2006 LEXUS RX330 Owners Manual

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
196
CAUTION
To avoid potential death or serious injury when the front
passenger occupant classification system does not
detect the conditions correctly, observe the following.
Wear the seat belt properly.
 Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not
been left inserted into the buckle before someone
sits in the front passenger seat.
 Make sure the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is not
illuminated when using the seat belt extender for the
front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator
light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue
from the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat
belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender after making
sure the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated.
If you use the seat belt extender while the “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated, the front
passenger airbag and side airbag on the front
passenger side may not activate correctly, which
could cause death or serious injury in the event of
collision.
 Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat
or equipment (e.g. seatback pocket or armrest).
 Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by
putting your hands or feet on the front passenger
seat seatback from the rear passenger seat.
 Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger
seat with their feet or press on the seatback with their
legs.
 Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
 Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far
that it touches a rear seat. This may cause the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not
deploy in the event of a severe accident. If the
seatback touches the rear seat, return the seatback
to a position where it does not touch the rear seat.
Keep the front passenger seatback as upright as
possible when the vehicle is moving. Reclining the
seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness
of the seat belt system.

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197
If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the
“AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated. If the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator is illuminated, ask the
passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet
on the floor, and with the seat belt worn correctly. If
the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator still remain illuminated,
either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or
if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat
fully rearward.
 When it is unavoidable to install the forwardfacing
child restraint system on the front passenger seat,
install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. (As for the
installation order, see “Child restraint system” on
page 199.)
 Do not remove the seat.
 Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to
severe impact. Otherwise, the SRS warning light may
come on to indicate a malfunction of the detection
system. In this case, contact your Lexus dealer
immediately.
 Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat
should not contact the front seatbacks.In addition to the precautions outlined above, the “AIRBAG
ON” indicator light may be illuminated when a child sits in the
front passenger seat or a forward −facing child restraint system
is installed in the front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light is illuminated in these circumstances, the front
passenger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger side
are in an activated condition — the airbags will deploy if an
impact meets the deployment criteria. Refer to all the cautions
in this Section and “Child restraint system” on page 199.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
198
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of appropriate child restraint
systems for children.
The laws of all 50 states in the U.S.A. and Canada now require
the use of a child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child should
sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using the vehicle’s
seat belt. See “Seat belts” on page 154 for details.
CAUTION
 For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint system depending
on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in
your arms is not a substitute for a child restraint
system. In an accident, the child can be crushed
against the windshield, or between you and the
vehicle’s interior.
 Lexus strongly urges use of a proper child restraint
system which conforms to the size of the child,
installed on the rear seat. According to accident
statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat.
 Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front
passenger airbag can cause death or serious injury
to the child if the rearfacing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
 Only when it is unavoidable should a forwardfacing
child restraint system be installed on the front
passenger seat. Always move the seat as far back as
possible even if the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, because the front passenger airbag
could inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously
injured.

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199
On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield
airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the door or the area
of the seat, front or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags
deploy even if the child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbags and/or
curtain shield airbags inflate, and the impact could
cause death or serious injury to the child.
 Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a
child restraint system on the front or rear passenger
seat. If installing a child restraint system with the
seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat
belt will not securely hold the child restraint system,
which could cause death or serious injury to the child
or other passengers in the event of collision.
 Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly
secured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause
death or serious injury to the child in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must
itself be properly restrained on the seat with the lap
portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must carefully
consult the manufacturer’s instructions which
accompany the child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system
following the manufacturer’s instructions about the appropriate
age and size of the child for the child restraint system.
Install the child restraint system correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer. General directions
are also provided under the following illustrations.
The child restraint system should be installed on the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
When not using the child restraint system, keep it secured with
the seat belt or place it somewhere other than the passenger
compartment. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in
the event of a sudden stop or accident.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
200Types of child restraint system
Child restraint systems are classified into the following 3
types
depending on the child’s age and size.
(A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat
(C) Booster seat
Install the child restraint system following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
Your vehicle has anchor brackets for securing the top strap of
a child restraint system.
For instructions about how to use the anchor bracket, see
“Using a top strap” on page 217.
The child restraint lower anchorages approved for your vehicle
may also be used. See “Installation with child restraint lower
anchorages” on page 220 for instructions. (A) Infant seat
(B) Convertible seat

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201
(C) Booster seat
INSTALLATION WITH 3POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
(A) Infant seat installation
An infant seat must be used in rearfacing position only.

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202
CAUTION
Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an
accident the force of the rapid inflation of the front
passenger airbag can cause death or serious injury
to the child if the rearfacing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
If the driver’s seat position does not allow sufficient
space for safe installation, install the child restraint
system on the rear right seat. Child restraint system
installed on the rear seat should not contact the front
seatbacks.

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203
1Same position2Same angle
When installing a child restraint system in the rear
center position, adjust both seat cushions to the
same position and align both seatbacks at the same
angle. Otherwise, the child restraint system cannot
be securely restrained and this may cause death or
serious injuries in a collision.
1. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the infant
seat following the instructions provided by its manufacturer
and insert the tab into the buckle taking care not to twist the
belt. Keep the lap portion of the belt tight.