belt Lexus GX470 2004 Engine / LEXUS 2004 GX470 FROM AUG. 2004 THROUGH SEP. 2004 PROD. (OM60B55U) Workshop Manual

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
178
SRS SIDE AIRBAGS AND CURTAINSHIELD AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags
and curtain shield airbags are designed to provide further
protection for the driver, front passenger and rear outside
passengers in addition to the primary safety protection
provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe side impact, the SRS side airbags and
curtain shield airbags work with the seat belts to help reduce
injury by inflating. The SRS side airbags help reduce injuries
mainly to the driver's or front passenger's torso and the SRS
curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly to the
driver's, front passenger's or rear outside passenger's head. Roll sensing function:
In response to a vehicle rollover, the curtain shield airbags on
both sides work with the seat belts to help reduce injury by
inflating. The
curtain shield airbags help reduce injuries mainly
to the driver's, front passenger's or second passenger's head
and help prevent them from being thrown out of the vehicle.
(This function can be turned off if inflation is not desired. See
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switchº on page 193.)
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag on the
passenger side are activated even with no passenger in the
front seat or second outside seat.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may activate even when the
side airbags are not activated.
Always 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 and front passenger when the SRS side
airbags are inflated.

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179
CAUTION
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system
is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver, front passenger and second
outside passenger seat belt systems. 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 Seat beltsº on page 150.
 Do not allow anyone to lean his/her head or any part
of his/her body against the door or the area of the
seat, front pillar, rear pillar or roof side rail from which
the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag deploy
even if he/she is a child seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the SRS side airbag and
curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact of the
deploying airbags could cause death or serious
injury to the occupant.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by the
deploying ai rbags. 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 second or third seats of the vehicle and
properly restrained. The second or third seats are the
safest for infants and children. For instructions
concerning the installation of a child restraint
system, see Child restraintº on page 194.

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180

1Collision from the side to the vehicle body otherthan the passenger compartment
2Collision from the side at an angle
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system may
not activate 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.
The SRS side airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger com partment area suffers a severe impact from the
side.
The curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate when the
passenger com partment area suffers a severe impact from the
side or vehicle rollover.
Always wear your seat belts properly.

1Collision from the front
2Collision from the rear
3Vehicle rollover
The SRS side airbags are not generally 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.

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183


1Side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
2Curtain shield airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
3Side airbag modules (airbag and inflator)
4Curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
5SRS warning light and RSCA OFFº indicator light
6Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch
7Airbag sensor assembly
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system consists
mainly of the above components, and their locations are shown
in the illustration.
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system is
controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sensor
assembly consists of a safing sensor and airbag sensor.
In a severe side impact, the side and curtain shield airbag
sensor and/or the curtain shield airbag sensor trigger(s) the
side airbag inflators and/or the curtain shield airbag inflators.
At this time a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the lateral motion
of the occupants.
In a vehicle rollover, the airbag sensor assembly triggers the
curtain shield airbag inflator. At this time, a chemical reaction
in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to
help restrain the lateral motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly 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 safely exit from the vehicle, you
should do so immediately.
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.
Front seats as well as parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof
side rail may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags
themselves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate
only once.
CAUTION
SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags inflate with
considerable force. To reduce the possibility of 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 backs upright and
against the seats at all times.

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184
Do not allow anyone to lean against the door when
the vehicle is in use, since the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, he/she 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 seats with a
side airbag and to the front pillar, rear pillar and roof
side rail with a curtain shield airbag.
 Improper sitting and wearing of the seat belts may
not retain you inside the vehicle.

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189
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 replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with side airbags. Such changes may
prevent the side airbag system form activating
correctly, disable the system or cause the side
airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or
serious injury.
 Do not disassemble or repair the front and rear pillars
and roof side rails 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.
 Do not modify or change the suspension system.
Such changes may cause the curtain shield airbags
to inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
 Do not use tires or wheels other than the
manufacture's recommended size. Such a use may
cause the curtain shield airbags and seat belt
pretensioners to inflate accidentally, which could
result in death or serious injury. For details, see
Checking and replacing tiresº on page 594.

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190
Do not place luggage heavier than specified on the
roof luggage carrier. Such luggage may cause the
curtain shield airbags and seat belt pretensioners to
inflate accidentally, which could result in death or
serious injury. For details, see Roof luggage
carrierº on page 119.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the SRS side airbagand curtain shield airbag system in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobiletwo-way radio, cassette tape player or compact disc
player
Modification of the suspension system
Modification of the structure of the passenger compartment
Repairs made on or near the console or front seat

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191
The indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the ONº position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS side airbags and curtain shield 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 b elt pretensioner assemblies, inflators, warning light,
RSCA OFFº indicator light, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. (For details, see Service reminder indicators and
warning buzzersº on page 62 for instructions.) If any of the following conditions occurs, this indicates a
malfunction of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners. Contact
your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.

The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the ONº position or remains on for more than 6 seconds
or flashes.
 The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the SRS front airbags have
a problem. If the light flashes, the SRS side and curtain shield
airbags have a problem.

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193
Roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off
switch
The roll sensing of curtain shield airbags off switch
(RSCA OFFº switch) can turn off the curtain shield
airbags and seat belt pretensioners in a vehicle rollover.
This switch should only be used if inflation is not desired
(such as extreme off-road driving).
When you push the RSCA OFFº switch for a few seconds with
the ignition switch on, the RSCA OFFº indicator light comes
on and the roll sensing function is turned off. When you push
the switch again, the indicator light goes off and the roll sensing
function is turned on. (For details about the roll sensing
function, see SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbagsº on
page 178.) In a severe side impact, the curtain shield airbags on impacted
side will inflate even if the roll sensing function is turned off.
(For details about the curtain shield airbags, see SRS side
airbags and curtain shield airbagsº on page 178.)
In a severe frontal impact, the seat belt pretensioners will work
even if the roll sensing function is turned off. (For details about
the seat belt pretensioners, see Seat belt pretensionersº on
page 160.)
If the ignition switch is turned to ACCº or LOCKº with the roll
sensing
function off and then the ignition switch is turned back
to ONº, the roll sensing function will turn back on
automatically.CAUTION
 Before normal driving, make sure the RSCA OFFº
indicator light is off.
 When the roll sensing function is turned off (and the
RSCA OFFº indicator light is on), the curtain shield
airbags and seat belt pretensioners will not work in
a vehicle rollover. Turning off the curtain shield
airbags and seat belt pretensioners reduces
occupant protection which your vehicle safety
systems can provide in accidents and increase the
likelihood of death or serious injuries.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
194
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of appropriate child restraint
systems for children.
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 Seat beltsº on page 150 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 of the child. 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.
 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.