dashboard lexus LS400 1996 Audio System / 1996 LS400: SEAT BELTS, SRS AND CHILD RESTRAINTS

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
71
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
Repairs on or near the front seat belt retractor
assemblies.
Modification of the suspension system.
Modification of the front end structure.
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snow plow, winches or any other equipment
to the front end.
In the following case, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
If either front seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled
out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner.
The front seat belt retractor assembly or surrounding area
has been damaged.
SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are
designed to provide further protection to the driver and
front passenger when added to the primary protection
provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS airbags
work together with the seat belts to prevent or reduce
injury by inflating, in order to decrease the likelihood of
the driver's or front passenger's head or chest directly
hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.
The passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger
in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
74Deployment of the airbags happen 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 swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard)
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 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.
CAUTION!

The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the seat
belt systems of the driver and front passenger. The
front seat occupants are particularly susceptible to
injury if they do not wear their seat belts; when
sudden braking or a collision occurs, they may be
thrown forward. To obtain further protection in an
accident, the driver and all passengers in the
vehicle should always wear their seat belts when
driving. For instructions and precautions
concerning the seat belt system, see ªSeat beltsº
on page 64.
A baby or small child who is too small to use a seat
belt should be properly secured in a rear seat using
a child restraint system.
Do not use a rear±facing child restraint system in
the front seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the passenger airbag may cause severe
injury to the child. Vehicles with a passenger airbag
display a caution label on the passenger side
instrument panel as shown above to remind you
not to install a rear±facing child restraint system on
the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
75
Move fully back
When using a forward±facing child restraint system
in the front seat, the seat must be moved as far back
as possible. For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see ªChild
restraintº on page 78.
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 severely injured. Sit up straight and well back in
the seat, and always use your seat belt.
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
severely 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 78.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
76
Do not put objects on or in front of the dashboard
or steering wheel pad that houses the airbag
system. They might restrict inflation or cause
personal injury as they are projected rearward.
Do not modify, remove or open any component or
wiring, such as the steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front passenger
airbag, or airbag sensor assembly. Doing any of
these may cause sudden SRS airbag inflation or
disable the system, which could result in personal
injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe injuries.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag
system in some cases.
Installation of electronic items such as a mobile
two±way radio, cassette tape player or compact
disc player.
Modification of the suspension system.
Modification of the front end structure.
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snow plow, winches or any other equipment
to the front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front
console, steering column, steering wheel or
dashboard near the front passenger airbag.