Lexus ES300 2000 Owner's Manuals (in English)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
161
CAUTION
The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the driver
side and front passenger side seat belt systems. The
front seat occupants can be killed or seriously
injured by an inflating airbag if they do not wear the
available seat belts. 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.
Wearing a seat belt 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 ªSeat beltsº on
page 132.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by a
deploying airbag. 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 seat is the safest for infants and children.
For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ªChild restraintº on page 172 .

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162
16E177
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system
on the front seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the front passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the child.

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163
16L146

Move seat fully back
A forward±facing child restraint system should
be allowed to be put on the front seat only when
it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far
back as possible, because the force of a
deploying airbag could cause death or serious
injury to the child. Do not allow the child to lean
against the front door or around the front door
even if the child is seated in a child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbag
inflates, and the impact could cause death or
serious injury to the child. For instructions
concerning the installation of a child restraint
system, see ªChild restraintº on page 172.

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164
16E028
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over
the dashboard when the vehicle is in use. The
airbags inflate with considerable speed and
force; you may be killed or seriously injured.
Sit up straight and well back in the seat, and
always use your seat belt.

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165
16E126
Do not lean against the front door when the
vehicle is in use. The side airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force; you may be
killed or seriously injured.
 Do not apply excessive weight to the outer side
of the front seats on vehicles with side airbags.

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166
16E029
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on
the front passenger seat. The airbag inflates
with considerable speed and force; the child
may be killed or seriously injured.
 Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms.
Use a child restraint system in the rear seat.
For instructions concerning the installation of
a child restraint system, see ªChild restraintº
on page 172.

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167
16E030
Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of
the dashboard or steering wheel pad that
houses the driver and front passenger airbag
system. 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 things in their arms or on their
knees.

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16E127
Do not attach a cup holder or any other device
or object on or around the door. When the side
airbag inflates, the cup holder or any other
device or object will be thrown with great force,
or the side airbag may not activate correctly,
resulting in death or serious injury. Likewise,
the driver and front passenger should not hold
things in their arms or on their knees.

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169
Do not use accessories for the seats which
cover the parts where the side airbags inflate.
Such accessories may prevent the side airbags
from activating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
 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 seats or airbag sensor
assembly. Doing any of these may cause
sudden SRS airbag inflation or disable the
system, which could result in death or serious
injury.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or
upholstery of the front seats with side airbags.
Such changes may disable the system or cause
the side airbags to inflate accidentally,
resulting in death or serious injury. Consult
your Lexus dealer if you consider
modifications of this kind.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
death or serious injury.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your Lexus dealer. Suchchanges can interfere with proper operation of the
SRS in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile two±way radio, cassette tape player orcompact disc player
Modification of the suspension system
Modification of the front end structure and sidestructure of the passenger compartment
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, k angaroo
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, dashboard near the frontpassenger airbag or front seats

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16E179
This SRS airbag system has an indicator to inform the
driver of operating problems. If either of the following
conditions occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the
airbags. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible
to service the vehicle.
The light does not come on as described above.
 The light stays on or flashes.
 The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the driver and front
passenger airbags fail. If the light flashes, the side
airbags fail.