steering wheel Lexus ES330 2006 Basic Functions In Frequent Use / OWNER'S MANUAL (OM33703U)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEXUS
4Lexus recommends you to read
the provisions in Section 1−6
carefully and refer to them as needed during your time of
ownership of this vehicle.
Event data recorder
Your vehicle has computers that monitor and control certain
aspects of your vehicle. These computers assist in driving and
maintaining optimal vehicle performance. Besides storing
data useful for troubleshooting, there is a system to record data
in a crash or a near car crash event. This is called an Event
Data Recorder (EDR).
The SRS airbag sensor assembly contains the EDR. In a crash
or a near car crash event, this device may record some or all
of the following information:
 Engine speed
 Whether the brake pedal was applied or not
 Vehicle speed
 To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
 Position of the transmission selector lever
 Whether the driver and front passenger wore the seat belts
or not
 Driver’s seat position
 Front passenger’s occupant classification
 SRS airbag deployment data
 SRS airbag system diagnostic data If your vehicle is equipped with a vehicle stability control (VSC)
system,
its Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may contain another
EDR. There are a variety of driving situations which include
activating the VSC under which the VSC EDR will record
certain information. The VSC EDR may record some or all of
the following information:
 Behavior of the vehicle
 Steering wheel angle
 Vehicle speed
 To what extent the accelerator pedal was depressed
 To what extent the brake pedal was applied
 To what extent the ECU controlled the condition of the 4
wheels
 Vehicle stability control system diagnostic data
The information above is intended to be used for the purpose
of improving vehicle safety performance. Unlike general data
recorders, the EDR does not record sound data such as
conversation between passengers.
Lexus will not disclose the data recorded in an EDR to a third
party except when:
 An agreement from the vehicle’s owner (or the leasing
company for a leased vehicle) is obtained
 Officially requested by the police or other authorities
 Used as a defense for Lexus in a law suit
 Ordered by the court

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
7
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
The contents of this manual are explained briefly
on this page to help you make the best use of the
manual. Please read this page and the rest of the
Owner’s Manual carefully to make sure you fully
understand the operation of your vehicle.
This will help you enjoy safe and comfortable
driving.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The table of contents and the pictorial index provide easy
reference to the appropriate pages.
BASIC OPERATION — QUICK REFERENCE
Operation of basic equipment is briefly explained in an easily
understandable way for quick reference.
SECTION 1 — INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
The vehicle’s equipment is divided into the 7 groups listed
below. Use of the equipment is explained, including any points
you should pay particular attention to.
1. Keys and doors
2. Switches
3. Gauges, meters and service reminder indicators
4. Interior equipment
5. Exterior equipment
6. Occupant restraint systems 7. Steering wheel and mirrors
SECTION 2 — AIR CONDITIONING AND AUDIO
The features of the vehicle’s air conditioning and audio are
explained in detail. Be sure to r
ead this Section so that you can
make full use of them.
SECTION 3 — STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting the engine, driving, stopping, operation of features
affecting vehicle handling, hints on vehicle safety and safe
driving techniques are all explained. Please read everything
in this Section, and remember — drive safely!
SECTION 4 — IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
This Section explains what to do in the event of an urgent
situation such as the engine not starting or getting a flat tire, etc.
If such a problem occurs, check the contents of this Owner’s
Manual and follow the instructions given.
SECTION 5 — MAINTENANCE
This Section explains the importance of regular maintenance.
Regular and periodic inspection and maintenance of your
Lexus will help to keep your vehicle in its best condition.
SECTION 6 — SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Simple maintenance procedure and service data are provided
here for your reference should you wish to perform inspection
and maintenance yourself.

QUICK REFERENCE
2
1. DRIVER’S SEAT 2. TILT STEERINGCOLUMN3. POWER
ADJUSTABLE PEDALS
Seat position
Head restraint angle
Head restraint
height
Lumbar support
Seatback angle Seat cushion
height
Seat cushion angle
To tilt the steering wheel up or
down to the desired angle:
1. Pull the lever up while holding the steering wheel.
2. Tilt the steering wheel to the desired angle.
3. Release the lever. BE072 (center/4)To adjust the position of the accelerator and brake pedals:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Turn the ignition key to the “ON” position with the
automatic transmission selector lever in the “P” position.
3. Push the “” side of the switch to move the pedals to the
front most position.
4. Push the “ ” side of the switch to move the pedals
toward you until you can fully depress the brake pedal.
5. After adjusting, depress the pedals a few times to get used to the feel. BE070 (center/4)

PICTORIAL INDEX
vii
SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL
Page
1Tilt steering lock release
lever clxxiii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2Seat position, seat cushion
angle and height
control switch cviii, cix . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3Seatback angle control
switch cviii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4Lumbar support control
switch cix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For detailed information, refer to the
description given in each Section.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cv
SEATS
While the vehicle is being driven, all vehicle occupants should
have the seatback upright, sit well back in the seat and properly
wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
 Do not drive the vehicle unless the occupants are
properly seated. Do not allow any passengers to sit
in the luggage compartment or cargo area. Persons
not properly seated and/or not properly restrained by
seat belts can be severely injured in the event of
emergency braking or a collision.
 During driving, do not allow any passengers to stand
up or move around between seats. Otherwise, severe
injuries can occur in the event of emergency braking
or a collision.
FRONT SEATS
Front seat precautions
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force,
and can cause death or serious injury especially if the
driver is very close to the airbag. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag is the first 50 — 75
mm (2 — 3 in.) of inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides you with a clear
margin of safety. This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you
sit less than 250 mm (10 in.) away now, you can change
your driving position in several ways:
 Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still
reaching the pedals comfortably.
 Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle
designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 250 mm
(10 in.) distance, even with the driver seat all the way
forward, simply by reclining the back of the seat
somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes
it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm,
nonslippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle
has that feature.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cvi
If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward.
This points the airbag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by
NHTSA above, while still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.
Front passenger seat
CAUTION
The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with
considerable force, and can cause death or serious
injury especially if the front passenger is very close to
the airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far
from the airbag as possible with the seatback adjusted,
so the front passenger sits upright.
Front seats (with SRS side airbags)
CAUTION
The SRS side airbags are installed in the driver and front
passenger seats. Observe the following precautions.
 Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle
is in use, since the side airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, you may
be killed or seriously injured.
 Do not use seat accessories which cover the area
where the side airbags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly,
causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with side airbags. Such change may
prevent the side airbag system from activating
correctly, disable the system or cause the side
airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or
serious injury.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxxviiiParts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover
and inflator) may be hot for several minutes after deployment,
so do not touch! The airbags inflate only once. The windshield
may be damaged by absorbing some of the force of the
inflating airbag.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger who is too close to the
steering wheel or dashboard during airbag deployment
can be killed or seriously injured. Lexus strongly
recommends that:

The driver sit as far back as possible from the
steering wheel while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
 The front passenger sit as far back as possible from
the dashboard.
 All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using
the available seat belts.
For instructions and precautions concerning the
seating position, see “Front seat precautions” on page
cv.
 Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use, since the front
passenger airbag could inflates with considerable
speed and force. Anyone who is up against, or very
close to, an airbag when it inflates, can be killed or
seriously injured. Sit up straight and well back in the
seat, and always use your seat belt properly.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxxix
Lexus strongly recommends that all infants and
children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and
be properly restrained.
 Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms. Use
a child restraint system in the rear seat. For
instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see “Child res traint” on page cxlvii.Do not put anything or any part of your body on or in
front of the dashboard or steering wheel pad that
houses the front airbag system. They might restrict
inflation or cause death or serious injury as they are
projected rearward by the force of the deploying
airbags. Likewise, the driver and front passenger
should not hold objects in their arms or on their
knees.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxxx
Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, strike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front passenger airbag
or airbag sensor assembly. Doing so may prevent the
front airbag system from activating correctly, cause
sudden activation of the system or disable the
system, which could result in death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repair and modification.
If you wish to modify your vehicle for a person with a
physical disability, consult your Lexus dealer. It may
dangerously interfere with the SRS front airbags
operation.NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes without
consulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes can
interfere with proper operation of the SRS front airbag
system in some cases.
 Installation of electronic devices such as a mobile
twoway radio, cassette tape player or CD player
 Modification of the suspension system
 Modification of the front end structure
 Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,
etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to
the front end
 Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end
structure, console, steering column, steering wheel
or dashboard near the front passenger airbag

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxxxii
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
The SRS front airbags have been inflated.
 The front of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS front airbags to inflate. 
The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger
airbag cover (shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.