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154
2-5. Driving information
■Before towing
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. (P.283 )
●Trailer tires should be inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recom -
mendation.
●All trailer lights must work to be legal.
●Confirm all lights work each time you connect them.
●Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper tongue
load, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
●Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, instal l rear view mirrors appropriate for towing
purposes.
■Break-in schedule
Lexus recommends that you do not use a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new
p
ower train components (engine, transmissi on, differential, wheel bearing, etc.) to
tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 km) of driving.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due to
the additional load. (see “Owner’s Manual Supplement/ Scheduled Mainte -
nance”)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
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155
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus the weight of cargo) must not exceed
2000 lb. (907 kg).
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue load capacities.
●Never load more weight in the back than in the front of the trailer. About 60% of
the load should be in the front half of the trailer, and the remaining 40% in the
rear.
■Hitches
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the hitch
ma
nufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of towing a
higher weight, the operator must never exceed the maximum weight rating speci -
fied for the trailer hitch.
• If you wish to install a trailer hitch, your Lexus dealer should be consulted.
• Use only a hitch that conforms to the total trailer weight requirement.
• Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
• Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
• Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer. After r
emoving the hitch, seal any mounting holes in the vehicle body to prevent
entry of any substances into the vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
●If the total trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb . (450 kg), trailer brakes are required.
●Never tap into your vehicle's hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle's
braking effectiveness.
●Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the
trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is
danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.
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156
2-5. Driving information
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. The three main
causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed and
improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when towing.
• Before starting out, check the tra iler
’s lights and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
• Practice turning, stopping and reversi ng with the tr
ailer attached in an
area away from traffic until you be come accustomed to the feel of the
vehicle.
• Reversing with a trailer attached is dif
ficult and requires practice. Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left. Move yo ur hand to the right to move the
trailer to the right. (This is gene rally opposite to reversing without a
trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have someone
guide you when reversing to redu ce the risk of an accident.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
●Do not use axle-mounted hitches as they can cause damage to the axle housing,
wheel bearings, wheels or tires.
■Brakes
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal and
sta
te/provincial requlations.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Direct splicing may damage your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunc -
tion.
Page 177 of 419
3Interior features
161
3-1. Using the air conditioning
system and defogger ........... 162
Automatic air conditioning
control .......................................... 162
Rear window defogger............. 170
Rear air conditioning
controls ........................................ 172
3-2. Using the audio system .......... 174 Audio system ................................. 174
Operating the radio................... 176
Operating the cassette
player ............................................ 182
Using the CD changer ............ 185
Optimal use of the audio
system ............................................ 191
Using the rear controller ......... 193
Using the steering switches.... 195
3-3. Turning on interior lights ...... 198 Interior lights list ......................... 198
3-4. Storage ...................................... 201 Storage features......................... 201 3-5. Other interior features ....... 208
Sun visors ..................................... 208
Vanity mirror and light ............ 209
Clock ............................................... 210
Ashtray............................................. 211
Cigarette lighter ......................... 213
Power outlets................................ 214
Outside temperature display .......................................... 216
Seat heaters .................................. 218
Climate control seat
switches ..................................... 220
Refreshing rear seat
switches ...................................... 222
Coat hooks................................... 223
Floor mats ..................................... 224
Sunshades ................................... 225
Trunk features.............................. 227
Garage door opener ............... 232
Compass (vehicles without
navigation system) ................ 238
Page 184 of 419
168
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
Swing center vents
Push to turn swing on or off.
When no passenger is in the
fr
ont seat:
Push .
Pushing the button changes the
dir
ection of the vents
ON-driver and rear passenger
OFF-driver
■Operating the automatic air conditioning control in automatic mode
Fan speed is automatically adjusted acco r
ding to the temperature setting and oper-
ating conditions. As a result, the following situations may occur.
• The system may switch to recirculated mode when the coolest temperature set -
ting is selected.
• The fan may stop for a short period immediately after operation.
■Using the system in recirculated mode
The windows will fog up more easily if the recirculated mode is used for an
exte
nded period.
■Outside air temperature approaches 0 C (32F).
The air conditioning system will not operate even if the is pushed.
■When the indicator light on flashes
Press and turn off the air conditioning control system before turning it on
once more. There may be a problem in the air conditioning
control system if the
indicator light continues to flash. Turn th e air conditioning control system off and
have it inspected by your Lexus dealer.
Page 200 of 419
184
3-2. Using the audio system
NOTICE
■Cassette tapes that cannot be used
Do not use a cassette tape if it has been damaged
or tangled or if its label is peeling
off. Such tapes may affect playing speed and may also get stuck in the player.
■Cassette player precautions
●Store cassette tapes away from direct sunlight.
●Do not insert anything other than cass ette tapes into the cassette player.
●Do not apply oil to the cassette player.
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190
3-2. Using the audio system
NOTICE
■CD player precautions
Failing observe the following precautions may result in CDs being unplayable or
ca
use the player to function abnormally.
• Do not insert anything other than CDs into the CD player.
• Do not apply oil to the CD player.
• Store CDs away from direct sunlight.
• Low-quality and deformed CDs.
• CDs with a transparent or translucent recording area.
• CDs that have had tape, seals or labels attached to them, or that have had the
label peeled off.
Page 214 of 419
198
3-3. Turning on interior lights
Interior lights list
■Illuminated entry system
The following lights turn on when the vehicle is unlocked or a door is opened.
• Ignition switch light
• Foot lights
• Interior lights (when the switch is in the DOOR position)
• Outer foot lights
• Inside door handle lights
After all the doors have been unlocked or
opened, the lights remain on for
approximately fifteen seconds and then go out.
(The lights turn off immediately if the vehicle is locked, or the ignition switch is
turned to A
CC or ON.)
Ignition switch light
Interior light and front personal lights ( P.199 , P.200)
Vanity lights ( P
.217)
Outer foot lights
Inside door handle lights
Rear personal lights ( P.200 )
Foot lights
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
