2016 LEXUS RX450H ECU

1533-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
Operating the power back door
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause parts of the body to be caught, resulting in death or serious
injury. ●
Remove any heavy loads, such as snow and ice, from the power back door before
opening it. Failure to do so may cause the power back door to suddenly shut again
after it is opened. ●
When opening or closing the power back d oor, thoroughly check to make sure the
surrounding area is safe. ●
If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that the power
back door is about to open or close. ●
Use caution when opening or closing the powe r back door in windy weather as it may
move abruptly in strong wind.
●
Do not pull on the back door spindle (  P. 156) to close the power back door, and
do not hang on the back door spindle.
Doing so may cause hands to be caught or the back door spindle to break, causing
an accident. ●
If a bicycle carrier or similar heavy object is attached to the power back door, it may
suddenly shut again after being opened, causing someone’s hands, arms, head or
neck to be caught and injured. When installing an accessory part to the power back
door, using a genuine Lexus part is recommended. ●
The power back door may suddenly shut if it is
not opened fully, while on a steep incline.
Make sure that the power back door is secure
before using the lu ggage compartment.●
When closing the power back door, take
extra care to prevent your fingers, etc., from
being caught. ●
When closing the power back door, make
sure to press it lightly on its outer surface. If
the back door handle is used to fully close the
power back door, it may result in hands or
arms being caught.

154 3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
Back door closer
●
Use caution when using the back door closer as it still operates when the power back
door system is disabled. ■
Power back door
Observe the following precautions when operating the power back door.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury. ●
Check the safety of the surrounding area to make sure there are no obstacles or any-
thing that could cause any of your belongings to get caught. ●
If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that the power
back door is about to open or close. ●
If the power back door system is disabled (  P. 112) while the power back door is
operating, the power back door will stop operating. The power back door must then
be operated manually. Take extra care in this situation, as the power back door may
open or close suddenly. ●
If the operating conditions of the power back door (  P. 147) are no longer met, a
buzzer may sound and the power back door may stop opening or closing. The power
back door must then be operated manually. Take extra care on an incline in this situa-
tion, as the power back door may move suddenly. ●
On an incline, the power back door may suddenly shut after it opens. Make sure the
power back door is fully open and secure. ●
In the following situations, the power back door may detect an abnormality and auto-
matic operation may be stopped. In this case, the power back door must then be
operated manually. Take extra care in this situation, as the stopped power back door
may suddenly open or close, causing an accident.
• When the power back door contacts an obstacle
• When the 12-volt battery voltage suddenly drops, such as when the power switch
is turned to ON mode or the hybrid syst em is started during automatic operation●
In the event that the power back door is left
slightly open, th e back door closer will auto-
matically close it to the fully closed position. It
takes several seconds before the back door
closer begins to operate. Be careful not to get
fingers caught or anything else in the power
back door, as this may cause bone fractures
or other serious injuries.

1613-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
RX450h_U_OM0E013U ■
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 back door is opened.
• The electronic key is on the instrument pa nel, luggage compartment, floor, or in the
door pockets or glove box when the hybrid system is started or power switch modes
are changed. ●
Do not leave the electronic key on top of th e instrument panel or near the door pockets
when exiting the vehicle. Depending on the radio wave reception conditions, it may be
detected by the antenna outs ide the cabin and the door will become lockable from the
outside, possibly trapping the el ectronic key inside the vehicle.●
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 the ve hicle, 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 wa ter 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.) ●
If the wireless remote control is used to lo ck the doors when the electronic key is near
the vehicle, there is a possibility that the door may not be unlocked by the entry func-
tion. (Use the wireless remote control to unlock the doors.) ●
Touching the door lock sensor while wearin g gloves may delay or prevent lock opera-
tion. 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 el ectronic key is within the effective range,
the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the following correction
procedures to wash the vehicle:
• Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more away from the vehicle. (Take
care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart access system
with push-button start. (  P. 1 6 0 )●
If the electronic key is insi de the vehicle and a door handle becomes wet during a car
wash, a message may be shown on the mult i-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 attempt to operate it again. ●
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.●
If there is another electronic key in the detection area, it may take slightly longer to
unlock the doors after the door handle is gripped.

172 3-3. Adjusting the seats
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
When folding down the rear seatbacks and when the rear seatbacks are folded
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.●
Do not fold down the rear seatbacks while driving. ●
Stop the vehicle on level ground, apply the parking brake and shift the shift lever to P.●
Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded re ar seatback or in th e luggage compartment
while driving. ●
Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment. ■
When operating the rear seatback
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.●
Keep other passengers from being hit by the rear seatback. ●
Do not put your hands between the seats or near the moving parts, or let any part of
your body get caught. ●
Power seat: Do not let children operate the rear seatback. Other passengers may get
caught in the seat. ●
Power seat: Check that there are no passengers sitting in a seat before folding it
down. Do not let passengers sit in the seat while it is being folded down.■
Seat adjustment
To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a co llision, do not recline the seat
more than necessary.
If the seat is reclined excessively, the lap be lt may slide past the hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen, or your ne ck may contact the shoulder belt, increasing
the risk of death or serious inju ry in the event of an accident.
Adjustments should not be ma de while driving as the seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. ■
After returning the rear seatback to the upright position
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.●
Make sure that the rear seatback is secure ly locked in position by lightly pushing it
back and forth. ●
Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught between or behind in the rear
seatback.

2094-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Rotor damage may 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. ■
When the vehicle is stopped ●
Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
If the shift lever is in any position other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate sud-
denly and unexpectedly, causing an accident. ●
In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing
the brake pedal while stopped with the “R EADY” indicator is illuminated, and apply
the parking brake as necessary. ●
If 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. ●
Avoid 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. ■
When the vehicle is parked ●
Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, sp ray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle
when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic mate-
rial of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the
vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components. ●
Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such as
the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the
seat is adjusted, causing a fire. ●
Do not attach adhesive discs to the windsh ield or windows. Do not place containers
such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs or con-
tainers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle. ●
Do not leave a door or window open if th e curved glass is coated with a metallized
film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire. ●
Always shift the shift lever to P, apply the parking brake, stop the hybrid system and
lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended wh ile the “READY” indicator is illuminated.●
Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “R EADY” indicator is illuminated or imme-
diately after turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.

210 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or
depress the accelerator pedal, this could caus e an accident or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust
gases may collect and enter the vehicle, lead ing to death or a serious health hazard.■
When braking ●
When 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. ●
If the electronically controlled brake function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is st ill possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual. Also, the braking distan ce will increase. Have your brakes fixed
immediately. ●
The brake system consists of 2 or more indi vidual hydraulic systems; if one of the sys-
tems fails, the other(s) wi ll still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your
brakes fixed immediately. ■
If the vehicle becomes stuck (AWD models)
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage th e driveline components or propel the vehi-
cle forward or backward, causing an accident.

214 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
Things that must not be carri ed in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compartment:●
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 luggage compartment whenever possible. ●
Do not stack cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment higher than the seat-
backs. ●
When you fold down the rear seats, long items should not be placed directly behind
the front seats. ●
Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage compartment. It is not designed for pas-
sengers. They should ride in their seats with their se at belts properly fastened.●
Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or re ar seats (when stacking items)
•On the luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
•On the dashboard ●
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. ■
Roof luggage carrier precautions
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 exce ed the vehicle overall length or width.
(  P. 5 8 2 ) ●
Before driving, make sure the cargo is secu rely fastened on the roof luggage carrier.●
Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of gravity of the vehi-
cle 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 and result in death or serious injury. ●
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.

226 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U ■
Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■
Before towing
Check that the followin g conditions are met:●
Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. (  P. 5 8 9 )●
Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommendation. ●
All trailer lights work as required by law. ●
All lights work each time you connect them. ●
The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.●
The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, an d check for improper to ngue weight, overload-
ing, worn suspension, or other possible causes. ●
The trailer cargo is securely loaded. ●
The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or local regula-
tions. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes. ■
AVS (adaptive variable suspension system) (if equipped)
The suspension can be switched fo r improvement in driveability. (  P. 3 8 2 )No matter which class of tow hitch
applies, for a more safe trailer hookup,
the trailer ball setup must be the proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball 1
2