Lexus GS300 2000 Comfort Adjustment

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
133
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt precautions
Lexus strongly urges that the driver and passengers in
the vehicle be properly restrained at all times with the
seat belts provided. Failure to do so could increase the
chance of injury and/or the severity of injury in accidents.
Child. Use a child restraint system appropriate for the
child until the child becomes large enough to properly
wear the vehicle's seat belts. See ºChild restraintº on
page 173 for details.
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. According to accident statistics,
the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear
seat than in the front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the seat belts should
be worn properly. Do not let the child sit on your lap. It
does not provide sufficient restraint. If an accident
occurs and the seat belts are not worn properly, the force
of the rapid inflation of the airbag may cause severe
injury to the child.
Do not allow the child to stand up or kneel on either rear
or front seats. An unrestrained child could suffer serious
injury or death during emergency braking or a collision.
Pregnant woman. Lexus recommends the use of a
seat belt. Ask your doctor for specificrecommendations. The lap belt should be worn securely
and as low as possible over the hips and not on the waist.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
134Injured person. Lexus recommends the use of a seat
belt. Depending on the injury, first check with your doctor
for specific recommendations.
CAUTION
Persons should ride in their seats properly wearing
their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, they are much more likely to suffer serious
bodily injury or death in the event of sudden braking or
a collision.
When using the seat belts, observe the following:
Use the belt for only one person at a time. Do not use
a single belt for two or more people ± even children.
Avoid reclining the seatbacks too much. The seat
belts provide maximum protection when the
seatbacks are in the upright position. (See
ºAdjusting seatback angleº on page 118.)
Be careful not to damage the belt webbing or
hardware. Take care that they do not get caught or
pinched in the seat or doors.
Inspect the belt system periodically. Check for cuts,
fraying, and loose parts. Damaged parts should be
replaced. Do not disassemble or modify the system.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
135
Keep the belts clean and dry. If they need
cleaning, use a mild soap solution or lukewarm
water. Never use bleach, dye, or abrasive
cleaners ± they may severely weaken the belts.
(See ºCleaning the interiorº on page 481 for
instructions.)
Replace the belt assembly (including bolts) if it
has been used in a severe impact. The entire
assembly should be replaced even if damage is
not obvious.Fastening front and rear seat belts
16G016
Adjust the seat as needed and sit up straight and
well back in the seat. To fasten your belt, pull it out
of the retractor and insert the tab into the buckle.
You will hear a click when the tab locks into the buckle.
The seat belt length automatically adjusts to your size
and the seat position.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
136The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on
impact. It also may lock if you lean forward too quickly.
A slow, easy motion will allow the belt to extend, and you
can move around freely.
When a passenger's shoulder belt is completely
extended and is then retracted even slightly, the belt is
locked in that position and cannot be extended. This
feature is used to hold the child restraint system
securely. (For details, see ºChild restraintº on page 173.)
To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then pull
the belt out once more.
If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the retractor, firmly
pull the belt and release it. You will then be able to
smoothly pull the belt out of the retractor.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
137
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle
are locked and that the belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as this
may prevent you from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately contact your Lexus dealer. Do not use
the seat until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot protect
an adult occupant or your child from injury.
16G017

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
138Adjust the position of the lap and shoulder belts.
1
Position the lap belt as low as possible on your hips
± not on your waist.
2
Adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder portion
upward through the latch plate.
CAUTION
Both high±positioned lap belts and loose±fitting
belts could cause serious injuries due to sliding
under the lap belt during a collision or other
unintended result. Keep the lap belt positioned as
low on hips as possible.
For your safety, do not place the shoulder belt under
your arm.
16G018

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
139 Adjust the shoulder anchor position to your size.
To raise the anchor position, push the anchor up. To
lower the anchor position, support the anchor while you
push the lock release button then slide the anchor down.
After adjustment, make sure the anchor is locked in
position.
CAUTION
Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned
across the center of your shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from your neck, but not falling off your
shoulder. Failure to do so could reduce the amount of
protection in an accident and cause severe injuries in a
collision.
16G019

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
140To release the belt, press the buckle release button
and allow the belt to retract.
If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull it out and check
for kinks or twists. Then make sure it remains untwisted
as it retracts.
Seat belt extender
If your seat belt cannot be fastened securely because it
is not long enough, a personalized seat belt extender is
available from your Lexus dealer free of charge.
Please contact your local Lexus dealer to order the
proper required length for the extender. Bring the
heaviest coat you expect to wear for proper
measurement and selection of length. Additional
ordering information is available at your Lexus dealer.
CAUTION
When using the seat belt extender, observe the
following. Failure to follow these instructions could
result in less effectiveness of the seat belt restraint
system in case of vehicle accident, increasing the
chance of personal injury.
Never use the seat belt extender if you can fasten the
seat belt without it.
Remember that the extender provided for you may
not be safe when used on a different vehicle, or for
another person or at a different seating position than
the one originally intended for.
16G055

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
141 To connect the extender to the seat belt, insert the
tab into the seat belt buckle so that the ºPRESSº
signs on the buckle release buttons of the extender
and the seat belt are both facing outward as shown.
You will hear a click when the tab locks into the buckle.
When releasing the seat belt, press on the buckle
release button on the extender, not on the seat belt. This
helps prevent damage to the vehicle interior and
extender itself.
When not in use, remove the extender and store in the
vehicle for future use.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
142
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle
are locked and that the belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as this
may prevent you from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately contact your Lexus dealer. Do not use
the seat until the seat belt is fixed. It cannot protect
an adult occupant or your child from injury.