flat Lexus GX470 2004 Audio /

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
170Deployment 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, 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 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 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 precautionsº on page
125.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
171
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use, since the front
passenger airbag could inflates with considerable
speed and force. Anyone who is up against, or very
close to, an airbag when it inflates, can be killed or
seriously injured. Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, and always use your seat belt properly.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
172
Lexus strongly recommends that all infants and
children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and
be properly restrained.
 Do not allow a child to stand up or to kneel on the
front passenger seat, since the front airbag could
inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, 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 second or third seat.
For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see Child restraintº on page 194.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
173
Do not put anything or any part of your body on or in
front of the dashboard or steering wheel pad that
houses the front 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 objects in their arms or on their
knees.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
175
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ONº position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS front airbags are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver's seat position sensor, driver's seat belt buckle switch,
front seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light,
RSCA OFFº indicator light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzersº on page 62 for instructions.) If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners. Contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.

The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the ONº position or remains on for more than 6 seconds
or flashes.
 The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the SRS front airbags have
a problem. If the light flashes, the SRS side and curtain shield
airbags have a problem.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
176
16PY156
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
178
SRS SIDE AIRBAGS AND CURTAINSHIELD AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags
and curtain shield airbags are designed to provide further
protection for the driver, front passenger and rear outside
passengers in addition to the primary safety protection
provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe side impact, the SRS side airbags and
curtain shield airbags work with the seat belts to help reduce
injury by inflating. The SRS side airbags help reduce injuries
mainly to the driver's or front passenger's torso and the SRS
curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the
driver's, front passenger's or rear outside passenger's head. Roll sensing function:
In response to a vehicle rollover, the curtain shield airbags on
both sides work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by
inflating. The
curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly
to the driver's, front passenger's or second passenger's head
and help prevent them from being thrown out of the vehicle.
(This function can be turned off if inflation is not desired. See
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switchº on page 193.)
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag on the
passenger side are activated even with no passenger in the
front seat or second outside seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the
side airbags are not activated.
Always wear your seat belt properly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which will record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver and front passenger when the SRS side
airbags are inflated.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
179
CAUTION
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system
is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver, front passenger and second
outside passenger seat belt systems. To ensure
maximum protection in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly. Wearing a seat belt properly 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 Seat beltsº on page 150.
 Do not allow anyone to lean his/her head or any part
of his/her body against the door or the area of the
seat, front pillar, rear pillar or roof side rail from which
the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag deploy
even if he/she is a child seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the SRS side airbag and
curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact of the
deploying airbags could cause death or serious
injury to the occupant.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by the
deploying ai rbags. 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 second or third seats of the vehicle and
properly restrained. The second or third seats are the
safest for infants and children. For instructions
concerning the installation of a child restraint
system, see Child restraintº on page 194.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
180

1Collision from the side to the vehicle body otherthan the passenger compartment
2Collision from the side at an angle
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system may
not activate if the vehicle is subjected to 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.
The SRS side airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger com partment area suffers a severe impact from the
side.
The curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger com partment area suffers a severe impact from the
side or vehicle rollover.
Always wear your seat belts properly.

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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
181

1The angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal
2Skidding vehicle hitting a curb stone
The 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.

1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Pitching end over end
The 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.