lexus LS400 1996 Gauges, Meters and Service Reminders / 1996 LS400: SEAT BELTS, SRS AND CHILD RESTRAINTS

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
74Deployment of the airbags happen 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 swellings.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, dashboard)
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 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.
CAUTION!

The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the seat
belt systems of the driver and front passenger. The
front seat occupants are particularly susceptible to
injury if they do not wear their seat belts; when
sudden braking or a collision occurs, they may be
thrown forward. To obtain further protection in an
accident, the driver and all passengers in the
vehicle should always wear their seat belts when
driving. For instructions and precautions
concerning the seat belt system, see ªSeat beltsº
on page 64.
A baby or small child who is too small to use a seat
belt should be properly secured in a rear seat using
a child restraint system.
Do not use a rear±facing child restraint system in
the front seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the passenger airbag may cause severe
injury to the child. Vehicles with a passenger airbag
display a caution label on the passenger side
instrument panel as shown above to remind you
not to install a rear±facing child restraint system on
the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
75
Move fully back
When using a forward±facing child restraint system
in the front seat, the seat must be moved as far back
as possible. For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see ªChild
restraintº on page 78.
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use. The airbags
inflate with considerable speed and force; you may
be severely injured. Sit up straight and well back in
the seat, and always use your seat belt.
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the
front passenger seat. The airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force; the child may be
severely 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 ªChild restraintº on page 78.

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76
Do not put objects on or in front of the dashboard
or steering wheel pad that houses the airbag
system. They might restrict inflation or cause
personal injury as they are projected rearward.
Do not modify, remove or open any component or
wiring, such as the steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front passenger
airbag, or airbag sensor assembly. Doing any of
these may cause sudden SRS airbag inflation or
disable the system, which could result in personal
injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe injuries.
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 items 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.
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snow plow, winches or any other equipment
to the front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front
console, steering column, steering wheel or
dashboard near the front passenger airbag.

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77
This SRS airbag system has a service reminder 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.
The light does not come on when the ignition key is turned
to the ªACCº or ªONº position, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving.
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The SRS airbags have been inflated.

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78
The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident not of the extent to cause the SRS
airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger
airbag cover (shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before
contacting your Lexus dealer.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of child restraint systems
for children small enough to use it.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. and Canada now
require the use of a child restraint system.
CAUTION!
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, children must be properly restrained.
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.
Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must
itself be restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the
lap/shoulder belt.
The child restraint system should conform to the size of the
child and properly fit the vehicle seat. For greater safety, the
child restraint system should be installed in the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, the child is safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
79 When installing a child restraint system, follow the
instructions provided by the manufacturer of the system.
General directions are also provided under the following
illustrations.
CAUTION!
After installing the child restraint system, make sure
it is secured in place. If it is not restrained securely,
it may cause injury to the child in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.
When not using the child restraint system, keep it secured
with the seat belt or place it in the trunk or somewhere other
than in the passenger compartment. This will prevent it
injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or
accident.Top strap anchors and locations
Your vehicle has anchors for securing the top strap of a child
restraint system. The anchor nuts are welded beneath the
sheet metal to permit installation of an anchor bracket for a
child restraint system.
To install an anchor bracket, use an 8 mm X 30 mm X 1.25
mm coarse thread metric bolt and a 15 mm (0.6 in.) spacer.
Note that the bolts accompanying many child restraint
systems are not metric. You can damage the anchor nuts on
your vehicle if you force bolts with different thread into the
anchor nuts.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
80If your child restraint system does not provide any of the
necessary parts, you can purchase the following items from
your Lexus dealer.
CRS installation kit (Part No. 04731±22012)
± contains 1 bolt, 3 types of spacer and 1 locking clip.
Bolt (Part No. 91511±60830)

Center362 mm (14.3 in.)55 mm (2.2 in.)
52 mm (2.0 in.)5 mm (0.2 in.)
1. Run your fingers across the trim of the filler panel to
locate the holes underneath it in the positions shown above.
2. Make a hole in the covering directly above the hole in the
filler panel.
3. Remove the seals from the anchors using a screwdriver
or the like.

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81

BoltAnchor bracketSpacer
4. Insert a 15 mm (0.6 in.) spacer, and tighten down the
anchor bracket for your child restraint system with a bolt.
Torque the bolt to 16.5±24.7 N´m (1.68±2.52 kgf´m,
12.2±18.2 ft´lbf.).
To comply with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,
vehicles sold in Canada are provided with a bracket set in the
glovebox.INSTALLATION ON REAR SEATWhen installing a rear±facing child restraint system, follow
the same procedure as when installing a forward±facing
child restraint system.
1. Fasten the lap and shoulder belt over the child restraint
system following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. Keep the lap portion of the belt tight.

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82
CAUTION!

After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle
are locked.
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.
2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode.
3. Place the shoulder belt between the vehicle seatback
and the child restraint system and allow it to retract. To hold
the child restraint system securely, let the shoulder belt
retract as far as it will go while firmly pushing down the child
restraint system.
4. If your child restraint system requires the use of a top
strap, latch the hook onto the anchor bracket and tighten the
top strap.

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83
CAUTION!
Make sure the seat belt is securely locked. Also make
sure the child restraint system is secure by pushing
and pulling it in different directions.
5. To remove the child restraint system, press the
buckle±release button and allow the belt to retract. Unhook
the top strap.