
43
1-2. Key information
1
Before driving
NOTICE
■Precautions for handling the card key
●Do not apply excess force when inserting the mechanical key into the card key. 
Doing so may damage the card key.
●If the battery or card key terminals get wet, the battery may corrode.
If the key is dropped into water, or if dr inking water etc. is spilled on the key, 
immediately remove the battery cover and wipe the battery and terminals. (To 
remove the battery cover, lightly grasp and pull it.) If the battery is corroded, have 
your Lexus dealer replace the battery.
●Do not crush the battery cover or use a screwdriver to remove the battery cover. 
Forcibly removing the battery co ver may bend or damage the key.
●If the battery cover is frequently removed, the battery cover may become loose.
●When installing the battery, make sure  to check the direction of the battery.
Installing the battery in the wrong direct ion may cause the battery to deplete rap-
idly.
●The surface of the card key may be damage d, or its coating may peel off in the 
following situations:
• The card key is carried together with hard objects, such as coins and keys.
• The card key is scraped with a sharp object, such as the tip of a mechanical 
pencil.
• The surface of the card key is wiped with thinner or benzene. 

44
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
Smart access system with push-button start
The following operations can be performed simply by carrying the elec-
tronic key (including the card key) on your person, for example in your 
pock
et.
(The driver should always carry the electronic key.)
Locks and unlocks the doors ( P.  4 5 )
Unlocks the trunk ( P.  4 5)
Starts the hybrid system ( P.  1 4 5 ) 

47
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
■Effective range (areas within wh ich the electronic key is detected)
When locking or unlocking 
the doors
The system can be operated 
when the electronic key is 
within about 2.3 ft. (0.7 m) of 
either of the front outside 
door handles. (Only the doors 
detecting the key can be 
operated.)
When unlocking the trunk
The system can be operated 
when the electronic key is 
within about 2.3 ft. (0.7 m) of 
the trunk release button.
When starting the hybrid 
system or changing 
“P
OWER” switch modes
The system can be operated 
when the electronic key is 
inside the vehicle.
■Operation signals
A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors have 
be
 en locked/unlocked. (Locked: Once; Unlocked: Twice)
■When the door cannot be locked by the lock sensor on the upper part of the door 
handle
To u c h  b o t h  l o c k  s e n s ors on the upper and 
lower part of the door handle simultaneously.  

48
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
■Alarms and warning indicators
A combination of exterior and interior alarms as well as warning messages shown 
on the multi-information display is used to  prevent theft of the vehicle and accidents 
resulting from erroneous operation. Take  appropriate measures in response to any 
warning message on the multi-information display. ( P.  5 0 1 )
The following table describes circumstances and correction procedures when only 
alarms are sounded. 
■Security feature
If a door is not opened within approx imately 60 seconds after the vehicle is 
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.
■Battery-saving function
The battery-saving function will be activa ted in order to prevent the electronic key 
battery and the 12-volt battery from being  discharged while the vehicle is not in 
operation for a long time.
●In the following situations, the smart access system with pu sh-button start may 
take some time to unlock the doors.
• The electronic key has been left in an area of approximately 6 ft. (2 m) of the 
outside of the vehicle for 10 minutes or longer.
• The smart access system with push-button start has not been used for 5 days  or longer.
AlarmSituationCorrection procedure
Exterior alarm 
sounds once for 10 
seconds.An attempt was made to lock 
the vehicle while a door was 
open.Close all of the doors 
and lock the doors 
again.
Interior alarm pings 
repeatedly
The “POWER” switch was 
turned to ACCESSORY 
mode while the driver’s door 
is open (The driver’s door 
was opened when the 
“POWER” switch is in 
ACCESSORY mode.)
Turn the “POWER” 
switch off and close the 
driver’s door. 

49
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
●If the smart access system with push-button start has not been used for 14 days 
or longer, the doors cannot be unlocked at  any doors except the driver’s door. In 
this case, take hold of the driver’s door handle, or use the wireless remote con-
trol or the mechanical key, to unlock the doors.
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart access system with push-button start uses weak radio waves. In the fol-
lowing situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle 
may be affected, preventing the smart access system with push-button start, wire-
less remote control and immobilize r system from operating properly.  
(Ways of coping:  P.  5 3 3 )
●When the electronic key battery is depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display, 
airport or other facility that generates  strong radio waves or electrical noise
●When carrying a portable radio, cellular  phone, cordless phone or other wire-
less communication devices
●When the electronic key is in contact wi th, or is covered by the following metal-
lic objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• Metallic wallets or bags
•Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wireless key (that emit radio waves) is being used nearby
●When carrying the electronic key together  with the following devices that emit 
radio waves
• Another vehicle’s electronic key or  a wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or person al digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint with a metallic content or  metallic objects are attached to the rear 
window 

50
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
■Note for the entry function
●Even when the electronic key is within the effective range (detection areas), the 
system may not operate properly in the following cases:
• The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door handle, near the 
ground, or in a high place when the doors are locked or unlocked.
• The electronic key is near the ground or in a high place, or too close to the  rear bumper center when the trunk is unlocked.
• The electronic key is on the instrument panel, rear package tray or floor, or in  the door pockets or glove box when the hybrid system is started or 
“POWER” switch modes are changed.
●As long as the electronic key is within the effective range, the doors may be 
locked or unlocked by anyone.
●Even if the electronic key is not inside th e vehicle, it may be possible to start the 
hybrid system if the electronic key is near the window.
●The doors may unlock if a large amount  of water splashes on the door handle, 
such as in the rain or in a car wash when  the electronic key is within the effective 
range. (The door will automatically be locked after approximately 60 seconds if 
the doors are not opened and closed.)
●Gripping the door handle when wearing a glove may not unlock the door.
●If the wireless remote control is used to lock the doors when the electronic key 
is near the vehicle, there is a possibility  that the door may not be unlocked by the 
entry function. (Use the wireless re mote control to unlock the doors.)
●A sudden approach to the effective range or door handle may prevent the 
doors from being unlocked. In this case, return the door handle to the original 
position and check that the doors unlock before pulling the door handle again.
■Notes for locking the doors
●Touching the door lock sensor while we aring gloves may delay or prevent lock 
operation. Remove the gloves and touch the lock sensor again.
●When the lock operation is performed using the lock sensor, recognition signals 
will be shown up to two consecutive times. After this, no recognition signals will 
be given. 
●If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective 
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. Place the key in a position 6 ft. 
(2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being washed. (Take 
care to ensure that the key is not stolen.) 

51
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
●If the electronic key is inside the vehicle and a door handle becomes wet during 
a car wash, a message may be shown on the multi-information display and a 
buzzer will sound outside the vehicle. To turn off the alarm, lock all the doors.
●The lock sensor may not work properly if it comes into contact with ice, snow, 
mud, etc. Clean the lock sensor and attemp t to operate it again, or use the lock 
sensor on the lower part of the door handle.
●Fingernails may scrape against the door  during operation of the door handle. 
Be careful not to injure fingernails or damage the surface of the door. 
■Notes for the unlocking function
●A sudden approach to the effective range or door handle may prevent the 
doors from being unlocked. In this case, return the door handle to the original 
position and check that the doors unlock before pulling the door handle again.
●Gripping the door handle when wearing a glove may not unlock the door. 
Remove the gloves and touch the sensor on the back of the handle again.
●If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective 
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. Place the key in a position 6 ft. 
(2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being washed. (Take 
care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
●If there is another electronic key in the de tection area, it may take slightly longer 
to unlock the doors after th e door handle is gripped. 
●Fingernails may scrape against the door  during operation of the door handle. 
Be careful not to injure fingernails or damage the surface of the door. 
■When the vehicle is not driven for extended periods
●To prevent theft of the vehicle, do not le ave the electronic key within 6 ft. (2 m) 
of the vehicle.
●The smart access system with push-button  start can be deactivated in advance. 
(  P.  5 7 2 )
■Alarm
Using the smart access system with push-bu tton start to lock the doors will set the 
alarm system. ( P.  9 8 ) 

52
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
■To operate the system properly
Make sure to carry the electronic key when operating the system. Do not get the 
electronic key too close to the vehicle when operating the system from the outside 
of the vehicle.
Depending on the position and holding condition of the electronic key, the key may 
not be detected correctly and the system may not operate properly. (The alarm may 
go off accidentally, or the door lock prevention may not operate.)
■If the smart access system with push-button start does not operate properly
●Locking and unlocking the doors, unlockin g the trunk: Use the mechanical key. 
(  P.  5 3 3 )
●Starting the hybrid system:  P.  5 3 4
■Electronic key battery depletion
●The standard battery life is 1 to 2 years. (The card key battery life is about a year 
and a half.)
●As the electronic key always transmits radio waves, the battery will become 
depleted even if the electronic key is not used. The following symptoms indicate 
that the electronic key battery may be depleted. Replace the battery when nec-
essary. (P.  4 5 3 )
• The smart access system with push-bu tton start or the wireless remote con-
trol does not operate.
• The detection area becomes smaller.
• The LED indicator on the key surface does not turn on.
●To avoid serious deterioration, do not leave the electronic key within 3 ft. (1 m) of 
the following electrical appliances  that produce a magnetic field:
•TVs
• Personal computers
• Cellular phones, cordless  phones and battery chargers
• Recharging cellular phones or cordless phones
•Glass top ranges
• Table lamps
■When the electronic key battery is fully depleted
 P.  4 5 3
■Customization
Settings (e.g. smart access system with  push-button start) can be changed. 
(Customizable features  P.  5 7 2 )