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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
141
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,
non slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle
has that feature.
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.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
175
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 are 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.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, lower portion
of instrument panel, airbag cover and inflator) may be hot for
several minutes after deployment, so do not touch! The airbags
inflate only once. The windshield may be damaged by
absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger who is too close to the
steering wheel, lower portion of instrument panel or
dashboard during airbag deployment can be killed or
seriously injured. Lexus strongly recommends that:
The driver sit as far back as possible from the
steering wheel while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
The front passenger sit as far back as possible from
the dashboard.
All vehicle occupants must be properly restrained
using the available seat belts.
If the seat belt extender has been connected to the
driver’s seat belt buckle without wearing the seat belt
when using the extender in the driver’s seat, the SRS
driver’s airbag system will judge that the driver wears
the seat belt even if not wearing it. In this case, the
driver’s airbag may not activate correctly, causing
death or serious injury in the event of collision. Be
sure to wear the seat belt with the seat belt extender.
For instructions and precautions concerning the
seating position, see “Front seat precautions” on page
140.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
177
Do not put anything or any part of your body or install
anything such as accessories or turbo timers on or in
front of the dashboard, lower portion of instrument
panel or steering wheel pad that houses the front
airbag system or in the areas where the SRS knee
airbag will inflate. They might restrict inflation or
cause death or serious injury as they are projected
rearward by the force of the deploying airbags.
Likewise, the driver and front passenger should not
hold objects in their arms or on their knees.
If the vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS
knee airbag will deploy, be sure to remove it.
Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, strike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front passenger
airbag, driver knee airbag or airbag sensor assembly.
Doing so may prevent the front airbag system from
activating correctly, cause sudden activation of the
system or disable the system, which could result 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.
If you wish to modify your vehicle for a person with a
physical disability, consult your Lexus dealer. It may
dangerously interfere with the SRS front airbags
operation.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
178
Do not attach any heavy, sharp or hard objects such
as keys or accessories to the ignition key. The
objects may restrict the SRS knee airbag inflation or
be thrust into the driver’s seat area by the force of the
deploying airbag, thus causing a danger.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS front airbag
system in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
two way radio, cassette tape player or CD player
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, front end
structure, console, steering column, steering wheel,
lower portion of instrument panel or dashboard near
the front passenger airbag
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
180
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The SRS front airbags have been inflated.
The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS front airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel, dashboard, lower
portion of instrument or front passenger airbag cover
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or
otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
226If any driving position memory switch is pushed while one of the
memorized driving position profiles is being activated, the
operation will stop.
To activate the system, push the desired button (“1” or “2”)\
again.
The driving position memory control system cannot be
operated while the vehicle is moving.
If the vehicle’s battery is disconnected, the computer’s
memory will
be erased and the memorized positions will have
to be set again.
CAUTION
Do not start the vehicle while the adjustments are
being made.
Take care not to select the wrong button, or the seat
could strike the rear passenger or hit your body
against the steering wheel. If this happens, you can
stop the movement by pressing another driving
position memory switch.
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SECTION 1 – 7
227
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Steering wheel and mirrors
Steering wheel (tilt type)228
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering wheel (tilt and telescopic type) 229
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside rear view mirrors 230
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inside rear view mirror 233
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vanity mirrors 240
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
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STEERING WHEEL AND MIRRORS
228
STEERING WHEEL (tilt type)
To change the steering wheel angle, hold the steering
wheel, pull up the lock release lever, tilt the steering wheel
to the desired angle and release the lever.
When the steering wheel is in a low position, it will spring up as
you release the lock release lever.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is
moving. Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle
the vehicle and an accident may occur resulting in
death or serious injuries.
After adjusting the steering wheel, try moving it up
and down to make sure it is locked in position.