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2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off.
Otherwise, you may accidentally move the shift lever or depress the accelerator
pedal, which could cause an accident or fire due to engine overheating. Addition-
ally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect
and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.
■When braking the vehicle
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and may cause one side of
the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also the parking brake may
not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other vehicles
closely and avoid downhill or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but it will require more force on the pedal than
usual. Braking distance may also increase.
●Do not pump the brake peda l if the engine stalls.
Each push on the pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted brakes.
●The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems: if one of the systems
fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual and braking distance becomes longer.
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake system. Have your brakes fixed
immediately.
NOTICE
■While driving the vehicle
Do not use the accelerator pedal or depr ess accelerator and brake pedals together
to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■When parking the vehicle
Always put the shift lever in “P”. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or
the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally
depressed.
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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■Steering lock release
■Starting the engine using the flat keyPut the key case away when the security indicator light goes out. This
means the engine immobilizer system has turned off.
Start the engine within 60 seconds after the security indicator light goes
off.
■Leak detection pump
Several hours after the engine is turned off, you may hear a sound coming from
underneath the luggage compartment for several minutes. This is normal operation
and does not indicate a malfunction.
When starting the engine, the engine switch
may seem stuck in the “LOCK” position. To
free it, turn the key while turning the steering
wheel slightly in either direction.
Remove the flat key from its case. Insert the
key into the engine switch.STEP1
Bring the key case close to the engine switch
within 10 seconds as indicated by an arrow.STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
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2-2. Instrument cluster
■Indicators
The indicators inform the driver of th e operating state of the vehi-
cle’s various systems.
Turn signal indicator
( P. 1 2 4 )“RSCA OFF” indicator
(P. 8 9 )
Headlight high beam indi-
cator ( P. 1 3 5 )Downhill assist control
system indicator
( P. 1 5 7 )
(U.S.A.)
Headlight indicator
( P. 1 3 5 )
(U.S.A.)
Engine oil replacement
reminder light ( P. 3 8 4 )
(Canada)
Tail light indicator
( P. 1 3 5 ) Slip indicator
(P. 1 6 0 )
Security indicator
(P. 7 0 ) “VSC OFF” indicator
(P. 1 4 7 )
Shift position indicators
(P. 121)Center differential lock
indicator ( P. 1 4 7 )
Height control indicator
( P. 1 5 0 ) “AIR BAG ON” indicator
( P. 9 0 )
Automatic transmission
second start indicator
( P. 122)“AIR BAG OFF” indicator
( P. 9 0 )
Cruise control indicator
( P. 1 4 2 )
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
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2-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage
Adjusting the position of cross railsTurn the knobs counterclockwise
to loosen the cross rails.
Take notice of the following information about storage precautions, cargo
capacity and load.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment whenever
possible. Be sure all items are secured in place.
● Be careful to keep the vehicle level. Placing the weight as far for-
ward as possible helps maintain vehicle balance.
● For better fuel economy, do not carry unnecessary weight.
■ Roof luggage carrier
Cross rails
Roof rails
STEP1
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2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■Things that must not be carried in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compartment:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
●Do not place anything on the luggage cover, and do not stack anything in the lug-
gage compartment higher than the seatbacks.
Such items may be thrown about and possib ly injure people in the vehicle during
sudden braking or in an accident.
●Do not drive with objects on top of the instrument panel.
They may interfere with the driver’s field of view or move during sharp accelera-
tion or turning, thus impairing the driver ’s control of the vehicle. In an accident
they may injure the vehicle occupants.
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment, as they may shift and injure some-
one during an accident or sudden braking.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage compartment. It is not designed for
passengers. They should ride in their seat s with their seat belts properly fastened.
Otherwise, they are much more likely to suffer serious bodily injury or death, in
the event of sudden braking or a collision.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight ra ting or the total vehicle weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less than the total
load capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper loading may cause dete-
rioration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.
■Cross rail adjustment
Make sure the cross rails are locked secu rely by applying pressure forward and
rearward.
Failure to do so may cause an accident, deat h or serious injury in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
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2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■When loading cargo
Observe the following precautions:
●Place the cargo so that its weight is distributed evenly between the front and rear
axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never exceed the vehicle overall length or width.
( P. 4 1 2 )
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is se curely fastened to the roof luggage car-
rier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will raise the vehicle’s center of gravity.
Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp tu rns, sudden braking or abrupt maneu-
vers, otherwise unexpected loss of co ntrol or vehicle rollover may occur.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough ro ads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle
occasionally during the trip to make su re the cargo remains securely fastened.
●Do not exceed 130 lb. (58 kg) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading the luggage
Be careful not to scratch the surface of the moon roof.
■Cross rail stoppers
To prevent damage the moon roof, do not remove the cross rail stoppers.
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2-5. Driving information
■Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●The vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. (P. 4 1 9 )
●Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommenda-
tion.
●All trailer lights work.
●All lights work each time you connect them.
●The trailer ball is set up at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.
●The 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.
●The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or local
regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for towing pur-
poses.
■Break-in schedule
Lexus recommends that you do not use a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new
power train components (engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearings, 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 “Warranty and Services Guide/Owner’s Manual Sup-
plement/Scheduled Maintenance”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
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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
6500 lb. (2948 kg).
●If a trailer and cargo weight over 2000 lb. (907 kg), use a sway control device
with sufficient capacity.
●The gross combined weight (sum of your vehicle weight plus its load and the total
trailer weight) must not exceed 12000 lb. (5443 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.
●Set the vehicle height to the “LO” mode and turn off the rear height control air
suspension to prevent the vehicle he ight from automatically changing.
●The tow hitch receiver installed on your vehicle must never be used on another
vehicle
■Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Lexus dealer.
●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 removing
the hitch, seal any mounting hole in the vehicle body to prevent entry of any sub-
stances into the vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
●If the total trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb . (453 kg), trailer brakes are required.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s brak-
ing 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.
