airbag Lexus GX470 2006 Basic Functions In Frequent Use / LEXUS 2006 GX470 (OM60B99U) Owner's Guide

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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
outboard 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 outboard passenger’s head. The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat will not activate if
there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat.
However,
the side airbag on the passenger seat may deploy if
luggage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up
regardless of the presence of the occupant in the seat. (As for
the front passenger occupan t classification system, see “Front
passenger occupant classification system” on page 168.)
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 sh ield 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 switch” on page 174.)
The SRS curtain shield airbag on the passenger side are
activated even with no passenger in the front seat or second
outboard seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the
side airbags are not activated.
Always wear your seat belt properly.

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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
outboard 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 belts” on page 131.
 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 airbag 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 airbags. 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 restraint” on page 175.

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1Collision from the side to the vehicle body other
than 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 compartment area suffers a severe impact from the
side.
The curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger compartment 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 lowspeed side collision.

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1The angle of vehicle tipup is marginal
2Skidding vehicle hitting a curb stone
The curtain shield airbags may inflate if the angle of
vehicle tipup 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 lowspeed
side collision.

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1Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard surface
2Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
3Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags may deploy if a
serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle.
Some examples are shown in the illustration.
16PY181

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1Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
2Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
3“AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator lights
4Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
5Curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
6SRS warning light and “RSCA OFF” indicator light
7Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
8Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch
9Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
10Airbag sensor assembly
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system consists
mainly of the above components, and their locations are shown
in the illustration.
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system is
controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sensor
assembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor.
In a severe side impact, the side and curtain shield airbag
sensor and/or the curtain shield airbag sensor trigger(s) the
side airbag inflators and/or the curtain shield airbag inflators.
At this time a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non −toxic gas to help restrain the lateral motion
of the occupants. In a vehicle rollover, the airbag sensor assembly triggers the
curtain shield airbag inflator.
At this time, a chemical reaction
in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non −toxic gas to
help restrain the lateral motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise and
release some smoke and residue along with non −toxic gas.
This does not indicate a fire. This smoke may remain inside the
vehicle for some time, and may cause some minor irritation to
the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to wash off any residue as
soon as possible to prevent any potential skin irritation with
soap and water. If you can safely exit from the vehicle, you
should do so immediately.
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 se rious injuries, it may also
cause minor burns or abrasions and swelling.
Front seats as well as parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof
side rail may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags
themselves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate
only once.

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CAUTION
SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags inflate with
considerable force. To reduce the possibility of death
or serious injury when they inflate, the driver, front
passenger and rear outboard passengers must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
 Remain properly seated with their backs upright and
against the seats at all times.
Do not allow anyone to lean against the door when
the vehicle is in use, since the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, he/she may be killed or
seriously injured. Special care should be taken
especially when you have a small child in the vehicle.
 Sit up straight and well back in the seat, distributing
your weight evenly in the seat. Do not apply
excessive weight to the outer side of the seats with a
side airbag and to the front pillar, rear pillar and roof
side rail with a curtain shield airbag.
 Improper sitting and wearing of the seat belts may
not retain you inside the vehicle.

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Make sure the “RSCA OFF” indicator light is off. The
curtain shield airbags will not inflate in a vehicle
rollover if this indicator light is on and you may be
killed or seriously injured. For details, see “Roll
sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch” on page
174. Do not allow anyone to get his/her head closer to the
area where the side airbag and curtain shield airbag
inflate, since these airbags could inflate with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured. Special care
should be taken especially when you have a small
child in the vehicle.
 Do not allow anyone to kneel on the passenger seat,
facing the passenger’s side door, since the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag could inflate with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, he/she
may be killed or seriously injured. Special care
should be taken especially when you have a small
child in the vehicle.

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Do not allow anyone to get his/her head or hands out
of windows, since the curtain shield airbags could
inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, he/she may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle. Do not attach a cupholder or any other device or
object on or around the door. When the side airbag
and curtain shield airbag inflate, the cupholder or any
other device or object will be thrown with great force,
or the side airbag and curtain shield airbag may not
activate correctly, resulting in death or serious injury.
Likewise, the driver and front passenger should not
hold objects in their arms or on their knees.

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Do not attach a microphone or any other device or
object around the area where the curtain shield
airbag activates such as on the windshield glass,
side door glass, front and rear pillars, roof side rail
and assist grips. When the curtain shield airbag
inflates, the microphone or other device or object will
be thrown away with great force or the curtain shield
airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death
or serious injury.
 Do not hook a hanger , heavy or sharp pointed objects
on the coat hook. If the curtain shield airbag inflates,
those items will be thrown away with great force or
the curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly,
resulting in death or serious injury. When you hang
clothes, hang them on the coat hook directly.
 Do not use seat accessories 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 replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with side airbags. Such changes may
prevent the side airbag system from activating
correctly, disable the system or cause the side
airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or
serious injury.
 Do not disassemble or repair the front and rear pillars
and roof side rail containing the curtain shield
airbags. Such changes may disable the system or
cause the curtain shield airbags to inflate
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags
to inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury . Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
 Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacture’s recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags and seat belt
pretensioners to inflate accidentally, which could
result in death or serious injury. For details, see
“Checking and replacing tires” on page 538.