Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving.
Driving
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D.
Release the parking brake. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
Stopping
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
When the vehicle is stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift lever to P or N.
Parking the vehicle
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Press the “ENGINE START STOP” switch and stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your person.
Starting on a steep uphill
Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
Driving in the rain
Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows
may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
- Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially
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 properly.
Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended
to
observe:
- For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
- For the first 600 miles (1000 km): • Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake
system
needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or whenever the parking
brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Lexus dealer perform the bedding
down.
Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the
availability of the
correct fuel.
CAUTION:
When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine running.
This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
When driving the vehicle
- Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and
accelerator
pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly, allowing 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.
- Do not let the vehicle roll backwards while the shift lever is in a driving
position, 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.
- If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check
that the trunk is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehicle can cause
driver
drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a serious health hazard. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
- Do not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to P, R or N while the
vehicle
is moving.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the transmission system and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
- Do not shift the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause the engine brake to not operate properly and lead to an accident.
Do not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering and brake booster systems will not operate properly if the engine is not running.
- 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.
- When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing an accident.
- Do not adjust the position of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside
rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control that can cause accidents that
may
result in death or serious injury.
- Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their bodies
are
not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
- Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits 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 driving at such
speeds.
When driving on slippery road surfaces - Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
- Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
- After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure
that
the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from
functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning
properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in an accident.
When shifting the shift lever Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION:
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
suddenly
and unexpectedly, and may cause an accident.
- Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
- 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 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, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle
when it is in the sun.
Failure to do 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 material of eye 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.
CAUTION:
- 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.
- Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
- Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it is
snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is running,
exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead to death or a
serious
health hazard.
Exhaust gases
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO) that is colorless and
odorless.
Inhaling exhaust gases may lead to death or a serious health hazard.
- If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area, stop the engine. In a closed
area, such
as a garage, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead to
death or a serious health hazard.
- The exhaust should be checked occasionally. If there is a hole or crack caused
by
corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be sure to have the
vehicle
inspected and repaired by your Lexus dealer. Failure to do so may allow
exhaust gases to enter the vehicle, resulting in death or a serious health
hazard.
When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, you may accidentally move the shift lever
or
depress the accelerator pedal, which 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 the vehicle - When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and may cause one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also the parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
CAUTION:
- If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles
closely and avoid downhills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but it will require more force on the
pedal than
usual. Braking distance may also increase.
- 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 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 braking distance becomes longer.
Do not drive your vehicle with only a single brake system. Have your brakes
fixed
immediately.
NOTICE:
While 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 put the shift lever in 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
a long
time.
Doing so may damage the power steering pump
- When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging
the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
NOTICE:
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have your Lexus dealer check and replace the brake pads as soon as possible.
The rotor damage can 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
that of the brake discs are exceeded.
If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel
firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
- It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
- The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
- The vehicle will behave abnormally.
Replace a flat tire with a new one.
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 vehicle.
- 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 following.
- Brake function
- Changes in quantity and quality of engine oil, transaxle fluid, etc.
- Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possible)
and
the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
See also:
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