air LEXUS SC300 1999 Owner's Manual

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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.

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The SRS airbags may operate if a serious impact occurs
to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples are
shown in the illustration.

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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
gas to help restrain the forward motion of the occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise.
And the driver airbag also releases some smoke and residue
along with non±toxic gas. This does not indicate a fire. This
gas is normally harmless, however, for those who have
delicate skin, it may cause minor skin irritation. Be sure to
wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent minor skin
irritation.
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 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
passenger airbag the windshield may also be damaged by
absorbing some of the force of the inflating airbag.

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CAUTION

The SRS airbag system 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 ºSeat
beltsº on page 115.

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 ºChild restraintº on page 143.

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Never put a rear±facing child restraint system in the
front seat because the force of the rapid inflation of
the passenger airbag can cause death or serious
injury to the child.

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136

A forward±facing child restraint system should be
allowed to 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. For
instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 143.

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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 killed or seriously injured. Sit up straight and
well back in the seat, and always use your seat belt.

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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 killed
or seriously 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 ºChild restraintº on page 143.

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Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of the
dashboard or steering wheel pad that houses the
driver and front passenger airbag system. They
might restrict inflation or cause death or serious
injury as they are pr ojected rearward by the force of
the deploying airbags. Likewise, the driver and
front passenger should not hold things in their arms
or on their knees.

Do not modify or r emove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove or open any components, such as the steering
wheel pad, 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 death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injuries.

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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, console,
steering column, steering wheel or dashboard near the
front passenger airbag.