Page 189 of 660

1894-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, operation of the motor may be sus-
pended 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 seconds, the steering lock
motor will resume functioning.
■When “Access System with Elec. Key Malf unction See Owner’s Manual” is displayed
on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctio ning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 502
■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 immediately 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.
■If the smart access system wi th push-button start has been deactivated by a customized
setting
P. 572
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 resulting 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 complete stop. Activation of the steering lock in this cir-
cumstance may lead to an accident, re sulting in death or serious injury.
■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 succes-
sion. ( P. 515)
However, do not touch the engi ne switch while driving except in an emergency. Turning
the engine off while driving will not cause lo ss of steering or braking control, but the
power assist to these systems will be lost. Th is will make it more difficult to steer and
brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Page 196 of 660

1964-2. Driving procedures
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent ac cidental operation of the shift lever in start-
ing.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the engine switch is in IGNITION ON
mode and the brake pedal is being depressed.
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brak e pedal is being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brake pedal, there may be a prob-
lem with the shift lock system. Have the vehi cle inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensure that the shift lever
can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake.
Turn the engine switch to off.
Depress the brake pedal.
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitab le gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the sh ift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever
to the M position cancels the function.)
●8-speed models: The G AI-SHIFT is automa tically changed to a suitable gear step
while running in sport mode according to the driving operations and running condi-
tions.
The G AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the drive mode select switch is set to
sport mode with the shift leve r in the D position. (The function will be canceled, if the
drive mode is select switch is set to normal mode or shift lever is put in the M position.)
1
2
3
Pry the cover up with a flathead screwdriver
or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover the tip
of the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the button
is pressed.4
5
Page 197 of 660
1974-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this could result in the vehicle
skidding to the side or spinning.
■To prevent an accident wh en releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override butto n, make sure to set the parking brake and
depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of the brake pedal when the
shift lock override button is pressed and the shift lever is shifted out of P, the vehicle
may suddenly start, possibly leading to an a ccident resulting in death or serious injury.
Page 204 of 660

2044-3. Operating the lights and wipers
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■Daytime running light system
●The daytime running lights illuminate using th e same lights as the parking lights and illu-
minate brighter than the parking lights.
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically when a ll of the following conditions are met. (The
daytime running lights are not designed for use at night.)
• The engine is running
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch is in the (Canada only), or
* position
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after they illuminate, even if the parking brake is set
again.
●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
■Automatic light off system
When the light switch is in , or : Th e headlights and tail lights turn off 30 sec-
onds after the engine switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off and a door is
opened and all of the doors and trunk are cl osed. (The lights turn off immediately if
on the key is pressed twice af ter all the doors are closed.)
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode, or turn the
light switch off once and then back to or .
If any of the doors or trunk lid is left open , the lights automatically turn off after 20 min-
utes.
■Automatic headlight leveling system
The level of the headlights is automatically adjusted accordi ng to the number of passen-
gers and the loading condition of the vehicle to ensure that the headlights do not inter-
fere with other road users. 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.
Page 216 of 660

2164-3. Operating the lights and wipers
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■Dripping prevention wiper sweep
After performing a washing and wiping operation several times, the wipers operate one
more time after a short delay to prevent dripping.
However, this final wiper operation will not be performed while driving.
■Effects of vehicle speed on wiper operation (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers)
Vehicle speed affects the following even when the wipers are not in AUTO mode.
●Intermittent wiper interval
●Wiper operation when the washer is being used (delay until drip prevention wiper
sweep occurs)
With low speed windshield wi per operation selected, wiper operation will be switched
from low speed to intermittent wiper operation only when the vehicle is stationary.
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If the wiper is turned to AUTO mode wh ile the engine switch is in IGNITION ON
mode, the wipers will operate once to show that AUTO mode is activated.
●If the temperature of the raindrop sensor is 185°F (85°C) or higher, or -22°F (-30°C)
or lower, automatic operation may not occur. In this case, operate the wipers in any
mode other than AUTO mode.
■When the windshield wipers are in tempor ary operation (vehicles with rain-sensing
windshield wipers)
AUTO mode cannot be activa ted even if is pressed.
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
●The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is adopted. It may not oper-
ate properly when sunlight from the rising or
setting of the sun inte rmittently strikes the
windshield, or if bugs etc. are present on the
windshield.
Page 217 of 660

2174-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
WARNING
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield is subject to vibration in AUTO mode. Take care that your fingers or anything
else do not become caught in the windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer fl uid until the windshield becomes warm. The
fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause low visibility. This may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be cau sed if the lever is pulled toward you and
held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Lexus dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozz le will be damaged.
Page 220 of 660
2204-4. Refueling
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
With the doors unlocked, press the
center of the rear edge of the fuel
filler door.
Push until you hear a click and take your
hand away to slightly open the fuel filler
door. Then open the door fully by hand.
Turn the fuel tank cap slowly to
remove it and put it into the holder
on the fuel filler door.
■If the fuel filler door cannot be opened
Opening the fuel tank cap
1
2
Remove the cover inside the trunk and pull the
lever to open the fuel fille r door if the fuel filler
door cannot be opened by pressing the rear
edge of the fuel filler door.
Page 221 of 660
2214-4. Refueling
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
After refueling, turn the fuel tank cap
until you hear a click. Once the cap
is released, it will turn slightly in the
opposite direction.
Close the fuel filler door, and press
the center of the rear edge of the
fuel filler door until you hear a click.
When you lock the doors, the fuel filler
door will also lock.
■Fuel filler door lock condition
The fuel filler door may not be locked even when the vehicle’s doors are locked in the fol-
lowing situations:
●When operating the door lock button inside the vehicle
●When the automatic door lock ing system is operated (P. 598)
●When the fuel filler door is closed after the vehicle’s doors are locked
Closing the fuel tank cap
1
2
WARNING
■When replacing the fuel tank cap
Do not use anything but a genuine Lexus fuel tank cap designed for your vehicle. Doing
so may cause a fire or other incident whic h may result in death or serious injury.