2008 Lexus IS250 power steering

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
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1-1. Key information ........................... 20Keys ...................................................... 20
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk .................. 22
Smart access system with push-button start .......................... 22
Wireless remote control .............. 34
Doors.................................................... 37
Trunk...................................................... 41
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors,
steering wheel) .......................... 44
Front seats .......................................... 44
Driving position memory ............. 46
Seat position memory ................... 49
Head restraints.................................. 51
Seat belts ............................................ 52
Steering wheel (manually adjustable type) ...... 58
Steering wheel (power-adjustable type)............ 59
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror ................................................ 60
Outside rear view mirrors ............ 61 1-4. Opening and closing the
windows and moon roof .......... 64
Power windows................................ 64
Moon roof .......................................... 66
1-5. Refueling ........................................ 69 Opening the fuel tank cap........... 69
1-6. Theft deterrent system............... 72 Engine immobilizer system ......... 72
Alarm.................................................... 74
Theft prevention labels (U.S.A.) ............................................. 76
1-7. Safety information ....................... 77 Correct driving posture ............... 77
SRS airbags ....................................... 79
Front passenger occupant classification system .................... 90
Child restraint systems ................. 95
Installing child restraints ............... 98
2-1. Driving procedures................... 108 Driving the vehicle ........................ 108
Engine (ignition) switch ................ 117
Automatic Transmission ............ 122
Manual Transmission................... 126
Turn signal lever............................. 128
Parking brake ................................. 129
1Before driving
2When driving

Before driving1
19
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
1-1. Key information ............... 20Keys .............................................. 20
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
and trunk ........................ 22
Smart access system with push-button start .................... 22
Wireless remote control ......... 34
Doors ............................................ 37
Trunk .............................................. 41
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors,
steering wheel) .............. 44
Front seats ................................... 44
Driving position memory ........ 46
Seat position memory.............. 49
Head restraints ........................... 51
Seat belts ..................................... 52
Steering wheel (manually adjustable type) ..................... 58
Steering wheel (power- adjustable type) ...................... 59
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror ......................................... 60 Outside rear view mirrors........ 61
1-4. Opening and closing the windows and
moon roof ....................... 64
Power windows .......................... 64
Moon roof ................................... 66
1-5. Refueling .......................... 69 Opening the fuel tank cap ..... 69
1-6. Theft deterrent system .... 72 Engine immobilizer system ........................................ 72
Alarm............................................. 74
Theft prevention labels (U.S.A.)....................................... 76
1-7. Safety information............ 77 Correct driving posture ......... 77
SRS airbags ................................ 79
Front passenger occupant classification system.............. 90
Child restraint systems ........... 95
Installing child restraints......... 98

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1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Steering wheel (power-adjustable type)
Auto tilt awayWhen the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch is turned OFF, the
steering wheel returns to its
stowed position by moving up and
away to enable easier driver entry
and exit.
Switching to ACCESSORY or
IGNITION ON mode will return
the steering wheel to the original
position.
The steering wheel can be adjusted to a comfortable position while the
“ENGINE START STOP” switch is in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode.
Up
Down
Away from the driver
Toward the driver
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle the vehicle and an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag system
triggers the airbag inflators. A chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag sensors,
side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor
assemblies, driver's seat position sensor, driver's seat belt buckle switch, seat belt
pretensioner assemblies, inflators, interconnecting wiring and power sources.
(
→P. 3 6 1 )
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying (inflating)
SRS airbag.
●A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the front seats, and parts of the fr
ont pillar, rear pillar and roof side rail,
may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The front windshield may crack.
■Operating conditions (front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy if the severity of the frontal impact is above the
designed threshold level, comparable to an approximate 15 mph (25 km/h) col-
lision when the vehicle impacts straight into a fixed barrier that does not move
or deform.
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in
which the front of the vehicle "underrides", or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
●It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the vehi-
cle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the
seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.
●The SRS front passenger airbag will not activate if there is no passenger sitting
in the front passenger seat. However, the front passenger airbag may deploy if
luggage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is fastened, even if the seat is unoccu-
pied. (
→P. 9 0 )

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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
●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.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck or bogged (AWD models)
Do not spin the wheels recklessly when any of the tires is up in the air, or stuck in
sand or mud, etc. This may damage the drive system components or propel the
vehicle forward (or in another direction) and cause an accident.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●With manual transmission vehicles, do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while
driving.
Doing so may cause clutch trouble.
●With manual transmission vehicles, do not use any gears other than the first gear
when starting off and moving forward.
Doing so may damage the clutch.
●With automatic transmission vehicles, do not use the accelerator pedal or
depress accelerator and brake pedals together to hold the vehicle on a hill.
●With manual transmission vehicles, do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle when
stopping on an uphill grade.
■When parking the vehicle
With automatic transmission vehicles, 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 accel-
erator pedal is accidentally depressed.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for a long
time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damag-
ing the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.

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2-1. Driving procedures
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
NOTICE
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have your Lexus dealer check and replace the brake pads as soon as possible.
The rotor damage can result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
Front brake only: Moderate levels of the brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced
front braking power. As a result, the discs may wear more quickly than conventional
brake discs. Therefore, when replacing the brake pads, Lexus recommends that you
also have the thickness of the discs measured.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or
that of the brake discs are exceeded.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
●The vehicle will behave abnormally.
Replace a flat tire with a new one. ( →P. 3 8 4 )
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause the
following serious damage to the vehicle.
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to
have your Lexus dealer check the following.
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, transmission,
differential, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints (where
possible) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

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2-4. Using other driving systems
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Driving assist systems
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following systems
operate automatically in response to various driving situations. Be aware,
however, that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied
upon too heavily when operating the vehicle.
■ ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Restrains the vehicle from slipping when driving on slick road surfaces or
in the event of sudden braking.
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed, when the system detects a panic stop situation.
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces.
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Maintains drive power and prevents the rear wheels (2WD models) or all
wheels (AWD models) from spinning wh en starting the vehicle or acceler-
ating on slippery roads.
■ Hill-start assist control (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards when starting on an incline or
slippery slope.
■EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the amount of effort needed to turn
the steering wheel.

Interior features3
191
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
3-1. Using the air conditioning system
and defogger ................ 192
Automatic air conditioning system ...................................... 192
Rear window and outside rear view mirror
defoggers ............................. 200
3-2. Using the audio system ........................... 201
Audio system type................... 201
Using the radio....................... 204
Using the CD player ............... 211
Playing back MP3 and WMA discs............................. 217
Optimal use of the audio
system ..................................... 225
Using the AUX adapter ...... 228
Using the steering wheel audio switches ...................... 229
3-3. Using the interior lights .............................. 231
Interior lights list ...................... 231
• Interior lights ........................ 234
• Personal lights ...................... 234 3-4. Using the storage
features ........................ 236
List of storage features......... 236
• Glove box .............................. 236
• Console boxes ..................... 237
• Overhead console.............. 238
• Cup holders .......................... 239
• Bottle holders/ door pockets ......................... 241
3-5. Other interior features ........................ 242
Sun visors ................................. 242
Vanity mirror ........................... 243
Clock ......................................... 244
Satellite switches ................... 245
Ashtrays.................................... 248
Cigarette lighter .................... 249
Power outlet ............................ 250
Seat heaters ............................. 251
Seat heaters and ventilators ............................. 253
Armrest .................................... 255
Rear sunshade ........................ 256
Trunk storage extension ...... 258
Coat hooks .............................. 259
Floor mat .................................. 260
Trunk features ........................... 261
Garage door opener ............ 264
Compass................................... 269