1998 Lexus GS 300 Owners Manual - Page 158

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT " 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Side airbag module (airbag and inflator) Front passenger airbag module (airbag and inflator) Side airbag sensor assembly Seat belt pretensioner Steering wheel pad assembly (airbag and inflator) SRS warning light Driver and front passenger airbag sensor assembly Front satellite sensor assembly 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. The SRS airbag sensor assemblies consist of a safing sensor and driver and front passenger airbag sensors. In a severe frontal impact, the driver and front passenger airbag sensors detect deceleration and the system triggers the front airbag inflators and seat belt pretensioners. In a severe side impact, the side airbag sensor triggers the side airbag inflator. Then a chemical reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the forward or lateral motion of the occupants. Then the inflators fill the airbags and the seat belts are quickly drawn back in by the retractors to help restrain forward motion of the occupants. When the SRS operates, it produces a fairly loud noise and release some smoke along with non-toxic 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. 145