2006 LEXUS RX330 cooling

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
71
ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
 Normal range
The gauge indicates the engine coolant temperature when
the ignition switch is on. The engine operating
temperature will vary with changes in weather and engine
load.
If the needle points to the red zone or higher, stop your vehicle
and allow the engine to cool. Your vehicle may overheat during severe operating conditions,
such as:

Driving up a long hill on a hot day.
 Reducing speed or stopping after high speed driving.
 Idling for a long period with the air conditioning on in
stop−and−go traffic.
 Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in the engine cooling
system as this may cause the engine to overheat. The
thermostat is designed to control the flow of coolant
to keep the temperature of the engine within the
specified operating range.
 Do not continue driving with an overheated engine.
See “If your vehicle overheats” on page 499.

AIR CONDITIONING
245
(a) Climate control
SETTING OPERATION — automatic control
1. Push the “AUTO” button.
An indicator light will illuminate to show that the automatic
operation mode has been selected.
Air flow quantity, switching of the diffusers, on−off of the air
conditioning and switching of the air intake between
RECIRCULATED AIR and OUTSIDE AIR are automatically
adjusted. When you press the “AUTO” button with the air
intake mode at OUTSIDE AIR, internal circulation may be
applied for maximum cooling. The operation status is shown
by each indicator. When one of the manual control buttons is depressed while
operating in automatic mode, the operation corresponding to
the depressed button is set. Other conditions continue to be
adjusted automatically.
Push the “OFF” button to turn the air conditioning system off.

AIR CONDITIONING
246
INFORMATION
This automatic control has additional function as
described below, when the “AUTO” button is pushed.
The fan speed is stopped for a little while until warm
air preparation, when outside temperature is cold like
a winter season in the “Floor”, “Bilevel” or
“Floor/Windshield” air flow mode. If quick removal
for exterior frost, fog and inside fog on the windshield
is desired, use the high fan speed setting after the
“Windshield” air flow mode has been selected.
The fan speed is stopped few seconds until cool air
preparation, when outside temperature is hot like a
summer season in the “Panel” or “Bilevel” air flow
mode.
 The internal circulation may be applied for maximum
cooling in the automatic operation mode, when
outside temperature is hot like a summer season.
If fresh outside air is desired into the vehicle, push
the air intake control button to select the OUTSIDE
AIR mode.
The “Floor/Windshield” air flow mode may be applied
automatically, if the outside temperature is lowered
down to below 0C (32F).
This is not malfunction. The “Floor/Windshield” air
flow mode turns on the defogging and defrosting
function with the purpose of cleaning your front view
for safe driving.
If the “Floor” air flow mode is desired with the main
purpose of heating, “Floor” air flow mode can be
selected manually by pushing the “MODE” (air flow
control) button.

AIR CONDITIONING
247
2. Use the “TEMP” or “PASSENGER TEMP” button to set
the desired vehicle interior temperature.
The “TEMP” or “PASSENGER TEMP” selector button is used
to set the desired interior temperature. The interior
temperature will be controlled on the driver and passenger side
room zones simultaneously or individually.
To increase the interior temperature, press the “ ” side, to
decrease it, press the “ ” side. If quick heating or cooling is desired —
“LO” appears when you hold it until maximum cooling
(decrease), and
“HI” appears when you hold it until maximum
warning (increase).
“TEMP” button — Changes the temperature on the driver and
passenger sides simultaneously or the driver side only.
“PASSENGER TEMP” button — Changes the temperature
settings separate from the driver side.

AIR CONDITIONING
248“DUAL” button —
This switch is used to set the temperatures independently for
the driver’s seat and front passenger seat.
Pushing the button changes the mode from independent and
linked.

Independent mode: Temperatures can be set
independently for the driver’s seat and front passenger’s
seat. The indicator light will illuminate to show that the
independent mode has been selected. The indicator light
will come on to show that the independent mode has been
selected.
 Linked mode: The same temperature is set for the driver’s
seat and front passenger’s seat. The indicator light will turn
off to show that the simultaneous temperature setting mode
has been selected.
When the temperature for the front passenger’s seat is
changed in linked mode, the mode is changed automatically to
independent mode.
INFORMATION
Knowledge for the twotemperature selector operation
This air conditioning system has two independent
temperature selectors: left and right (for the use of
driver and front passenger respectively).
 There are cases where the temperature of the airflow
may not accurately correlate on the driver and front
passenger side according to circumstances, even if
the left and right temperature selectors are set at the
same temperature. If this situation occurs, use the
fine tune operation to adjust the air temperature on
one side.
 There are cases where one or both of the airflow
temperatures may not accurately correlate with the
set temperature according to circumstances, when
the airflow temperature settings on the left and right
are substantially different. For example, if the left
controller is set at central or neutral temperature
while the right one is set at maximum heating or
maximum cooling, or vice versa. If this situation
occurs, use the fine tune operation to adjust the air
temperature on each side.

AIR CONDITIONING
251
If manual switching of air intake is desired —
The air intake control button is used to switch the air intake
between the OUTSIDE AIR mode and RECIRCULATED AIR
mode.
With the button in the OUTSIDE AIR mode, the indicator light
will turn off and the system will take fresh outside air into the
vehicle.
If quick circulation of cooled air is desired, push the air intake
control
button for RECIRCULATED AIR. The indicator light will
come on.
For normal use, it is best to keep the air intake control button
set to the OUTSIDE AIR mode. If recirculated air is used during
heating, the windows will fog up more easily. To prevent fogging up of the windshield, the air intake mode
may change automatically to the OUTSIDE AIR mode
depending on the condition of the air conditioning system.
For example, when the ambient temperature is low, the air
intake mode may change automatically to the OUTSIDE AIR
mode. This is not a malfunction.
When the air conditioning is ON, if the engine coolant
temperature becomes extremely high, the RECIRCULATED
AIR mode is automatically selected. This is not a malfunction.
When
the engine coolant temperature is lowered, the previous
mode resumes.
If manual onoff of the air conditioning is desired —
Push the “A/C” button to turn the air conditioning on and push
it again to turn the air conditioning off.
The air conditioning does not work if the outside temperature
is lowered down to around 0 C (32F).
If the system is used for ventilation, heating in dry weather or
removing frost or exterior fog on the windshield, turn the air
conditioning off once it is no longer required. This will improve
fuel economy. The air conditioning can be used for year− round
automatic temperature control including cooling and
dehumidifying operation.
If the air conditioning compressor does not operate, the
indicator of the “A/C” button will blink. If the indicator of the
“A/C” button blinks even when the “A/C” button is pushed
again, have the compressor checked by your nearest Lexus
dealer.

AIR CONDITIONING
252If the engine coolant temperature becomes extremely high, the
air conditioning may shut off automatically to resolve
emergency situation for engine cooling. This is not a
malfunction. When the engine coolant
temperature is lowered,
the air conditioning comes on automatically.
(b) Windshield defogging and defrosting
To remove interior fog on the windshield —
Push the windshield air flow button.
To remove frost or exterior fog on the windshield —
1. Push the “TEMP” button to set the maximum temperature.
2. Push the windshield air flow button.
3. Push the fan speed control button on the right side to obtain
a maximum air flow.
4. Leave the “A/C” button off.
When the windshield air flow button is pushed, air flows mainly
from the windshield vents and turns on the defogging function
with the purpose of clearing the front view.
Pushing this button once again returns the air flow mode to the
last one used.

AIR CONDITIONING
253
This button allows the air intake to select the OUTSIDE AIR
mode automatically. This is to clean up the front view more
quickly. If you want to return the setting to the
RECIRCULATED
AIR mode, push the air intake control button
once again.
Push the “A/C” button for dehumidified heating or cooling. This
setting clears the front view more quickly.
CAUTION
Do not use the windshield air flow button during cooled
air operation in extremely humid weather. The
difference between the temperature of the outside air
and that of the windshield could cause the outer surface
of the windshield to fog up blocking your vision.
(c) Operating tips
 To cool off your Lexus after it has been parked in the hot sun,
drive with the windows open for a few minutes. After the
excess heat has blown away, close the windows. This vents
the hot air, allowing the air conditioning to cool the interior
more quickly.
 Make sure the air intake grilles in front of the windshield are
not blocked (by leaves or snow, for example).
 If air flow control is not satisfactory, check the side vents and
rear vents. (See “(d) Side vents and rear vents”.)
 On humid days, do not blow cold air on the windshield. The
windshield could fog up because of the difference in air
temperature on the inside and outside of the windshield.
 Keep the area under the front seats clear to allow air to
circulate throughout the vehicle.
 On cold days, set the fan speed to high for a minute to help
clear the intake ducts of snow or moisture. This can reduce
the amount of fogging on the windows.
 When driving on dusty roads, close all windows. If dust
thrown up by the vehicle is still drawn into the vehicle after
closing the windows, it is recommended that the air intake
control button be set to the OUTSIDE AIR mode to take in
the fresh air and the fan speed selector to any setting except
OFF.