1574-1. Before driving
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 4
Driving WARNING●
After driving through a puddle, lightly
depress the brake pedal to make sure
that the brakes are functioning prop-
erly. Wet brake pads may prevent the
brakes from functioning properly. If the
brakes on only one side are wet and
not functioning properly, steering con-
trol may be affected.■
When shifting the shift position●
Do not let the vehicle roll backward
while a forward driving position is
selected, or roll forward while the shift
position is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall
or lead to poor brake and steering
performance, resulting in an accident
or damage to the vehicle.●
Do not shift the shift position to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.●
Do not shift the shift position to R while
the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●
Do not shift the shift position to a driv-
ing position while the vehicle is moving
backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●
Changing the shift position to N while
the vehicle is moving will disengage
the engine from the transmission.
Engine braking is not available when N
is selected. ●
Be careful not to change the shift posi-
tion with the accelerator pedal
depressed. Changing the shift posi-
tion to any positions other than P or N
may lead to unexpected rapid acceler-
ation of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or serious
injury.
After changing the shift position, make
sure to confirm the current shift posi-
tion displayed on the shift position indi-
cator inside the meter. ■
Brake pad wear
If any of the following situations occurs,
have the brake pads visually checked and
replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible. ●
If the brake pad wear limit of a brake
pad is found to have been exceeded
when visually checking the brake pads
for each wheel (for the brake pad wear
limit, refer to P.451) ●
If a warning message is displayed on
the multi-information display (only the
right-side pads can be detected)
Rotor damage may result if the pads are
not replaced when needed.
F SPORT models: Moderate levels of the
brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced
braking power. As a result, the discs may
wear more quickly than conventional
brake discs. Therefore, when replacing
the brake pads, Lexus recommends that
you also have the thickness of the discs
measured.
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 race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P
or N, the vehicle may accelerate sud-
denly and unexpectedly, causing an
accident.
158 4-1. Before driving
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 WARNING●
In order to prevent accidents due to
the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the
engine is running, and apply the park-
ing brake as necessary.●
If the vehicle is stopped on an incline,
in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or back-
ward, 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,
spray 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 plas-
tic material 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
windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on
the instrument pane l or dashboard.
Adhesive discs or containers may act
as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle. ●
Do not leave a door or window open if
the curved glass is coated with a met-
allized film such as a silver-colored
one. Reflected sunlight may cause the
glass to act as a lens, causing a fire. ●
Always apply the parking brake, shift
the shift position to P, stop the engine
and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
while the engine is running.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift
position in P but the parking brake is
not set, the vehicle may start to move,
possibly leading to an accident. ●
Do not touch the exhaust pipes while
the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns. ■
When 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. ■
When braking ●
When the brakes are wet, drive more
cautiously.
Braking distance in creases 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 vehi-
cle.
●
Vehicles without Lexus Safety System
+ A: If the brake booster device does
not operate, do not follow other vehi-
cles 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 brak-
ing distance will in crease. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
1594-1. Before driving
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 4
Driving WARNING●
Vehicles with Lexus Safety System + A:
If the electronically controlled brake
system 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 brak-
ing distance will increase. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.●
Vehicles without Lexus Safety System
+ A: Do not pump the brake pedal if
the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up
the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.●
Vehicles without Lexus Safety System
+ A: The 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. Have your brakes fixed
immediately.●
Vehicles with Lexus Safety System + A:
The brake system consists of 2 or more
individual hydraulic systems; if one of
the systems fails, the other(s) will 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
Do not spin the wheels excessively when
a driven wheel 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. NOTICE■
When driving the vehicle ●
Do not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain the engine
output. ●
Do not use the accelerator pedal or
depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill. ■
When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift
the shift position 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. ■
Avoiding damage to vehicle parts ●
Do 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. ●
When driving over bumps in the road,
drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the
vehicle, etc.
●
Make sure to idle the engine immedi-
ately after high-load driving. Stop the
engine only after the turbocharger has
cooled down.
Failure to do so may cause damage to
the turbocharger.
■
If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the fol-
lowing situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the
brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●
It may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.
●
The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
●
The vehicle will lean abnormally.
160 4-1. Before driving
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 Cargo capacity depends on the total
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The com-
bined 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
available 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
amount 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 lug-NOTICE
Information on what to do in case of a flat
tire ( P.429)■
When 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 vehi-
cle: ●
Engine stalling●
Short in electrical components●
Engine 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 fol-
lowing: ●
Brake function●
Changes in quantity and quality of oil
and fluid used for the engine, transmis-
sion, transfer (AWD models), differen-
tial, etc.●
Lubricant condition for the propeller
shaft, bearings and suspension joints
(where possible), and the function of
all joints, bearings, etc.
If the shift control system is damaged by
flooding, it may not be possible to shift
the shift position to P, or from P to other
positions. In this case, contact your Lexus
dealer.
■
When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift
the shift position 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. Cargo and luggage Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution
164 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 4-2.Driving procedures
1 Press the parking brake switch to
check that the parking brake is set.
( P.174)The parking brake indicator will come on.
2 Firmly depress the brake pedal. and a message will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be
started.
3 Press the engine switch shortly and
firmly.When operating the engine switch, one
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary to press and hold the switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for up
to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until
the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any engine
switch mode. ■
Engine switch illumination
According to the situation, the engine
switch illumination operates as follows. ●
When a door is opened, or the engine
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode to off,
the engine switch illumination slowly
blinks. ●
When depressing the brake pedal with
carrying the electronic key on your per-
son, the engine switch illumination rapidly
blinks. ●
When the engine sw itch is in ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode, the
engine switch illumination illuminates. ■
If the engine does not start ●
The engine immobilizer system may not
have been deactivated. ( P.63)
Contact your Lexus dealer. ●
If a message related to start-up is shown
on the multi-information display, read the
message and follow the instructions. ■
If the battery is discharged
The engine cannot be started using the
smart access system with push-button start.
Refer to P.435 to restart the engine. ■
Electronic key battery depletion
P.96 ■
Conditions affecting operation
P.113 ■
Notes for the entry function
P.113
■
Steering lock function
●
After turning the engine switch off and
opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be lock ed due to the steer-
ing lock function. Operating the engine
switch again automatically cancels the
steering lock.
●
When the steering lock cannot be
released, “Push Engine Switch While
Turning Steering Whee l in Either Direc-
tion” will be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
Press the engine switch shortly and firmly Engine (ignition) switch Performing the following opera-
tions when carryin g the electronic
key on your person starts the
engine or changes engine switch
modes.
Starting the engine
1654-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 4
Driving while turning the steering wheel left and
right.
●
To prevent the steering lock motor from
overheating, operation of the motor may
be suspended if the engine is turned on
and off repeatedly in a short period of
time. In this case, refrain from operating
the engine switch. After about 10 sec-
onds, the steering lock motor will resume
functioning.■
Electronic key battery
P.399■
Operation of the engine switch●
If the switch is not pressed shortly and
firmly, the engine switch mode may not
change or the engine may not start.●
If attempting to restart the engine imme-
diately after turning the engine switch off,
the engine may not start in some cases.
After turning the engine switch off, please
wait a few seconds before restarting the
engine.■
Customization
If the smart access sy stem with push-button
start has been deactivated in a customized
setting, refer to P.433. 1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
( P.174)
3 Shift the shift position to P.
( P.170) Check that the shift position indicator
shows P and the parking brake indicator is
illuminated.
4 Press the engine switch. The engine will stop, and the meter display
will be extinguished (the shift position indi-
cator will be extinguished a few seconds
after the meter display).
5 Release the brake pedal and check
that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-WARNING
■
When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in
the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the
engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury. ■
Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle
is moving, do not lock or open the doors
until the vehicle reaches a safe and com-
plete stop. Activation of the steering lock
in this circumstance may lead to an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE■
When starting the engine ●
Do not race a cold engine. ●
If the engine becomes difficult to start
or stalls frequently, have your vehicle
checked by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately. ■
Symptoms indicating a malfunction
with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operat-
ing somewhat differently than usual, such
as the switch sticking slightly, there may
be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus
dealer immediately.
Stopping the engine
166 4-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 TION ON” is not shown on the
meter. ■
Automatic P position selection function
P.170
Modes can be changed by pressing
the engine switch with the brake pedal
released. (The mode changes each
time the switch is pressed.) 1 Off The emergency flashers can be used.
2 ACCESSORY mode Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
meter.
3 IGNITION ON mode All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
meter.
■
Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode
for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION
ON mode (with the engine not running) for
more than an hour with the shift position in
P, the engine switch will automatically turn
off. However, this function cannot entirely
prevent the battery discharge. Do not leave
the vehicle with the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode
for long periods of time when the engine is
not running.WARNING■
Stopping the engine in an emergency●
If you want to stop the engine in an
emergency while driving the vehicle,
press and hold the engine switch for
more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly
3 times or more in succession.
( P.406)
However, do not touch the engine
switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while
driving will not cause loss of steering
or braking control, however, power
assist to the steering will be lost. This
will make it more difficult to steer
smoothly, so you should pull over and
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.●
If the engine switch is operated while
the vehicle is running, a warning mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display and a buzzer sounds.●
When restarting the engine after an
emergency shutdown, press the
engine switch.
Changing engine switch modes
1674-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_(U)_1810 4
Driving ■
When the shift control system malfunc-
tions
When attempting to turn the engine switch
off while there is a malfunction in the shift
control system, the engine switch mode
may change to ACCESSORY mode. In this
case, ACCESSORY mode may be turned
off by applying the parking brake and press-
ing the engine switch again. If there is a mal-
function in the system, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
*1
: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce
noise, set the shift position in D for nor-
mal driving. You can choose gear range
suitable for your driving situation by
operating the paddle shift switches. *2
: Any gear range can be fixed when driv-
ing in M mode.
■
For the shift positions ●
When the engine switch is off or in
ACCESSORY mode, the shift position
cannot be changed.
●
When the engine swit ch is in IGNITION
ON mode, the shift position can only be
changed to N.
●
When the engine is running, the shift
position can be changed from P to D, N
or R.
●
The shift position can only be changed to
M directly from D.
In addition, if an attempt is made to change NOTICE■
To prevent battery discharge●
Do not leave the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode for long period s of time without
the engine running.●
If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the meter, the
engine switch is not off.
Exit the vehicle after turning the
engine switch off. Automatic transmission Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions Shift posi-
tion Objective or function
P Parking the vehicle/starting
the engine
R Reversing
N Neutral
(Condition in which the
power is not transmitted)
D
Normal driving *1
M
M mode driving *2
( P.172)