LEXUS RX330 2006 Owners Manual

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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
carrier” on page 136.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
If you wish to modify your vehicle for a person with a
physical disability, consult your Lexus dealer. It may
dangerously interfere with the SRS side airbags and
curtain shield airbags operation.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS side airbag
and curtain shield airbag system in some cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or CD player
 Modification of the suspension system
 Modification of the structure of the passenger
compartment
 Repairs made on or near the console or front seat

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
191
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 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 passenger occupant classification system, “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light, “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’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 74 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 “ON” 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 driver and front
passenger airbag and/or front passenger occupant
classification system, ”AIRBAG ON” indicator light and
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light have a problem. If the light
flashes, the SRS side and curtain shield airbags have a
problem.
The SRS warning light and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light will
be illuminated if there is a malfunction in the front passenger
occupant classification system.

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192
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
Any of the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags have
been inflated. 
The portion of the doors (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags to inflate.
 The surface of the seats with the side airbag (shaded in the
illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
 The portion of the front pillars, rear pillars or roof side rail
garnishes (padding) containing the curtain shield airbags
inside (shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or
otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
193
FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANTCLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant
classification system. This system detects the conditions
1 — 4 in the table shown below, and based on these
conditions activates or deactivates the following
systems;
 Front passenger airbag
 Side airbag on the front passenger seat
 Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
The system monitors the weight and load on the front
passenger seat, and the seat belt buckle switch in
determining conditions 1 — 4.
In order for the system to detect the conditions correctly,
do not do any of the following:
 Apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat or equipment
(e.g. seatback pocket or armrest).
 Attach a commercial seatback table, etc. to the front
passenger seat seatback.
 Put weight on the front passenger seat by putting your
hands or feet on the seatback from the rear passenger seat.
“AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator and front
passenger’s seat belt reminder light
SRS warning light

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
194The “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator lights will
be illuminated when the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position
and a child or child restraint system is in the front
passenger seat (see tablecondition 2). This indicates
that in the event of a severe frontal or passenger’s side
impact, the front passenger airbag and side airbag on the
front passenger seat are deactivated and will not deploy.
If the front passenger occupant classification system
determines that a person of adult size sits in the front
passenger seat but the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, one of the following is likely to have occurred:
 The rear passenger lifts the front passenger seat cushion
with their legs.
 Objects are placed under the front passenger seat.
 A front passenger seat seatback is in contact with a rear
seat.
To ensure the system correctly detects an adult sitting in the
front passenger seat, make sure the above do not happen.
Make sure the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated when
an adult sits in the front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated, ask the passenger to sit up
straight, well back in the seat, and with the seat belt worn
correctly. If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light still remains
illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat,
or if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully
rearward. The “AIRBAG ON” and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light will
be initially illuminated when the ignition switch is turned
to the “ON” position. It will remain for about four seconds
and then go off. After about two seconds, the front
passenger occupant classification system operates and
judges whether to turn the indicator light on or not.
The SRS warning light and “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light
will be illuminated if there is a malfunction in the front
passenger occupant classification system.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
195
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification s\
ystem
Condition detected by the front
passenger occupant
classification system
Indicator/warning lightDevices
“AIRBAG ON” and
“AIRBAG OFF”
indicator lights
SRS
warning light
Front
passenger’s seat belt
reminder light
Front
passenger airbagSide airbag
on the frontpassenger seatCurtain
shield airbag in the frontpassenger sideFront
passenger’s seat belt
pretensioner
1Adult*1“AIRBAG ON”OffFlashing*4Activated
2Child *2 or child
restraint system*3“AIRBAG OFF”OffFlashing*4Deactivated
Activated
Activated
3UnoccupiedNot
illuminatedOffOffDeactivatedDeactivated
4There is a
malfunction in the
system“AIRBAG OFF”OnOffDeactivatedActivated
*1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller ad\
ult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and posture.
*
2: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front\
passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
*
3: Never install a rear −facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat. A forward −facing child restraint system should
only be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable. (\
See “Child restraint system” as for installing the chil d
restraint system.)
*
4: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
196
CAUTION
To avoid potential death or serious injury when the front
passenger occupant classification system does not
detect the conditions correctly, observe the following.
Wear the seat belt properly.
 Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not
been left inserted into the buckle before someone
sits in the front passenger seat.
 Make sure the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is not
illuminated when using the seat belt extender for the
front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator
light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue
from the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat
belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender after making
sure the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated.
If you use the seat belt extender while the “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated, the front
passenger airbag and side airbag on the front
passenger side may not activate correctly, which
could cause death or serious injury in the event of
collision.
 Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat
or equipment (e.g. seatback pocket or armrest).
 Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by
putting your hands or feet on the front passenger
seat seatback from the rear passenger seat.
 Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger
seat with their feet or press on the seatback with their
legs.
 Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
 Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far
that it touches a rear seat. This may cause the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not
deploy in the event of a severe accident. If the
seatback touches the rear seat, return the seatback
to a position where it does not touch the rear seat.
Keep the front passenger seatback as upright as
possible when the vehicle is moving. Reclining the
seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness
of the seat belt system.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
197
If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the
“AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated. If the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator is illuminated, ask the
passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet
on the floor, and with the seat belt worn correctly. If
the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator still remain illuminated,
either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or
if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat
fully rearward.
 When it is unavoidable to install the forwardfacing
child restraint system on the front passenger seat,
install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. (As for the
installation order, see “Child restraint system” on
page 199.)
 Do not remove the seat.
 Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to
severe impact. Otherwise, the SRS warning light may
come on to indicate a malfunction of the detection
system. In this case, contact your Lexus dealer
immediately.
 Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat
should not contact the front seatbacks.In addition to the precautions outlined above, the “AIRBAG
ON” indicator light may be illuminated when a child sits in the
front passenger seat or a forward −facing child restraint system
is installed in the front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG ON”
indicator light is illuminated in these circumstances, the front
passenger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger side
are in an activated condition — the airbags will deploy if an
impact meets the deployment criteria. Refer to all the cautions
in this Section and “Child restraint system” on page 199.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
198
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 belts” on page 154 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 the 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.
 Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front
passenger airbag can cause death or serious injury
to the child if the rearfacing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
 Only when it is unavoidable should a forwardfacing
child restraint system be installed on the front
passenger seat. Always move the seat as far back as
possible even if the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, because the front passenger airbag
could inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously
injured.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
199
On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield
airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the door or the area
of the seat, front or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags
deploy even if the child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbags and/or
curtain shield airbags inflate, and the impact could
cause death or serious injury to the child.
 Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a
child restraint system on the front or rear passenger
seat. If installing a child restraint system with the
seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat
belt will not securely hold the child restraint system,
which could cause death or serious injury to the child
or other passengers in the event of collision.
 Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly
secured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause
death or serious injury to the child in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.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 the child restraint system.
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 child restraint system.
Install the child restraint system correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer. 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.
When not using the child restraint system, keep it secured with
the seat belt or place it somewhere other than the passenger
compartment. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in
the event of a sudden stop or accident.