2006 LEXUS RX330 Owners Manual

STARTING AND DRIVING
428The vehicle
−to− vehicle distance is always set to long when the
ignition switch is turned on.
Select the vehicle −to−vehicle distance considering traffic
conditions. The approximate vehicle −to−vehicle distance
based on time interval when driving at 88 km/h (55 mph) is
shown below:
Long about 75 m (245 ft.)
. . . . . . . . . .
Middle about 50 m (165 ft.)
. . . . . . . .
Short about 30 m (100 ft.)
. . . . . . . . .
If vehicle speeds are slower than 88 km/h (55 mph), the
distance will be shorter than that listed above.
During long downhill driving, the actual vehicle −to−vehicle
distance may be less than that selected by the driver. (i) Braking control
Dynamic laser cruise control is not a collision avoidance
system. If the approach warning is activated, decelerate by
applying the brakes to ensure an appropriate
vehicle
−to−vehicle distance.
If you are nearing the vehicle ahead traveling at a higher speed
than the vehicle ahead or if engine braking cannot be applied
properly, braking control is automatically activated. At this
time, the display flashes.
Braking control operates only when the vehicle −to−vehicle
distance control mode is selected and your vehicle speed
exceeds about 40 km/h (25 mph). If the speed falls below
about 40 km/h (25 mph), braking control will cease, requiring
the manual application of brakes.

STARTING AND DRIVING
429
CAUTION
Braking control will not ensure that your vehicle will
reduce speed appropriately. You must depress the
brake pedal to slow down, in order to avoid a collision
or to maintain sufficient vehicletovehicle distance.
(j) Approach warning
While you are cruising in the vehicle−to−vehicle distance
control mode, if the vehicle ahead decelerates abruptly or if
another vehicle cuts in ahead of you, your vehicle may come
closer to the vehicle ahead. The display will flash and beep to
alert you.
CAUTION
 If the display flashes and beeps, this indicates that
you must depress the brake pedal in order to slow
down sufficiently to avoid a collision or maintain
appropriate vehicletovehicle distance.
 In the following conditions, the approach warning
may not turn on even if the vehicle drives closer to the
vehicle ahead, and an accident may occur:
Your vehicle and the vehicle ahead are cruising at
almost the same speed.
The vehicle ahead is cruising at a faster speed than
yours. (The distance between the vehicles will
become longer.)
The vehicle ahead is at a stop or driving very slowly.
Pay special attention to a very slow vehicle at the end
of the line in heavy traffic or at a tollgate.
The speed has just been set.
The accelerator pedal is depressed or has just been
released.

STARTING AND DRIVING
430(k) Laser radar sensor
The laser radar sensor is used for vehicletovehicle
distance control cruising.
If dirt is on the sensor glass, the dynamic laser cruise
control
function is automatically cancelled and a warning
code appears on the display. (See “(l) Vehicletovehicle
distance control mode failure warning” on page 431.)
However, if the glass sensor is covered with ice or another
transparent substance, dirt may not be detected.
Before using the vehicletovehicle distance control
mode, make sure the laser radar sensor glass is clean.
This product is a class I laser product complied with
21 C.F.R part 1040.10. and 1040. 11.
CAUTION
To ensure that dynamic laser cruise control will function
properly while driving, observe the following:
 Always keep the laser radar sensor glass clean.
When cleaning, use a soft cloth and be careful not to
damage the sensor.
 Avoid strong impacts around the laser radar sensor.
An incorrect laser radar sensor alignment will result
in system malfunction. A special device is required
to adjust the laser radar sensor alignment. Be sure
to have the sensor adjusted by your Lexus dealer.
 Do not affix a sticker (including a transparent sticker)
or attach an accessory around the laser radar sensor.

STARTING AND DRIVING
431
(l) Vehicletovehicle distance control mode failure
warning
1Warning code2 “CRUISE” indicator light
3Master warning light
If a system malfunction is detected when the
vehicle −to−vehicle distance control mode is on, the master
warning light comes on, a warning tone sounds and a warning
code appears on the display. Dynamic laser cruise control is
automatically cancelled.
If “E3” appears on the display, the “CRUISE” indicator light in
the instrument cluster also flashes. If “E1” appears on the display,
the system cannot easily
measure the vehicle −to−vehicle distance because of a dirty
laser radar sensor glass.
If this code appears, clean the sensor glass with a soft cloth
and try setting the preset speed again. If the dirt is removed
without cleaning, the system will automatically enter the ready
mode.
If the system does not enter the ready mode even after
cleaning or the code remains on the display, the system might
be malfunctioning. Although the vehicle may still be operated,
please contact your Lexus dealer.
CAUTION
Always keep the sensor glass clear and never allow it to
be covered with icicle or any substance, so it can detect
the vehicle in front.

STARTING AND DRIVING
432If “E2” appears on the display,
the system may be having
trouble measuring the vehicle −to− vehicle distance because of
any of the following:
 The wipers are operating at high or low speeds
 Direct sunlight from the front
 It is difficult to make a measurement because of bad
weather (such as rainy, foggy, or snowy weather)
 Driving in “SNOW” mode
In the following cases, dynamic laser cruise control switches
to the ready mode:
 The wipers are stopped or are switched to variable
intermittent operation.
 No direct sunlight from the front
In the above conditions, push the lever up in the “+ RES”
direction and release it. Dynamic laser cruise control will be
restored. If the setting operation cannot be performed or if the
same code still appears even after the weather clears, the
system might have malfunctioned. Although there is no
problem to continue driving, please contact your Lexus dealer. If “E3” appears on the display,
a system malfunction has
been detected.
If this warning code appears, stop your vehicle in a safe place,
turn the ignition off, and then restart it to reset the system. If
the same code appears again or if the cruise control cannot be
set, the system may be malfunctioning. Although there is no
problem to continue driving, please contact your Lexus dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
433
Conventional (fixed speed) cruise control
mode
The conventional cruise control mode is designed to
maintain a set cruising speed without requiring the driver
to operate the accelerator. Cruising speed can be set to
any speed above 45 km/h (28 mph).
Within the limits of the engine’s capabilities, cruising speed can
be maintained up or down grades. However, changes in
vehicle speed may occur on steeper grades.
CAUTION
 In the conventional cruise control mode, the
approach warning does not activate and no alarm will
sound even if you are too close to the vehicle ahead,
as neither the presence of the vehicle ahead nor the
vehicletovehicle distance is detected. Pay special
attention to the distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle ahead. Always confirm the cruise control
mode on the display.
 Do not use the conventional mode in the following
conditions, or serious injury or death could result:
To help maintain maximum control of your vehicle,
do not use conventional cruise control mode when
using dynamic laser cruise control while driving in
heavy or varying traffic, or on slippery (rainy, icy or
snowcovered) or winding roads.
Avoid vehicle speed increasing when driving
downhill. If the vehicle speed is too fast in relation to
the preset speed in the conventional cruise control
mode, cancel the conventional cruise control mode
and then downshift the transmission to use engine
braking to slow down.

STARTING AND DRIVING
434(a) Turning the system on and off
To turn the conventional cruise control mode on, press the
“ON−OFF” button. The “CRUISE” and “READY” indicator
lights on the
instrument panel will come on. Push the lever in
the “MODE” direction for longer than 1 second to change to
conventional cruise control mode. The indicator on the
instrument panel is as shown. You can now set the cruising
speed. Pressing the “ON− OFF” button again turns the system
off.
When the system is turned off, cruising speed must be reset
when the conventional cruise control mode is turned on again.
However, once the vehicle −to−vehicle distance control mode
activates and is used, the system cannot be changed to the
conventional cruise control mode using the above operation.
To change the mode, you must turn this system off and then on
again. Next pu sh the lever in the “MODE” direction for longer
than about 1 second. To change to the vehicle
−to−vehicle distance control mode
from the conventional cruise control mode, push the lever in
the “MODE” direction for longer than about 1 second.
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging the cruise control, turn
the system off when it is not in use. Make sure the
“CRUISE” indicator light is off.

STARTING AND DRIVING
435
(b) Setting the cruising speed
With automatic transmission (standard type) —
The transmission must be in “D” before you set the cruising
speed.
With automatic transmission (multi
−mode type) —
The transmission must be in “D”, “5” (fifth range) or “\
4” (fourth
range) before you set the cruising speed.
Bring your vehicle to the desired speed, push the lever down
in the “− SET” direction and release it. This sets the vehicle at
that speed and the display shows the preset speed. You can
now take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If you need to accelerate — for example, when passing —
depress the accelerator pedal enough for the vehicle to exceed
the preset speed. When you release the accelerator pedal, the
vehicle will return to the speed set prior to acceleration. You cannot set a desired speed if the master warning light
comes on, the alarm sounds and the display indicates the
warning
code “E3”. If this code appears on the display, see “(g)
Conventional cruise control mode failure warning” on page
437.
(c) Cancelling the conventional cruise control mode
The conventional cruise control mode may be temporarily
cancelled by the driver or by the system itself under certain
circumstances. T emporary cancellation allows the set cruising
speed to remain in memory.
The conventional cruise control mode can be temporarily
cancelled by doing the following:
 Pulling the lever in the “CANCEL” direction and releasing it
 Depressing the brake pedal
Under certain circumstances, the conventional cruise control
mode is temporarily cancelled:
 When vehicle speed falls below 40 km (25 mph)
 When vehicle stability control is activated
When vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10 mph) below the set
speed, the conventional cruise control mode is cancelled and
the set speed is erased from memory.
The “CRUISE” indicator light remains on to indicate that the
system is still in operation.