Lexus GS300 2001 Comfort Adjustment

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
93
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open the front seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, airbag sensor or surrounding
area or wiring. Doing any of these may cause sudden
operation of the front seat belt pretensioners or disable
the system, which could result in death or serious
injury.
Failure to follow the instruction can result in death or
serious injury.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the front seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
two±way radio, cassette tape player or compact disc
player.
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.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to
the front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end
structure or console.
16G022
This front seat belt pretensioner system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of operating problems.
If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the pretensioners. Contact your Lexus dealer
as soon as possible to service the vehicle.
When the ignition key is turned to the ªONº position, the light
does not come on or flashes.
The light flashes while driving.
If either front seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled
out due to a malfunction or activation of the relevant front
pretensioner.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
94
16G136
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible.
The front parts of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration)
were involved in an accident that did not cause the front seat
belt pretensioners to operate.
Either front seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding
area is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are
designed to provide further protection for the driver and
front passenger in addition to the primary safety
protection provided by the seat belts.
16G020c

Driver and front passenger airbags
In response to a severe frontal impact, the driver and front
passenger airbags work together with the seat belts to
help reduce injury by inflating. The driver and front
passenger airbags help to reduce injuries mainly to the
driver's or front passenger's head or chest directly hitting
the steering wheel or dashboard.
The front passenger airbag will not activate when no
passenger is sitting in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
95 Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which will record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver when the front airbags are inflated.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger 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.
16G021b

Side airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the side airbags for
the driver or front passenger work together with the seat
belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The side airbags
help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver's or front
passenger's chest.
The side airbag on the passenger seat will not activate when
no passenger is sitting in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which will record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver when the side airbags are inflated.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
96
CAUTION
The side airbags inflate with considerable force. To
avoid potential death or serious injury when they inflate,
the driver and front passenger must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.
16G143b

Curtain shield airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the curtain shield
airbags for the driver or front passenger work together
with the seat belts by inflating to help reduce injury mainly
to the driver's or front passenger's head.
The curtain shield airbag is activated even with no passenger
in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which will record the use of the seat belt restraint
system by the driver when the curtain shield airbags are
inflated.
CAUTION
The curtain shield airbags inflate with considerable
force. To avoid potential death or serious injury when
they inflate, the driver and front passenger must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
97
16G022
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ºONº position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS airbags are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side airbag sensors, curtain
shield airbag sensors, front seat belt pretensioner assemblies,
inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see ºService reminder indicators and
warning buzzersº on page 41.)
16G023
The front airbags are designed to activate in response to
a severe frontal impact within the shaded area between
the arrows in the illustration.
The front airbags will work if the severity of the impact is above
the designed threshold level, comparable to an approximate
25 km/h (15 mph) collision in the U.S.A. and 30 km (18 mph)
collision in Canada 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 front airbags 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 ºunderridesº, or goes under, the bed of a truck,
etc.).

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
98It is possible that in some collisions at the lower zone of airbag
sensor detection and activation the SRS airbags and seat belt
pretensioners will not operate all together.
For the safety of all occupants, always wear your seat belts
properly.
16G024

1Collision from the rear
2Vehicle rollover
The front airbags are not designed to inflate if the vehicle
is involved in a rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is
involved in a low±speed frontal collision.
The side and curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate
when the passenger compartment area suffers a severe
impact from the side.
16G025

1Collision from the side at an angle
2Collision from the side to the vehicle body other
than the passenger compartment
The side and curtain shield airbags may not inflate 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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
99
16G109

1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The side and curtain shield airbags are not 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 low±speed side
collision.
16G108

1Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard material
2Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
3Landing hard or vehicle falling
The SRS airbags may deploy if a serious impact occurs to
the underside of your vehicle. Some examples are shown
in the illustration.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
100
16G144b

1Side airbag module (airbag and inflator)
2Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)
3Side and curtain shield airbag sensors
4Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)
5SRS warning light
6Airbag sensor assembly
7Front airbag sensors
8Curtain shield airbag module (airbag and inflator)
The SRS 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 sensors.In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger
airbag sensors detect deceleration and the system triggers the
front airbag inflators. In a severe side impact, the side and
curtain shield airbag sensor triggers the side and curtain shield
airbag inflator. Then a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non±toxic gas to help restrain the forward
or lateral 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 a
minor skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any residue as soon
as possible to prevent any potential 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 swelling.
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
101
CAUTION
The SRS airbag system 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 the inflating airbags if they do not wear the
available seat belts properly. 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 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 ºSeat beltsº on page 86.
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 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 108 .
16G057a
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system on the
front passenger seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the front passenger airbag can cause
death or serious injury to the child.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
102
16G059±2

Move seat fully back
A forward±facing child restraint system should be
allowed to be put on the front passenger seat only
when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far
back as possible, because the force of the deploying
front passenger airbags could cause death or
serious injury to the child. Do not allow the child to
lean against 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 and curtain shield airbag
inflates, and the impact could cause death or serious
injury to the child.
For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 108.
16G029a
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use. The front
passenger 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 properly.