2011 LEXUS RX350 Owners Manual

145
2-1. Driving procedures
2

When driving
nDriving in the rain
lDrive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows
may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
lDrive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially
slippery.
lRefrain 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.
nBreaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
lFor the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
lFor the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
lFor the first 1000 miles (1600 km):

146
2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
nWhen starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine running.
This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
nWhen driving the vehicle
lDo not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator
pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.

147
2-1. Driving procedures
2

When driving
CAUTION
lDo not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is mov-
ing forward.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the driveline and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
lDo not shift the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause insufficient engine braking, resulting in an accident.
lDo not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering and brake booster will not operate properly if the engine is
not running.
lUse engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a
steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose effec-
tiveness. (→P. 1 5 9 )
lWhen stopped on an incline, use the brake pedal and parking brake to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backward or forward, causing an accident.
lDo not adjust the position of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside
rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control that can cause accidents, resulting
in death or serious injury.
lAlways check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their body are not
outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
lDo not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do
not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-speed capability
tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire failure, loss of control and
possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on
your vehicle are high-speed capability tires or not before driving at such speeds.

148
2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
nWhen driving on slippery road surfaces
lSudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce
your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
lSudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-shifting
and down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
lAfter driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure that
the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from
functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning
properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in an accident.
nWhen shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or serious injury.
nWhen the vehicle is stopped
lDo not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
lDo not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space and
check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
lIn order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the parking
brake as necessary.
lIf the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the
vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely
apply the parking brake as needed.
lAvoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the
exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is
nearby.

149
2-1. Driving procedures
2

When driving
CAUTION
nWhen the vehicle is parked
lDo not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehi-
cle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:

150
2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
lIf the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area, stop the engine. In a closed area, such
as a garage, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead to
death or a serious health hazard.
lThe exhaust system should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or crack
caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be sure to
have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Lexus dealer. Failure to do so
may allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in death or a serious health
hazard.
nWhen taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or
depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire due to engine
overheating. Additionally, 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.
nWhen braking the vehicle
lWhen the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side
of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may
not securely hold the vehicle.
lIf the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other vehicles
closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
lDo not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted brakes.
lThe 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 the braking distance will increase.
If this happens, do not drive the vehicle. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
nIf the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehi-
cle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline components or propel
the vehicle forward or backward, causing an accident.

151
2-1. Driving procedures
2

When driving
NOTICE
nWhen driving the vehicle
lDo not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during driving.
If the brake pedal is depressed while driving with the accelerator pedal
depressed, driving torque may be restrained.
lDo not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at
the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
nWhen parking the vehicle
Always shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or the
vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.
nAvoiding damage to vehicle parts
lDo not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for an
extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
lWhen driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damag-
ing the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
nIf 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.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or
those of the brake discs are exceeded.
nIf you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
lIt may be difficult to control your vehicle.
lThe vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
lThe vehicle will behave abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire (→P. 5 6 4 )

152
2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
nWhen 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:
lEngine stalling
lShort in electrical components
lEngine 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:
lBrake function
lChanges in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, transaxle,
transfer (AWD models), differential, etc.
lLubricant condition for the propeller shaft (AWD models), bearings and suspen-
sion joints (where possible) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.