3TABLE OF CONTENTS
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
4-2. Driving proceduresEngine (ignition) switch .............. 125
Automatic transmission.............. 129
Turn signal lever............................. 134
Parking brake ................................. 135
Brake Hold....................................... 137
ASC (Active Sound Control) ............................................................ 139
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers Headlight switch ............................ 140
AHB (Automatic High Beam) ............................................................ 142
Windshield wipers and washer ............................................................ 145
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap......... 153
4-5. Using the driving support systems Lexus Safety System + ................ 156
PCS (Pre-Collision System)..... 160
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering control) ......................... 167
Dynamic radar crui se control with
full-speed range .......................... 174
Intuitive parking assist ................. 183
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 189
Driving mode select switch....... 196
Driving assist systems.................. 198
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ....................... 203
5-1. Remote Touch/Display Remote Touch ............................... 208
Center Display ............................... 2105-2. Using the air conditioning system
Automatic air conditioning system............................................................ 213
Heated steering wheel/seat heat- ers/seat ventilators..................... 221
5-3. Using the interior lights Interior lights list ............................ 223
5-4. Using the storage features List of storage features ............... 225
Trunk features ................................ 227
5-5. Using the other interior features Other interior features .............. 228
Garage door opener ................. 230
Compass ......................................... 235
6-1. Maintenance and care Cleaning and protecting the vehi-cle exterior................................... 240
Cleaning and protecting the vehi- cle interior .................................... 243
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance re quirements .....246
General maintenance................. 247
Emission inspection and mainte- nance (I/M) programs ............ 250
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions............................................................ 251
Hood ................................................. 253
Positioning a floor jack .............. 253
Engine compartment ................. 255
Tires ................................................... 263
Tire inflation pressure................... 271
Wheels .............................................. 272
5Interior features
6Maintenance and care
12Pictorial index
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
Windshield wipers .................................................................................................. P.145
Precautions for winter season .....................................................................................P.203
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)
*................................................... P.217
Precautions against car wash ........................................................................................P.241
Fuel filler door ..........................................................................................................P.153
Refueling method .............................................................................................................. P .153
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity .........................................................................................P.328
Tires.......................................................................................................................... ..P.263
Tire size/inflation pressure ............................ ............................................................... P.332
Winter tires/tire chain ....................................................................................................P.20 3
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system.............................................. P.263
Coping with flat tires........................................................................................................P .305
Hood ......................................................................................................................... P. 253
Opening ........................................................................................................................ ....... P.253
Engine oil ..................................................................................................................... .........P.328
Coping with overheating ...............................................................................................P.320
Warning messages ........................................................................................................... P.30 1
Headlights .................................................................................................................P.14 0
Parking lights/daytime running lights................ ...............................................P.140
Turn signal lights ...................................................................................................... P.134
Cornering lights ......................................................................................................P.140
Side marker lights ...................................................................................................P.140
Tail lights .................................................................................................................... P.140
Stop lights
Back up light
Shifting the shift lever to R .............................................................................................. P.13 0
License plate lights .................................................................................................P.140
*:If equipped
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.279, Watts: P.336)
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
1164-1. Before driving
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4-1.Before driving
■Starting the engine
P.125
■Driving
1 With the brake pedal depressed,
shift the shift lever to D. ( P.129)
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, release the parking brake.
( P.135)
3 Gradually release the brake pedal
and gently depress the accelerator
pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■Stopping
1 With the shift lever in D, depress the
brake pedal.
2 If necessary, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an
extended period of time, shift the shift lever
to P or N. ( P.129)
■Parking the vehicle
1 With the shift lever in D, depress the
brake pedal.
2 Set the parking brake ( P.135),
and shift the shift lever to P
( P.129).
3 Press the engine switch to stop the
engine.
4 Lock the door, making sure that you
have the electronic key on your
person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as
needed.
■Starting off on a steep uphill
1 With the brake pedal depressed,
shift the shift lever to D.
2 Pull the parking brake switch to set
the parking brake manually.
3 Release the brake pedal and gently
depress the accelerator pedal to
accelerate the vehicle.
4 Press the parking brake switch to
release the parking brake manually.
■When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate.
( P.199)
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because
visibility will be re duced, the windows
may become fogged-u p, and the road
will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain,
because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain 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 prop-
erly.
■Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine
speed may become high while driving. This
is due to automatic up-shifting control or
down-shifting implementation to meet driv-
ing conditions. It does not indicate sudden
acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill
or downhill
●When the accelerato r pedal is released
●When the brake pedal is depressed while
sport mode is selected
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be
observed to ensure safe driving:
Driving procedure
1184-1. Before driving
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
WARNING
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle
only slightly. This allows you to depress
the brake and accelerator pedals
properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal
using your left foot may delay
response in an emergency, resulting in
an accident.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop
the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases
can be extremely hot. These hot parts
may cause a fire if there is any flamma-
ble material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off
the engine. Turning the engine off
while driving will not cause loss of
steering or braking control, but the
power assist to these systems will be
lost. This 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.
However, in the event of an emer-
gency, such as if it becomes impossible
to stop the vehicle in the normal way:
P.284
●Use 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
effectiveness. (
P.129)
●Do not adjust the positions of the
steering wheel, the seat, or the inside
or outside rear view mirrors while driv-
ing.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
●Always check that all passengers’
arms, heads or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits 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 drivin g at such speeds.
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking
due to shifting, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid.
●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 lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward
while the shift lever is in a driving posi-
tion, or roll forward while the shift lever
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 lever 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 lever to a driving
position while the vehicle is moving
backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
1204-1. Before driving
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
WARNING
●Always apply the parking brake, shift
the shift lever 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
lever in P but the parking brake is not
set, the vehicle may start to move, pos-
sibly 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 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 vehi-
cle.
●If the brake booster device 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.
●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.
●The brake system consists of 2 individ-
ual hydraulic systems; if one of the sys-
tems fails, the other will still operate. In
this case, the brak e 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
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.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at th e same time while
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 lever to P. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle
may accelerate suddenly if the accelera-
tor 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.
1234-1. Before driving
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire
and loading information label. ( P.271)
WARNING
●To prevent cargo and luggage from
sliding forward during braking, do not
stack anything in the enlarged trunk.
Keep cargo and luggage low, as close
to the floor as possible.
●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
enlarged trunk. It is not designed for
passengers. They shou ld ride in their
seats with their seat belts properly fas-
tened.
●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 Center Display
●Secure all items in the occupant com-
partment.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle
weight rating 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.
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include total
load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capac-
ity.
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight): P.326
Total load capacity means the com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
Seating capacity: P.326
Seating capacity means the maxi-
mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb.
(68 kg) per person.
Towing capacity
Lexus does not recommend towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or
decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.
WARNING
■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.
1384-2. Driving procedures
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
warning buzzer will sound and a message
will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. The parking brake will then be set
automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a
period of about 3 minutes after the sys-
tem has started holding the brake, the
parking brake will be set automatically. In
this case, a warning buzzer sounds and a
message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●To turn the system off while the system is
holding the brake, firmly depress the
brake pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the
vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep
incline. In this situation, it may be neces-
sary for the driver to apply the brakes. A
warning buzzer will sound and the
multi-information display will inform the
driver of this situat ion. If a warning mes-
sage is shown on the multi-information
display, read the message and follow the
instructions.
■When the parking brake is set automati-
cally while the system is holding the
brakes
Perform any of the follo wing operations to
release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. (The
parking brake will not be released auto-
matically if the seat belt is not fastened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch with
the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the parking brake indicator
light goes off. ( P.135)
■When an inspection at your Lexus
dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indicator
(green) does not illuminate even when the
brake hold switch is pressed with the brake
hold system operating conditions met, the
system may be malfun ctioning. Have the
vehicle inspected at your Lexus dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Fault Depress Brake to
Deactivate Visit Your Dealer”, “Brake
Hold Malfunction Pr ess Brake to Deac- tivate Visit Your Dealer” or “Brake Hold
Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is dis-
played on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning messages and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to
indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution. If a warn-
ing message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow
the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indicator
flashes
P.293
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a
steep incline, exercise caution. The brake
hold function may not hold the vehicle in
such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when
the gripping ability of the tires has been
exceeded. Do not use the system when
stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed
for use when parking the vehicle for a
long period of time. Turning the engine
switch off while the system is holding the
brake may release the brake, which
would cause the vehicle to move. When
operating the engine switch, depress the
brake pedal, shift the shift lever to P and
set the parking brake.
1394-2. Driving procedures
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
*:If equipped
1Louder
2 Lower
The indicator comes on when the ASC
system is on.
When the dial is turned to the lowest
volume, the ASC system will be turned
off and the indicator will go off.
■The ASC system can be operated when
The driving mode select switch is in normal
mode or sport mode. ( P.196)
■Temporary cancelation of the ASC sys-
tem functions
The ASC system may be temporarily
canceled depending on the driving condi-
tions, such as when the tires slip due to sud-
den acceleration.
ASC (Active Sound Con-
trol)
*
The ASC system is an electronic
sound system that generates
engine sound, conveying the
kinetic situations of the vehicle’s
acceleration and deceleration to
the driver through the speakers
inside the instrument panel.
The vehicle’s response to the
driver’s acceleration behavior and
shift operations are also conveyed
in sound.
When sport mode is selected, the
sound conveyed to the driver will be
louder.
Controlling volume