detects the conditions
1. through 4. in the table on page 160 and based on these
conditions activates or deactivates the following
systems;
Front passenger airbag
Side airbag on the front passenger seat
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
The system monitors the weight and load on the front
passenger seat, and the seat belt buckle switch to
determine conditions 1. through 4.
In order for the system to detect the conditions correctly,
do not do any of the following:
Apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat or equipment
(e.g. armrest).
Attach a commercial seatback table, etc. to the front
passenger seatback.
Put weight on the front pa ssenger seat by putting your
hands or feet on the seatback from the rear passenger seat.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
158
The front passenger occupant classification indicator
light indicates the actuation of the front passenger airbag,
side airbag on the front passenger seat and front
passenger’s seat belt pretensioner.
The indicator light will indicate “OFF” when the ignition switch
is in the “ON” position with the condition 2 in the table shown
below.
If the front passenger occupant classification system
determines that a person of adult size sits in the front
passenger seat but the “OFF” indicator is illuminated, one of
the following is likely to have occurred:
A rear passenger lifts the front passenger seat cushion with
their legs.
Objects are placed under the front passenger seat.
The front passenger seatback is in contact with the rear
seat. To ensure the system correctly detects an adult sitting in the
front passenger seat, make sure the above do not occur.
Make sure that the “ON” indicator is illuminated when an adult
is seated in the front passenger seat. If the “OFF” indicator is
illuminated, ask the passenger to sit up straight, well back in
the seat, and with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “OFF”
indicator still
remains illuminated, either ask the passenger to
move to the rear seat, or if that is not possible, move the front
passenger seat fully rearward.
The front passenger occupant classification indicator
light will indicate “ON” and “OFF” when the ignition key
is turned to the “ON” position. After about 4 seconds, it
will go off. After about 2 seconds, the front passenger
occupant classification system operates and judges
whether to indicate “ON” or “OFF”.