2008 LEXUS RX400H stop start

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1-1. Hybrid system
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
■Regenerative braking
The motor generator converts kinetic energy to electric energy when:
●The accelerator pedal is released.
●The brake pedal is depressed with the shift lever in D.
■Conditions in which the gasoline engine may not stop
The gasoline engine starts and stops automatically. However, it may not stop auto-
matically in the following conditions:
●During gasoline engine warm-up
●During hybrid battery (traction battery) charging
●During low or high hybrid battery (traction battery) temperature
■Charging the battery
●As the gasoline engine charges the hybrid battery (traction battery), the battery
does not need to be charged from an outside source. However, if the vehicle is
left parked for a long time the hybrid battery will slowly discharge. For this rea-
son, be sure to drive the vehicle at least once every several months for at least
30 minutes or 10 miles (16 km). If the hybrid battery becomes fully discharged
and you are unable to jump-start the vehicle with the battery, contact your
Lexus dealer.
●If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) will not be charged.
When driving in heavy traffic, operate the vehicle with the shift lever in D to
avoid discharging the battery.
■During normal driving
The gasoline engine is predominantly used. The electric motor
(traction motor) charges the hybrid battery as necessary.
■ When accelerating sharply
The power of the hybrid battery (traction battery) is added via elec-
tric motor (traction motor) to that of the gasoline engine.
■ When braking (regenerative brake)
The electric motor (traction motor) charges the hybrid battery
(traction battery).

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1-1. Hybrid system
RX400h_U
■After the 12-volt battery has discharged or has been changed or removed
The gasoline engine may not stop even if the vehicle is running on the hybrid battery
(traction battery). If this continues for a few days, contact your Lexus dealer.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
There may be no engine sounds or vibration even though the vehicle is able to
move. Always put the shift lever in P when parked.
The following sounds or vibrations may occur when the hybrid system is operating,
and are not a malfunction.
●Motor sounds may be heard from the engine compartment.
●Sounds may be heard from the hybrid battery (traction battery) behind the rear
seat when the hybrid system starts or stops.
●Sounds may be heard from the transmission when the hybrid system starts or
stops, or while the vehicle is idling.
●Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
●Sounds may be heard from the regenerative brake when you press the brake
pedal.
●Vibration may be felt when the gasoline engine starts or stops.
●You may hear cooling fan sounds coming from the air intake vents under the
rear seat.
■Maintenance, repair, recycling, and disposal
Contact your Lexus dealer regarding maintenance, repair, recycling and disposal.
Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself.

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1-1. Hybrid system
RX400h_U■
Hybrid battery air vent
There is an air intake vent under
the rear seats to cooling the hybrid
battery (traction battery). If the
vent becomes blocked, the hybrid
battery may overheat, leading to a
reduction in hybrid battery output.
Emergency shut off system
The emergency shut off system blocks off the high voltage current and
stops the fuel pump to minimize the r isk of electrocution and fuel leakage
when a certain level of impact is detected by the impact sensor. If the
emergency shut off system activates, your vehicle will not restart. To
restart the hybrid system, contact your Lexus dealer.
Energy monitor/consumption screen
You can view the status of your hybr id system on the multi-information
display ( →P. 143) and the navigation system screen. The following
images are examples only, and may vary slightly from actual conditions.
■ Energy monitor
● How to display on the navigation system screen:
Press INFO.
Touch on the Information screen.
If the Consumption screen is displayed, touch .
● How to display on the multi-information display:
Push the button several times to select the energy moni-
tor display.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP1

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1-1. Hybrid system
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
■If a warning light comes on or a warning message is displayed, or the 12-volt bat-
tery is disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In that case, try to start the system again. If the
READY light does not come on, contact your Lexus dealer.
■Emergency shut off system
The emergency shut off system blocks off the high voltage current and stops the
fuel pump to minimize the risk of the electric leakage and the fuel leakage when a
certain level of impact is detected by the impact sensor. If the system activates, your
vehicle will not restart. To restart the hybrid system, contact a Lexus dealer.
CAUTION
■High voltage precautions
The vehicle has high voltage DC and AC systems as well as a system. DC and AC
high voltage is very dangerous and can cause severe burns and electric shock that
may result in death or serious injury.
●Never touch, disassemble, remove or replace the high voltage parts, cables and
their connectors.
●The hybrid system will become hot after starting as the system uses high voltage.
Be careful of both the high voltage and the high temperature, and always obey
the caution labels attached to the vehicle.
●Never try to open the service plug access hole located in the luggage compart-
ment. The service plug is used only when the vehicle is serviced and is subject to
high voltage.

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1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
■Back door operation
The back door can be opened even if it is locked. Lock the back door again when
you leave the vehicle. The back door will not lock automatically after it has been
opened and then closed.
■Operation signals
Side doors: A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: Once; Unlocked: Twice)
Back door: A buzzer sounds twice and the emergency flashers flash twice to indi- cate that the back door has been opened/closed.
Windows and moon roof: A buzzer sounds to indicate that the windows and moon
roof are operating.
■Door lock buzzer
If a door is not fully closed, a buzzer sounds continuously if an attempt to lock the
door is made. Fully close the door to stop the buzzer, and lock the vehicle once
more.
■Security feature
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked, the anti-theft system automatically locks the vehicle again.
■Battery depletion
→ P. 3 4 8
■Customization that can be configured at Lexus dealer
Settings (e.g. door unlocking function) can be changed. (Customizable features
→P. 4 5 8 )
■Reversing the operation of the power back door
Pressing the wireless remote control switch again while the power back door is
operating will cause the operation to reverse. However, the reverse operation can-
not be performed for the first second after automatic operation starts, even if the
wireless remote control switch is pressed again.

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1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
CAUTION
■Cross rail adjustment
Make sure the cross rails are locked securely by pushing forward and rearward
them.
Failure to do so may cause an unexpected accident or severe injury in the event of
emergency braking or a collision.
■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 3 0 )
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof luggage car-
rier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of the vehicle
gravity higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or
abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover
due to failure to operate this vehicle correctly.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle
now and then during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading the luggage
Be careful not to scratch the surface of the moon roof.

122
RX400h_U
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle
Starting on a steep uphillFirmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving.
■Starting the hybrid system
→ P. 1 3 1
■ Driving
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. (→P. 135)
Release the parking brake. (→ P. 1 3 7 )
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently push the accel-
erator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■ Stopping
With the shift lever in D, push the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
When the vehicle is stopped for an extended period of time, shift the
shift lever to P. (
→P. 1 3 5 )
■Parking the vehicle
With the shift lever in D, push the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake. (→ P. 1 3 7 )
Shift the shift lever to P. (→ P. 135)
Turn the engine switch to stop the hybrid system.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your per-
son.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP1
STEP2
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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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.