sensor lexus LS400 1998 Audio System / LEXUS 1998 LS400 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM50498U)

Page 37 of 304

SWITCHES
22
HEADLIGHT SWITCH
12L001
To turn the lights on, twist the knob on the end of the lever.
FIRST CLICKSTOP: Only the parking, tail, license plate, side
marker and instrument panel lights turn on.
SECOND CLICKSTOP: Headlights also turn on.
THIRD CLICKSTOP (”AUTO”): The headlights and all other
lights automatically turn on depending on the darkness of the
surroundings.*
Vehicles sold in U.S.A.: When the headlights are on, the headlight
indicator lights up in the instrument cluster.
Vehicles sold in Canada: When the tail lights are on, the tail light
indicator lights up in the instrument cluster.
Manually twist the knob to the second clickstop to turn on the
headlights if they are needed immediately when entering a dark
tunnel, parking structure, etc.
12L002
The automatic light control sensor is on top of the driver’s side
instrument panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument panel, and/or do not affix
anything on the windshield to block this sensor.
When the headlights come on, the lights automatically turn off about
30 seconds after any of the doors is opened and closed with the
ignition key turned to the ”ACC” or ”LOCK” position.** To turn
them on again, turn the ignition key to the ”ON” position, or turn the
headlight switch off and then twist the knob until the first or second
clickstop. If you are going to park for over one week, make sure the
headlight switch is off.
When the headlight switch is on with all the doors locked, pushing
the ”LOCK” button on the wireless remote control key turns off the
headlights.
NOTE: *The operating condition or sensitivity can be changed.
**The time before turning off the lights can be changed. Ask your
Lexus dealer for details.

Page 53 of 304

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
38If the brake fluid level is correct ...
Have the warning system checked by your Lexus dealer.
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzzer
Once the ignition key is turned to ”ON” or ”START”, the reminder
light flashes and buzzer sounds if the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened. Unless the driver fastens the belt, the light stays flashing
and the buzzer stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
Once the ignition key is turned to ”ON” or ”START”, the reminder
light flashes if a passenger sits in the front passenger seat and does
not fasten the seat belt. Unless the front passenger fastens the belt,
the light stays flashing.
If luggage load is placed on the front passenger seat, depending on
its weight and how it is placed on the seat, builtin sensors in the seat
cushion may detect the pressure, causing the reminder light to come
on.
(d) SRS Warning Light
The indicators come on when the ignition key is turned to the
”ACC” or ”ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS is operating properly.
The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assemblies, inflators, seat belt pretensioners, warning light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources.
If either of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction somewhere in the parts monitored by the warning light
system. 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 and/or seat belt
pretensioners fail.

Page 102 of 304

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
87
16L1732
Side airbags
Side airbags:
In response to a severe side impact, the side airbag for the driver
or front passenger works together with the seat belt to help
preventing or reducing injury by inflating, in order to decrease
the impact mainly on 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.
CAUTION
SRS side airbags inflate with considerable force. To avoid
potential death or serious injury during inflation of a side
airbag, Lexus strongly recommends that the driver and front
passenger;
Wear their seat belt.
Remain properly seated with their back against the seat at
all times.
16L136-2
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to the
”ACC” or ”ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS is operating properly.
The SRS warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assemblies, inflators, seat belt pretensioners, warning light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources.

Page 103 of 304

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
88
16L029
The driver and front passenger airbags and seat belt
pretensioners are designed to activate in response to a severe
frontal impact within the shaded area between the arrows in the
illustration.
There may be the case that the driver and passenger airbags and seat
belt pretensioners will not activate with such an impact in which the
occupant wearing the seat belt correctly would not get serious injury.
The driver and front passenger airbags and seat belt pretensioners
will work if the severity of the impact is above the designed threshold
level, comparable to an approximate 20 km/h (14 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
driver and front passenger airbags and seat belt pretensioners 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
”underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck).
It is possible with collision severity at the marginal level of driver
and passenger airbag sensor detection and activation that only one
of your vehicle’s driver and front passenger airbags and seat belt
pretensioners will work.
For the safety of all occupants, be sure to always wear seat belts.

Page 105 of 304

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
90
16L1882
Vehicle rollover
The side airbags are not designed to inflate if the vehicle is rolled
over.
If the impact on the body of the passenger compartment is not strong
as illustrated above, the relevant side airbag may not inflate.
16L1931
1
Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2
Front passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
3
Side airbag sensor assembly
4
Seat belt pretensioner
5
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and inflator)
6
SRS warning light
7
Driver and front passenger airbag sensor assembly
The SRS airbag sensor assemblies consist of a safing sensor and
driver and front passenger airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger airbag
sensor detects deceleration and the system triggers the front airbag
inflators and seat belt pretensioners. In a severe side impact, the side
airbag sensor triggers the side airbag inflator. Then a chemical
reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with nontoxic
gas to help restrain the forward or lateral motion of the occupants.
Then the inflators fill the airbags and the seat belts are quickly drawn
back in by the retractors to help restrain forward motion of the
occupants.
When the SRS operates, it produces a fairly loud noise and release

Page 110 of 304

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
95
16L179
Do not attach a cup holder or any other device on or around
the door. When the side airbag inflates, the cup holder or
any other device 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.
Do not use accessories for the seats which cover the parts
where the side airbags should 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 column cover, front passenger airbag cover,
front seats, airbag sensor assembly or seat belt assemblies.
Doing any of these may cause sudden SRS operation or
disable the system, which could result in death or serious
injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats or surface of the front
seats with side airbags. Such changes may disable the
system or cause the side airbags to inflate, resulting in
death or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or
serious injuries.

Page 142 of 304

AIR CONDITIONING AND AUDIO
127 For normal use, it is best to keep the air intake control button set to
OUTSIDE AIR mode. If recirculated air is used during heating, the
windows will fog up more easily.
To change the sensitivity of the sensor switching between the
RECIRCULATED and OUTSIDE AIR in the AUTOMATIC
mode, push the air intake control button until you hear a beep.
The display changes as illustrated below.
21L044
Each time you push the ”TEMP” button, the sensitivity changes from
”+3” down to ”3”. If you do not operate any button for a few
seconds, the previous display returns.If manual onoff of the air conditioning is desired
Push the ”A/C” button to turn the air conditioning on and push it
again to turn the air conditioning off.
The air conditioning does not work if the outside temperature is
lowered down to around 0C (32F).
If the system is used for ventilation, heating in dry weather or
removing frost or exterior fog on the windshield, turn the air
conditioning off once it is no longer required. This will improve fuel
economy. The air conditioning can be used for yearround
automatic temperature control including cooling and dehumidifying
operation.
If the air conditioning compressor does not operate, the indicator of
the ”A/C” button will blink. If the indicator of the ”A/C” button
blinks even when the ”A/C” button is pushed again, have the
compressor checked by your nearest Lexus dealer.