airbag Lexus ES330 2006 Descriptions of Functions For More Effective Use / (OM33703U) Owner's Guide

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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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 front airbags may also deploy if a serious impact
occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples
are shown in the illustration.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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1Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
2Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
3SRS warning light
4Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
5Driver’s seat position sensor
6Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
7Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
8“AIRBAG OFF” and “AIRBAG ON” indicator lights
9Front airbag sensors
10Airbag sensor assembly
The SRS front airbag system consists mainly of the above
components, and their locations are shown in the illustration.
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensor. The front airbag sensors constantly monitor the forward
deceleration of the vehicle. If an impact results in a forward
deceleration beyond the designed threshold level, the system
triggers
the airbag inflators. At this time a chemical reaction in
the inflators very quickly fills the airbags with non− toxic gas to
help restrain the forward motion of the occupants. The front
airbags then quickly deflate, so that there is no obstruction of
the driver’s vision should it be necessary to continue driving.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a 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 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 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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxxviiiParts 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.
For instructions and precautions concerning the
seating position, see “Front seat precautions” on page
cv.
 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 SYSTEM
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Lexus strongly recommends that all infants and
children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and
be properly restrained.
 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 “Child res traint” on page cxlvii.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 SYSTEM
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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 passenger airbag
or airbag sensor assembly. Doing so may prevent the
front airbag system from activating correctly, cause
sudden activation of the system or disable the
system, which could result in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
If you wish to modify your vehicle for a person with a
physical disability, consult your Lexus dealer. It may
dangerously interfere with the SRS front airbags
operation.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS front airbag
system in some cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or CD player
 Modification of the suspension system
 Modification of the front end structure
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo 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
or dashboard near the front passenger airbag

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” 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 passenger occupant classification system, “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light, “AIRBAG ON” indicator light, front
passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner
assemblies, inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring and
power sources. (For details, see “Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers” on page lviii 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 “ON” position or remains on for more than 6 seconds.
 The light comes on while driving.
The SRS warning light and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light will
be illuminated if there is a malfunction in the front passenger
occupant classification system.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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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. 
The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger
airbag cover (shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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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 occupa nt classification system, see “Front
passenger occupant classification system” on page cxliii.)
The SRS curtain shield airbag on the passenger side are
activated even with no passenger in the front seat or rear
outboard seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the
side airbags are not activated.
Always wear your seat belt properly.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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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 rear
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 cxi.
 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 rear seats of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The rear seats are the safest for infants
and children. For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see “Child
restraint” on page cxlvii.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
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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 and curtain shield airbags are designed
to inflate when the passenger compartment are suffers a
severe impact from the side.
Always wear your seat belts properly.
1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield 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.