Lexus GS300 2003 Comfort Adjustment

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. In a severe side impact, the side
and curtain shield airbag sensor triggers the side and curtain
shield airbag inflator. At this time a chemical reaction in the
inflators very quickly fills the airbags with non±toxic gas to help
restrain the forward or lateral motion of the occupants. The
airbags then quickly deflate, so that here 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 can physically and safely exit the
vehicle after a collision, you should do so at the first
opportunity.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 is 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.
Parts 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 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 88.
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 111 .
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.

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
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, because 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 111.
16G029a
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean against the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use, since the front
passenger airbags inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously
injured. Sit up straight and well back in the seat, and
always use your seat belt properly.

16G030±1
Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle
is in use, since the side airbag and curtain shield
airbag inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle.
Sit up straight and well back in the seat, distributing
your weight evenly in the seat. Do not apply
excessive weight to the outer side of the front seats
on vehicles with side airbags.
16g253
Do not get your head closer to the area where the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, since these
airbags inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle.
Do not allow a child to kneel on the front passenger
seat facing the front passenger's side door, since the
side airbag and curtain shield airbags inflate with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child
may be killed or seriously injured.

16G031a
Do not allow a child to stand up or kneel on the front
passenger seat, since the front airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child
may be killed or seriously injured.
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 ºChild restraintº on page 111.
16G251
Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of the
dashboard or steering wheel pad that houses the
driver and front passenger 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.

16G033d
Do not attach a cup holder or any other device or
object on or around the door. When the side airbag
inflates, the cup holder or any other device or object
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 objects in their arms or on their
knees.
16G145b
Do not attach a microphone or any other device or
object around the part where the curtain shield airbag
activates such as on the windshield glass, side door
glass and front and side pillar. When the curtain
shield airbag inflates, the microphone or other device
or object will be thrown with great force or the curtain
shield airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in
death or serious injury.

Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags 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 or airbag
sensor assembly. Doing so may cause sudden SRS
front airbags inflation or disable the system, which
could result in death or serious injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of
front seats with side airbags. Such changes may
disable the system or cause the side airbags to inflate
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
Do not disassemble or repair the front pillar and roof
side rail containing the curtain shield airbags. Such
changes may disable the system or cause the curtain
shield airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in
death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repairs and modifications.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag
system in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices 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.), 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,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag or front
seats.

16G022
This SRS airbag system has an indicator to inform the driver
of operating problems. If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags. 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, 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 have a problem. If the light flashes, the side
and curtain shield airbags have a problem.16G142b
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
The front of the vehicle and portion of the doors (shaded in
the illustration) were involved in an accident that was not
severe enough to cause the SRS airbags to inflate.

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.
The portion of the front pillar and roof side rail garnish
(padding) containing the curtain shield airbags inside
(shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or
otherwise damaged.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 50 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 88 for details.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint system 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
system which conforms to the size of the child,
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.

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
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 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 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
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, because 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 the 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. 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.