lexus LS400 1996 Audio System / 1996 LS400: SEAT BELTS, SRS AND CHILD RESTRAINTS

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64
INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR
Pushing the switch changes the mode between
ªAUTOº and ªDAYº.
The indicator comes on when the ªAUTOº mode is selected.
ªDAYº mode: The mirror surface is normal.
ªAUTOº mode: If the mirror detects light from the
headlights of the vehicle behind you, the mirror surface
darkens slightly to reduce the reflected light.
When the inside rear view mirror surface changes, the
outside rear view mirror surfaces will also become darker.
When the ignition key is inserted and turned on, the inside
rear view mirror always turns on in the ªAUTOº mode.
Adjust it before driving so that the rear view is the best.
When the outside air temperature is low, it may take a little
longer for the mirror to darken in response to the detection
of headlights.
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt precautions
Lexus recommends 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.
Baby or small child. Use a child restraint system which fits
your vehicle. See ªChild restraintº for details.
Child. 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 belts. According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat. Do not allow the child to stand up or kneel
on either rear or front seats. If the shoulder belt falls across
the child's neck or face, have the child sit slightly closer to the
buckle so that the belt lays across the shoulder.
Pregnant woman. Lexus recommends the use of a seat
belt. Ask your doctor for specific recommendations. The lap
belt should be worn securely and as low as possible over the
hips and not on the waist.
Injured person. Lexus recommends the use of a seat belt.
Depending on the injury, first check with your doctor for
specific recommendations.

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65
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 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
ªAdjusting seatback angleº.)
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.
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.
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.
Front seat belt buckle illumination
Opening the driver's door lights up the driver's seat belt
buckle for easy use. The same applies for the front
passenger 's door and seat belt buckle.
The light remains on for 15 seconds after the door is closed,
but goes off immediately when all doors are locked.

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66
Fastening front and rear seat belts
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.
The 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 ªChild
restraintº on page 78.) 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.
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.

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67
Adjust the position of the lap and shoulder belts.

Position the lap belt as low as possible on your
hips ± not on your waist.
Adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder
portion upward through the latch plate.
CAUTION!

High±positioned lap belts and loose±fitting belts
both could increase the chance of injury due to
sliding under the lap belt during an accident. Keep
the lap belt as low on your hip bone as possible.
For your safety, do not place the shoulder belt
under your arm.
Front seat belts only
Adjust the shoulder anchor position to your size.
Manual type: 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 increase the chance
of injury.

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68
Front seat belts only
Power type: To adjust the shoulder anchor position, press
the upper or lower part of the control switch located on the
door. When the switch is released, the shoulder anchor will
stop at that 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 increase the chance
of injury.
To 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 the front or rear outside seat belts 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 so that the dealer can
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.

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69
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.
To connect the extender to the seat belt, insert the tab
into the seat belt buckle so that the ªPRESSº 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.
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.

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70
Front seat belt pretensioners
The driver and front passenger's seat belts are
equipped with a pretensioner which is designed to be
activated in response to a severe frontal impact.
The airbag system and each pretensioner operates
independently because each has its own separate sensor.
A pretensioner sensor is located in each front seat belt
retractor assembly. When the pretensioner sensor detects
the shock of a severe frontal impact, the front seat belt is
quickly drawn back in by the retractor so that the belt snugly
restrains the front seat occupant.
When a seat belt pretensioner is 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 seat belt pretensioner has been activated, the seat
belt retractor remains locked.CAUTION!
Do not modify, remove or strike the front seat belt
retractor assemblies or surrounding area. Doing any
of these may cause sudden operation of the front
seat belt pretensioners or disable the system, which
could result in personal injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe injuries.

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71
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the seat belt
pretensioners in some cases.
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.), snow plow, winches or any other equipment
to the front end.
In the following case, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
If either front seat belt does not retract or cannot be pulled
out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner.
The front seat belt retractor assembly or surrounding area
has been damaged.
SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are
designed to provide further protection to the driver and
front passenger when added to the primary protection
provided by the seat belts.
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS airbags
work together with the seat belts to prevent or reduce
injury by inflating, in order to decrease the likelihood of
the driver's or front passenger's head or chest directly
hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.
The passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger
in the front seat.

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72
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªACCº or ªONº position. It goes off after about 6
seconds. This means the SRS airbags are operating
properly.
The SRS airbag warning light system monitors the airbag
sensor assemblies, inflators, warning lights, interconnecting
wiring and power sources.The SRS airbag system is designed to activate in
response to a severe frontal impact within the shaded
area between the arrows in the illustration.
The SRS airbags will deploy if the severity of the impact is
above the designed threshold level, comparable to an
approximate 20 km/h (14 mph) collision 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 SRS airbags may not deploy.
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 ªunderridesº, or goes under, the bed of
a truck).
It is possible with collision severity at the marginal level of
airbag sensor detection and activation that only one of your
vehicle's two airbags will deploy.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
73 For the safety of all occupants, be sure to always wear seat
belts.

Collision from the side
Collision from the rear
Vehicle roll±over
The SRS airbags are not designed to inflate if the
vehicle is subjected to a side or rear impact, if it rolls
over, or if it is involved in a low±speed frontal collision.

Airbag sensor assembly
Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and
inflator)
Passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator)
SRS airbag warning light
The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and
airbag sensor.
In a severe frontal impact, sensors detect deceleration and
the system triggers the airbag inflators. Then a chemical
reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with
non±toxic nitrogen gas to help restrain the forward motion of
the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise and
release some smoke along with the nitrogen gas. This is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent minor skin irritation.