2016 Lexus ES350 tow

137
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ...................... 138
Cargo and luggage .................... 145
Vehicle load limits ....................... 148
Trailer towing ................................. 149
Dinghy towing............................... 150
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch ..............151
Automatic transmission ............ 156
Turn signal lever ........................... 159
Parking brake ................................ 160 4-3. Operating the lights
and wipers
Headlight switch............................ 161
Automatic High Beam .............. 164
Fog light switch ............................ 168
Windshield wipers and washer...................................169
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap ....... 173
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Lexus Safety System+ ................ 176
PCS (Pre-Collision System)........... 183
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering control) ............. 196
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................205
Cruise control ............................... 217
Intuitive parking assist .............. 220
Lexus parking assist monitor ........................................ 229
Driving mode select switch ........................................... 245
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ......247 • Blind Spot Monitor
function ....................................250
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert function .................................... 252
Driving assist systems............... 255
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ..................... 260

145
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Cargo and luggage
Cargo capacity depends on the to
tal weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit 
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the ava ilable amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150
lb passengers in your vehicle, the am ount of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs. (1400  750 (5 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. (P. 1 4 8 )
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not
designed for trailer towing.
Take notice of the following information about storage precautions, cargo
capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution

ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)
1474-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
■Things that must not be carried in the trunk
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals from being depressed properly, may block the
driver’s vision, or may result in items hittin g the driver or passengers, possibly causing
an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
•On the dashboard
• In front of the navigation system screen or Lexus Display Audio system screen
●Secure all items in th e occupant compartment.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight ra ting or the total vehicle weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less than the total load
capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper loading may cause deterioration
of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.

148
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight):
P. 5 1 2
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo and lug-
gage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximum number of occupants whose estimated
average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆To w i n g c a p a c i t y
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrea se depending on the weight and the
number of occupants.
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information label. (P. 444)
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity, towing capac-
ity and cargo capacity.
WA R N I N G
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering and braking ability,
resulting in an accident.

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ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Trailer towing
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus also does
not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier
for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc.
Your vehicle is not designed for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

150
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be ding
hy towed (with 4 wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.

158
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■S mode
●When the shift range is 4 or lower, holding th
e shift lever toward “+” sets the shift range
to 6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
●To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high.
■When driving with cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
the engine brake will not operate in the S mo de, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
(  P. 2 1 7 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even af ter shifting the shift lever to the S position
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operat e in the same manner as when the shift lever
is in the D position.)
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
 P. 4 9 8
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically select s the suitable gear according to driver performance and
driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever to S
cancels the function.)
WA R N I N G
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause th e vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in an
accident.

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ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
With the headlights on, push the
lever away from you to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever toward you to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it to flash the high beams once.
You can flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) impr
oves visibility at intersections and on
curves by automatically adjusting the lateral angle of the headlights according to
vehicle speed and the degree of the tire angle that are controlled by steering
input.
Operates at speed of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
■Deactivating AFS
Select “AFS” on (settings display) of the multi-information display.
( P. 7 9 )
Press the meter control switch.
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically whenever the engine is started and the parking
brake is released. (Illuminate brighter than the parking lights.) Daytime running lights
are not designed for use at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
●Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system offers greater
durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve fuel economy.
■Headlight control sensor
Turning on the high beam headlights
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2
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything that
blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight system to malfunction.
1
2