2008 LEXUS RX400H tow

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1-8. Safety information
RX400h_U
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
●The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or
serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of inflation,
placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides you with a
clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering
wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in. (250 mm) away now, you can
change your driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals com-fortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm)
distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the
back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to
see the road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-slippery cushion, or raise the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the airbag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still main-
taining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.

100
1-8. Safety information
RX400h_U
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean
against the dashboard.
●Do not allow a child to stand in front of the
SRS front passenger airbag unit or sit on
the knees of a front passenger.
●Do not drive the vehicle while the driver or
passenger have items resting on their
knees.
●Do not lean against the door, the roof side
rail or the front, side and rear pillars.
●Do not allow anyone to kneel on the pas-
senger seat toward the door or put their
head or hands outside the vehicle.

When driving2
121
RX400h_U
2-1. Driving procedures ........ 122Driving the vehicle.................. 122
Engine (ignition) switch .......... 131
Transmission.............................. 135
Turn signal lever ....................... 136
Parking brake ........................... 137
2-2. Instrument cluster ......... 138 Gauges and meters ................ 138
Indicators and warning lights ......................................... 140
Multi-information display ..... 143
Trip information display (without navigation
system)..................................... 146
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers........ 148
Headlight switch...................... 148
Fog light switch ......................... 151
Windshield wipers and washer ..................................... 152
Rear window wiper and washer ..................................... 155
Headlight cleaner switch...... 156 2-4. Using other driving
systems .......................... 157
Cruise control........................... 157
Dynamic laser cruise control ..................................... 160
Driving assist systems ............. 169
2-5. Driving information........ 173 Utility vehicle precautions ............................ 173
Cargo and luggage ................ 178
Vehicle load limits .................... 181
Winter driving tips .................. 182
Trailer towing ........................... 187
Dinghy towing.......................... 196

123
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
RX400h_U
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows
may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially
slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because
there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing
the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended to
observe:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake sys-
tem needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or whenever the parking
brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Lexus dealer perform the bed-
ding down.

148
RX400h_U
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
Headlight switch
Turning on the high beam headlightsWith the headlights on, push the
lever forward to turn on the high
beams.
Pull the lever back to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you to turn
on the high beams.
Release to turn them off. You can
flash the high beams with the head-
lights on or off.
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
The side marker, parking,
tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights
turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn
on.
The headlights and park-
ing lights turn on and off
automatically.
(When the engine switch
is in the ON position) U.S.A.
Canada

154
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
RX400h_U
■Rain drop sensor (vehicles with the rain-sensing windshield wipers)
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the wind-
shield washer fluid reservoir.
■Customization that can be configured at Lexus dealer
The setting of the wiper operation when the vehicle is stationary can be changed.
(Customizable features →P. 4 5 8 )
CAUTION
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the
windshield is subject to vibration in AUTO mode. Take care that your fingers or any-
thing else do not become caught in the windshield wipers.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled toward you
and held continually.
The sensor judges the amount of raindrops.

158
2-4. Using other driving systems
RX400h_U
■Fine adjustment of the set speed
Adjustment of the set speed by approximately 1.0 mph (1.6 km/h) cab be made by
lightly pressing the lever up or down and releasing it.
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in the D.
●Vehicle speed is between approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) and 125 mph (200
km/h).
■Accelerating
The vehicle can be accelerated normally.
■Automatic cruise control cancellation
The set speed is automatically cancelled in any of the following situations.
●Actual vehicle speed falls more than 10 mph (16 km/h) below the preset vehicle
speed.
At this time, the memorized set speed is not retained.
●Actual vehicle speed is below 25 mph (40km/h).
●VSC is activated.
■Canceling and resuming regular acceleration
Cancel
Push the lever towards you to
cancel cruise control.
The speed setting is also can-
celed when the brakes are
applied.
Resume
To resume cruise control and
return to the set speed, push the
lever up.

161
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
RX400h_U
■Driving in the selected cruise control mode
Accelerate or decelerate to the
desired speed and press the
lever down to set.
■ Adjusting the speed setting
Increase speed
Decrease speed
Hold the lever until the desired
speed setting is displayed.
■Canceling and resuming the speed setting
Cancel
Push the lever towards you to
cancel cruise control.
The setting is also canceled
when the brakes are applied.
Resume
To resume cruise control and
return to the set speed, push the
lever up.