Lexus ES300 2000 Owner's Manuals (in English)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
151


Side airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the side airbag
for the driver or front passenger works together with
the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The
side airbag for the driver or front passenger help to
reduce injuries mainly to the driver or front
passenger's chest.
The side airbag on the passenger seat is activated even
with no passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
152
CAUTION
Side airbags inflate with considerable force. To avoid
potential death or serious injury when they inflate, the
driver and front passenger must:
Wear their seat belts.
 Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.
16E179

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
153
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is
turned to the ªACCº or ªONº position. It goes off
after about 6 seconds. This means the SRS is
operating properly.
The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag
sensor assembly, side airbag sensor assemblies, front
airbag sensors, inflators, warning light, interconnecting
wiring and power sources. (For details, see ªService
reminder
indicators and warning buzzersº on page 60 for
instructions.)
16E023

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
154The SRS airbag system is designed to activate in
response to a severe frontal impact within the
shaded area between the arrows in the illustration.
The SRS airbags will work if the severity of the impact
is above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 25 km/h (15 mph) collision when impacting
straight
into a fixed barrier that does not move or deform.
If the severity of the impact is below the above threshold
level, the SRS airbags may not work. 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 it is involved in an underride collision (e.g.
a collision in which the nose of the vehicle ªunderridesº,
or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
It is possible that in some collisions at the lower zone of
airbag sensor detection and activation the SRS airbags
and seat belt pretensioners will not operate all together.
For the safety of all occupants, always wear your seat
belts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
155
16E134±1

1Collision from the rear
2Vehicle rollover
The SRS airbags are not designed to inflate if the
vehicle is involved in a rear collision, if it rolls over,
or if it is involved in a low±speed frontal collision.
The side airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger compartment gets a severe collision
from the side.
The side airbags may rather not to activate in the impact
in which the occupant wearing the seat belt correctly
would not get serious injury.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
156
16E135

1Collision from the side at an angle
2Collision from the side to the vehicle body
other
than the passenger compartment
The side airbags may not inflate if the vehicle is
involved in a collision from the side at certain
angles, or a collision to the side of the vehicle body
other than the passenger compartment as shown in
the illustration.

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157
16E171

1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags are not 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
158
16E159

1Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard
material
2Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
3Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS airbags may operate if a serious collision
occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some
examples are shown in the illustration.

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159
16E232

1Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
2Airbag module for front passenger (airbag and inflator)
3Side airbag sensor assemblies
4Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
5SRS warning light
6Airbag sensor assembly
7Front airbag sensors
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor
and airbag sensor.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
160In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger
airbag sensor detects deceleration and the system
triggers the front airbag inflators. In a severe side
impact, the side airbag sensor triggers the side airbag
inflator.
Then a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non±toxic gas to help restrain the
forward or lateral motion of the occupants.
When the SRS operates, it produces a fairly loud noise
and release some smoke and residue along with
non±toxic gas. This does not indicate a fire. This gas is
normally harmless; however, for those who have
delicate skin, it may cause a minor skin irritation. Be
sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to
prevent any potential skin irritation.
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.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub,
dashboard, front seats) may be hot for several minutes,
but the airbags themselves will not be hot. The airbags
are designed to inflate only once.
A crash severe enough to inflate the driver and front
passenger airbags may break the windshield as the
vehicle buckles. In vehicles with a front passenger
airbag, the windshield may also be damaged by
absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.