belt Lexus GS300 1999 Comfort Adjustment

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
152

1Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
3Side airbag sensor assembly
4Seat belt pretensioner
5Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
6SRS warning light
7Airbag sensor assembly
8Front airbag sensor
The SRS airbag sensor assemblies consist of a safing
sensor and driver and front passenger airbag sensors.
In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger
airbag sensors detect 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
non±toxic 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 some smoke and residue along with
non±toxic gas. This does not indicate a fire. This gas is
normally harmless, however, for those who have
delicate skin, it may cause minor skin irritation. Be sure
to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent
minor skin irritation.
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, it may also cause minor burns or abrasions and
swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub,
dashboard, front seats) 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 driver and front
passenger 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
153
CAUTION
The SRS is designed only as a supplement to the
primary protection of the driver side and front
passenger side seat belt systems. The front seat
occupants can be killed or seriously injured by an
inflating airbag if they do not wear the available seat
belts. During sudden braking just before a collision,
an unrestrained driver or front passenger can move
forward into direct contact with or close proximity to
the airbag which may then deploy during the
collision. To obtain maximum protection in an
accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle
must wear their seat belts. Wearing a seat belt during
an accident reduces the chances of death or serious
injuries or being thrown out of the vehicle. For
instructions and precautions concerning the seat
belt system, see ºSeat beltsº on page 130.
Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by a
deploying airbag. 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 seat of the vehicle and properly restrained.
The rear seat is the safest for infants and children.
For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 165 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
156
16G029
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 killed or seriously injured.
Sit up straight and well back in the seat, and
always use your seat belt.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
161
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 pad,
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.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes
without consulting your Lexus dealer. Such
changes can interfere with proper operation of the
SRS 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 and side
structure of the passenger compartment.
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
end structure, console, steering column,
steering wheel, dashboard near the front
passenger airbag, front seats or seat belt
assembly.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
162
16G022
This SRS has an indicator to inform the driver of
operating problems. If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags and/or
seat belt pretensioners. Even if the seat belt
pretensioners should fail, the seat belts will operate
conventionally. 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
164In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible:
Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
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.
The front part of the vehicle and portion of the doors
(shaded in the illustration) were involved in an
accident that did not cause the SRS to work.
The surface of the seats with the side airbags or 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
165
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of child restraint
systems for children small enough to use them.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. and Canada now
require the use of a child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child
should sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using
the vehicle's seat belt. See ºSeat beltsº on page 130 for
details.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
166
CAUTION
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, children must be properly restrained
using a seat belt or child restraint depending on age
and size. Holding a child in your arms is not a
substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident,
the child can be crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle's interior if you are
unrestrained.
Lexus strongly urges use of a proper child restraint
which conforms to the size of the child and is put on
the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly restrained in the rear
seat than in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
167
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system
on the front seat. In the event of an accident,
the force of the rapid inflation of the airbag can
cause death or serious injury if a rear±facing
child restraint system is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a
forward±facing child restraint system on the
front seat.
A forward±facing child restraint system should
be put on the front seat only when it is
unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back
as possible, because the force of a deploying
airbag could cause death or serious injury to
the child.
Make sure you have complied with all
installation instructions provided by the child
restraint manufacturer and that the system is
properly secured. Do not allow the child to lean
over the front door or around the front door
even if the child is seated in a child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbag
inflates, and the impact could cause death or
serious injury to the child.Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby
must itself be properly restrained on the seat with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must
carefully consult the manufacturer's instructions
which accompany by your child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system
following the manufacturer's instructions about the
appropriate age and size of the child for the restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer of the system.
General directions are also provided under the following
illustrations.
The child restraint system should be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, the child is safer
when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front
seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
169 When not using the child restraint system, keep it
secured with the seat belt or place it in the trunk or
somewhere other than in the passenger compartment.
This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the event
of a sudden stop or accident.
Your vehicle has anchors for securing the top strap of a
child restraint system. The anchor nuts are welded
beneath the sheet metal to permit installation of an
anchor bracket for a child restraint system.To install an anchor bracket, use an 8 mm X 30 mm X
1.25 mm coarse thread metric bolt and a 15 mm (0.6 in.)
spacer for the outer anchors or a 10 mm (0.4 in.) spacer
for the center anchor. Note that the bolts accompanying
many child restraint systems are not metric. You can
damage the anchor nuts on your vehicle if you force
bolts with different thread into the anchor nuts.
For instructions about how to install the anchor bracket,
see ºTop strap anchors and locationsº.
If your child restraint system does not provide any of the
necessary parts, you can purchase the following items
from your Lexus dealer.
CRS installation kit (Part No. 04731±22012)
± contains 1 bolt, 3 types of spacer and 1 locking clip.
Bolt (Part No. 91511±60830)