ECU lexus LS400 1998 Audio System / LEXUS 1998 LS400 (OM50498U) User Guide

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
82When 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 ”Child restraint” on page 98.) 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. Do not use the seat until the seat
belt is fixed. It cannot protect an adult occupant or your
child from injury.
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Adjust the position of the lap and shoulder belts.
1
Position the lap belt as low as possible on your hips not on
your waist.
2
Adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder portion upward
through the latch plate.
CAUTION
Highpositioned lap belts and loosefitting belts both could
cause severe injuries due to sliding under the lap belt
during a collision or other unintended result. Keep the lap
belt positioned as low on hip as possible.
For your safety, do not place the shoulder belt under your
arm.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
84
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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.
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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
91 some smoke along with nontoxic gas. This does not indicate a fire.
Be sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent minor
skin irritation.
Deployment 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, front
seats) 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 driver and front passenger
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 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 an inflating airbag if they do not wear
the available seat belts. 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
obtain maximum protection in an accident, the driver and
all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the chances
of death or serious injuries or being thrown out of the
vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the
seat belt system, see ”Seat belts” on page 80.
Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children
can be killed or seriously injured by a deploying airbag. 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 ”Child restraint” on page 98 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
98
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 fifty 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 belts” on page 80 for details.
CAUTION
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, children must be properly restrained using a
seat belt or child restraint 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 which
conforms to the size of the child and is put 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 rearfacing 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 rearfacing child restraint system is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a forwardfacing child
restraint system on the front seat.
A forwardfacing child restraint system should be put on
the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the
seat as far back as possible, because the force of a deploying
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 over 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 inflates, and 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 by your child
restraint system.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
99 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 of the system. 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.
CAUTION
Never put a rearfacing 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 rearfacing child restraint system is put on the front seat.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a forwardfacing child
restraint system on the front seat.
A forwardfacing child restraint system should be put on
the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the
seat as far back as possible, because the force of a deploying
airbag could cause death or serious injury to the child. Do
not allow the child to lean over 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 inflates, and the
impact could cause death or serious injury to the child.
After installing the child restraint system, make sure it is
secured in place according to the manufacturer’s
instructions. If it is not restrained securely, it may cause
death or serious 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 from injuring
passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
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.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
103
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2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode. When
the belt is then retracted even slightly, it cannot be extended.
To hold the infant seat securely, make sure the belt is in the lock mode
before letting the belt to retract.
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3. While pressing the infant seat firmly against the seat cushion and
seatback, let the shoulder belt retract as far as it will go to hold the
infant seat securely.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
104
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CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions
to be sure it is secure. Follow all the installation instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
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4. To remove the infant seat, press the bucklerelease button and
allow the belt to retract completely. The belt will move freely again
and be ready to work for an adult or older child passenger.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
107
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2. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode. When
the belt is then retracted slightly, it cannot be extended.
To hold the convertible seat securely, make sure the belt is in the lock
mode before letting the belt to retract.
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3. While pressing the convertible seat firmly against the seat
cushion and seatback, let the shoulder belt retract as far as it will go
to hold the convertible seat securely.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
108
16L1681
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different directions
to be sure it is secure. Follow all the installation instructions
provided by its manufacturer.
16L1691
4. To remove the convertible seat, press the bucklerelease button
and allow the belt to retract completely. The belt will move freely
again and be ready to work for an adult or older child passenger.

DRIVING TIPS
182Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving. It
can cause dangerous overheating, needless wear, and poor
fuel economy.
To drive down a long or steep hill, reduce your speed and
downshift. Remember, if you ride the brakes excessively,
they may overheat and not work properly. See page 163.
Be careful when accelerating, upshifting, downshifting or
braking on a slippery surface. The abrupt change in engine
speed, such as sudden acceleration or engine braking, could
cause the vehicle to spin or skid.
Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal
speed limit permits it, do not drive over 140 km/h (85 mph)
unless your vehicle has highspeed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may result in tire failure,
loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire
dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are
highspeed capability tires or not before driving at such
speeds.
Do not continue normal driving when the brakes are wet.
If they are wet, your vehicle will require a longer stopping
distance, and it may pull to one side when the brakes are
applied. Also, the parking brake will not hold the vehicle
securely.
WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure you have ethyleneglycol antifreeze in the radiator.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze.
Check the condition of the battery and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so it must be
in top shape to provide enough power for winter starting. Page 253
tells you how to visually inspect the battery. Your Lexus dealer and
most service stations will be pleased to check the battery charge
level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold weather.
See page 232 for recommended viscosity. Leaving a heavy summer
oil in your vehicle during winter months may cause harder starting.
If you are not sure about which oil to use, call your Lexus dealer
they will be pleased to help.
Check the electronic ignition system for loose connections or
obvious damage.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock deicer or glycerine into the locks to keep them from
freezing.