belt Lexus GX470 2003 Basic Functions / LEXUS 2003 GX470 (OM60979U) Owner's Guide

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
130
Seat belt extender
If your seat belts cannot be fastened securely because they are
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 precautions. Failure to follow these
instructions could reduce the 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, for
another person, or at a different seating position than
the one originally intended.
To connect the extender to the seat belt, insert the tab into
the seat belt buckle so that the “PRESS” 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
131
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.
Front seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger’s seat belt pretensioners
are designed to be activated in response to a severe
frontal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock of a severe frontal
impact, the front seat belts are quickly drawn back by the
retractor so that the belts snugly restrain the front seat
occupants.
The front seat belt pretensioners are activated even if there is
no passenger sitting in the front seat.
Collisions occurring at certain speeds and angles may cause
the seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags not to operate all
together.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
132
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the front seat belt pretensioners 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 seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details, see
“Service remi nder indicators and warning buzzers” on page 43
for instructions.) 1 Front airbag sensors

2 Seat belt pretensioner assemblies

3 SRS warning light

4 Airbag sensor assembly
The front seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the
above components, and their locations are shown in the
illustration.
The front seat belt pretensioners are controlled by the airbag
sensor assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a
safing sensor and airbag sensor.
When the front seat belt pretensioners are activated, an
operating noise may be heard and a small amount of
smoke−like gas may be released. This gas is harmless and
does not indicate that a fire is occurring.
Once the front seat belt pretensioners have been activated, the
seat belt retractors remain locked.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
133
CAUTION
Do not modify, remove, strike or open the front seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, airbag sensor or surrounding
area or wiring. Doing so 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 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 front seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway 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, the front
end structure and console.
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 airbags or pretensioners. Contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible to service the vehicle.
 When the ignition key is turned to the “ON” 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
seat belt pretensioner.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
134
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The front seat belt pretensioner assembly or surrounding
area has been damaged.
 The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that did not cause the seat belt
pretensioners to operate.
 The front seat belt pretensioner assembly is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are
designed to provide further protection for the driver, front
passenger and second outside passengers in addition to
the primary safety protection provided by the seat belts.
 SRS front airbags
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS front
airbags work together with the seat belts to help reduce
injury by inflating. The SRS front airbags help to reduce
injuries mainly to the driver’s or front passenger’s head or
chest caused by directly hitting the steering wheel or
dashboard.
The front passenger airbag is activated even with no
passenger in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
135
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 and
front passenger when the SRS front
airbags are inflated.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.
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.
 SRS side airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the SRS side airbags
for the driver or front passenger work together with the
seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The SRS side
airbags help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or
front passenger’s chest.
The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat is activated even
with no passenger in the front seat.
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 and front passenger when the SRS side
airbags are inflated.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
136
CAUTION
SRS 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.
 SRS curtain shield airbags for front and second outside
occupants
In response to a severe side impact, the SRS curtain shield
airbag on either side works together with the seat belts by
inflating. The SRS curtain shield airbags help to reduce
injuries mainly to the driver’s head, front passenger’s
head and second outside passenger’s head.
The SRS curtain shield airbag is activated even with no
passenger in the front seat or second seat.
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 and front passenger when the SRS curtain
shield airbags are inflated.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
137
CAUTION
The SRS curtain shield airbags inflate with considerable
force. To avoid potential death or serious injury when
they inflate, the driver, front passenger and second
outside passengers must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
 Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” 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 and curtain shield airbag
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch,
front seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light,
interconnecting wiring and power sources. (For details, see
“Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers” on page 43
for instructions.)
The SRS front airbags are designed to deploy in severe
(usually frontal) collisions where the magnitude and
duration of the forward deceleration of the vehicle
exceeds the designed threshold level.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
138The SRS front airbags will deploy if the severity of the impact
is above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 25
km/h (15 mph) collision when the vehicle has
the impact straight into a fixed barrier that does not move or
deform.
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 the vehicle is
involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in which the
front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a
truck, etc.).
It is possible that in some collisions where the forward
deceleration of the vehicle is very close to the designed
threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the seat belt
pretensioners may not activate together.
For the safety of all occupants, always wear your seat belts
properly.
 1 Collision from the side

2 Collision from the rear

3 Vehicle rollover
The SRS front airbags are generally not designed to inflate
if the vehicle is involved in a side or rear collision, if it rolls
over, or if it is involved in a lowspeed frontal collision.
But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient
forward deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the
front airbags may occur.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
141


1 Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies

2 Airbag module for front passenger
(airbag and inflator)

3 Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflater)

4 Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)

5 Curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies

6 SRS warning light

7 Airbag module for driver (airbag and inflator)

8 Driver’s seat position sensor

9 Driver’s seat belt buckle switch

10 Front airbag sensors

11 Airbag sensor assembly
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 sensor. The airbag sensors constantly monitor the forward
deceleration of the vehicle. In 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 and/or the curtain shield
airbag sensor trigger(s) the si
de and curtain shield airbag
inflators and/or the 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 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 can physically and safely exit the vehicle
after a collision, you should do so at the first opportunity.