2005 Lexus IS300 Basic Functions / LEXUS 2005 IS300 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM53489U)

DRIVING TIPS
272
DINGHY TOWING
SV32002a
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with four
wheels on the ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.This may cause serious damage to your vehicle.
TRAILER TOWING
SV32001
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your
vehicle. It is not designed for trailer towing.
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DRIVING TIPS
273
HOW TO SAVE FUEL AND MAKEYOUR VEHICLE LAST LONGER
Improving fuel economy is easy ± just take it easy. It will help
make your vehicle last longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and repairs:
 Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Check
the pressure every two weeks, or at least once a month. Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel.
 Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess
weight puts a heavier load on the engine, causing greater
fuel consumption.
 Avoid lengthy warm±up idling. Once the engine is
running smoothly, begin driving ± but gently. Remember,
however, that on cold winter days this may take a little longer.
 Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts.
 Avoid long engine idling. If you have a long wait and you
are not in traffic, it is better to turn off the engine and start again later.
 Avoid engine over±revving. Use a gear position suitable
for the road on which you are traveling.
 Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down.
Stop±and±go driving wastes fuel. 
Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a
steady pace. Try to time the traffic signals so you only need
to stop as little as possible or take advantage of through
streets to avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper distance from
other vehicles to avoid sudden braking. This will also reduce wear on your brakes.
 Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever possible.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This causes
premature wear, overheating and poor fuel economy.
 Maintain a moderate speed on highways. The faster you
drive, the greater the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel consumption.
 Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid hitting
the curb and slow down on rough roads. Improper alignment
not only causes faster tire wear but also puts an extra load on the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
 Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud, etc. This
not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion.
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DRIVING TIPS
274
Keep your vehicle tuned±up and in top shape. A dirty air
cleaner, improper valve clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil and
grease, brakes not adjusted, etc. all lower engine
performance and contribute to poor fuel economy. For
longer life of all parts and lower operating costs, keep all
maintenance work on schedule, and if you often drive under
severe conditions, see that your vehicle receives more
frequent maintenance. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the ªOwner's Manual Supplement / Scheduled Maintenanceº.)
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast down hills. Your
power steering and brake booster will not function
without the engine running. Also, the emission control
system operates properly only when the engine is
running.
VEHICLE LOAD LIMITS
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating
capacity, towing capacity and cargo capacity. Follow the
load limits shown below.
Total load capacity: 390 kg (860 lb.)
Total load capacity means combined weight of
occupants, cargo and luggage. Tongue load is included
when trailer towing.
Seating capacity: Total 5 (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximum number of
occupants whose estimated average weight is 68 kg
(150 lb.) per person. Depending on the weight of each
person, the seating capacity given may exceed the total
load capacity.
NOTICE
Even if the number of occupants are within the seating capacity, do not exceed the total load
capacity.
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DRIVING TIPS
275
Towing capacity
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your
vehicle. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.
Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on
the size (weight) and the number of occupants. For
details, see ªCapacity and distributionº that follows.
CAUTION
Do not apply the load more than each load limit.
That may cause not only damage to the tires, but
also deterioration to the steering ability and
braking ability, which may cause an accident.
CARGO AND LUGGAGE
Stowage precautions
When stowing cargo and luggage in the vehicle,
observe the following:
 Put cargo and luggage in the trunk or luggage
compartment when at all possible. Be sure all items are secured in place.
 Be careful to keep the vehicle level. Placing the weight
as far forward as possible helps maintain vehicle
balance.
 For better fuel economy, do not carry unnecessary
weight.
CAUTION
To prevent cargo and luggage from sliding
forward during braking, do not stack anything
in the trunk or luggage compartment. Keep
cargo and luggage low, as close to the floor as
possible.
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DRIVING TIPS
276
Never allow anyone to ride in the trunk or
luggage compartment. It is not designed for
passengers. They should ride in their seats with
their seat belts properly fastened. Otherwise,
they are much more likely to suffer serious
bodily injury, in the event of sudden braking or
a collision.
 Do not place anything on the package tray
behind the rear seatback or luggage cover.
Such items may be thrown about and possibly
injure people in the vehicle during sudden
braking or an accident.
 Do not drive with objects left on top of the
instrument panel. They may interfere with the
driver's field of view. Or they may move during
sharp vehicle acceleration or turning, and
impair the driver's control of the vehicle. In an
accident t hey may injure the vehicle occupants.Capacity and distribution
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the
occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) ± (Total weight
of occupants)
Steps for determining correct load limit
1. Locate the statement ªThe combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX poundsº
on your vehicle's placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the
ªXXXº amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150
lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. 1400 ± 750
(5 x 150) = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
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DRIVING TIPS
277
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your
vehicle. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.Example on your vehicle
32SA03
 1Cargo capacity 2Total load capacity
In case that 2 people with the combined weight of 166 kg
(366 lb.) are riding in your vehicle with the total load
capacity of 390 kg (860 lb.), the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity will be as follows:
390 kg ± 166 kg = 224 kg.
(860 lb. ± 366 lb. = 494 lb.)
From this condition, if 3 more passengers with the
combined
weight of 176 kg (388 lb.) get on, the available
cargo and luggage load will be reduced as follows:
224 kg ± 176 kg = 48 kg.
(494 lb. ± 388 lb. = 106 lb.)
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DRIVING TIPS
278
As shown in the above example, if the number of
occupants increases, the cargo and luggage load
equaling the combined weight of occupants who got on
later must be reduced. In other words, if the increase in
the number of occupants causes the excess of the total
load capacity (combined weight of occupants plus cargo
and luggage load), you have to reduce the cargo and
luggage on your vehicle.
For details about total load capacity, see ªVehicle load
limitsº on page 274.
CAUTION
Even if the total l oad of occupant's weight and the
cargo load is less than the total load capacity, do
not apply the load unevenly. That may cause not
only damage to the tire but also deterioration to
the steering ability due to unbalance of the
vehicle, causing an accident.
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SECTION 4
279
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
In case of an emergency
If your engine stalls while driving280
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If you cannot increase engine speed 280
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If your vehicle will not start 281
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If your vehicle overheats 285
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If you have a flat tire 286
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If your vehicle becomes stuck 298
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If your vehicle needs to be towed 299
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If you cannot shift automatic transmission selector lever 304
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If you lose your keys or lock yourself out 305
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