sensor Lexus ES330 2006 Descriptions of Functions For More Effective 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

SWITCHES
xxxiii
HEADLIGHT SWITCH(U.S.A.)
“AUTO” position
The headlights and all other lights automatically turn on
depending on the darkness of the surroundings when the
ignition key is in the “ON” position.*
NOTE:
* The sensitivity of the automatic light control sensor can be
changed.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
To turn on the lights manually, twist the knob on the end
of the lever.
First clickstop: Only the parking, tail, license plate, side
marker and instrument panel lights turn on.
Second clickstop: Headlights also turn on. When
the headlights are on, the headlight indicator lights up in
the instrument cluster.
With the knob in the “AUTO” position, there may be a case
that the headlights do not turn on immediately, even when
the vehicle enters a dark place such as a tunnel or parking
lot according to lighting conditions. In this case, we
recommend you to twist the knob manually to the second
clickstop to turn on the headlights immediately.
When the headlight switch is turned to the first or second
clickstop, the brightness of the instrument cluster will be
reduced slightly unless the instrument panel light control dial
is turned fully up.
“DRL OFF” position
The daytime running light (DRL) system does not work
when the knob is set in this position.
For details, see the following “Daytime Running Light (DRL)
System”.

SWITCHES
xxxiv
The automatic light control sensor is on the top of the driver’s
side instrument panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument panel, and/or do not
affix anything on the windshield to block this sensor.
When the headlights are on, they automatically turn off about
30 seconds after any door or trunk lid is opened and closed with
the ignition key turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.* If y\
ou
want to turn off the lights immediately, push the “LOCK” button
on the wireless remote control key twice. The lights also can
be turned off immediately by pushing the “LOCK” button on the
wireless remote control key with all the doors locked and the
trunk lid closed.
NOTE:
* The time before turning off the lights can be changed.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
When only the tail lights are on, they automatically turn off with
the driver’s door opened and the ignition key turned to the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position. To turn on the lights again, turn the ignition key to the “ON”
position, or twist the knob on the end of lever to the “AUTO”
position and then twist the knob until the first or second
clickstop.
If you are going to park for over one week, make sure the knob
is in the “AUTO” or “DRL OFF” position.
Daytime Running Light (DRL) System
When the knob is set in the “AUTO” position, the headlights
turn on at reduced intensity when the parking brake
is released
with the engine started. They will not go off until the ignition
switch is turned off.
The headlights will automatically adjust to full intensity and/or
turn on the other lights depending on the darkness of the
surroundings.
To turn on the other exterior lights and instrument panel lights,
twist the knob to the first clickstop.
Twist the knob to the second clickstop to turn on the headlights
to full intensity for driving at night.
To cancel the DRL system, twist the knob to the “DRL OFF”
position.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not
leave the lights on longer than necessary when the
engine is not running.

SWITCHES
xxxv
Automatic headlight leveling system (vehicles
with discharge headlight only)
Vehicle position changes according to loading condition,
passengers getting on and off, vehicle acceleration and
deceleration, etc. However, as the headlight beam level is
always maintained automatically by the system at the proper
level, your headlights do not dazzle other road users.
If this system fails, the warning light in the instrument cluster
comes on. If this occurs, have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer.
If you replace the rear suspension and/or the vehicle height
changes, contact your Lexus dealer to check the automatic
headlight leveling system and headlight beam level.
HEADLIGHT SWITCH(Canada)
To turn the lights on, twist the knob on the end of the lever.
FIRST CLICKSTOP: Only the parking, tail, license plate, side
marker and instrument panel lights turn on.
SECOND CLICKSTOP: Headlights also turn on.
THIRD CLICKSTOP (“AUTO”): The headlights and all other
lights automatically turn on depending on the darkness of the
surroundings.*
NOTE:
* The sensitivity of the automatic light control sensor can be
changed.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.

SWITCHES
xxxviWith
the knob in the “AUTO” position, there may be a case
that the headlights do not turn on immediately, even when
the vehicle enters a dark place such as a tunnel or parking
lot according to lighting conditions. In this case, we
recommend you to twist the knob manually to the second
clickstop to turn on the headlights immediately.
When the tail lights are on, the tail light indicator lights up in the
instrument cluster.
When the headlight switch is turned to the first or second
clickstop, the brightness of the instrument cluster will be
reduced slightly unless the instrument panel light control dial
is turned fully up.
The automatic light control sensor is on the top of the driver’s
side instrument panel.
Do not place anything on the instrument panel, and/or do not
affix anything on the windshield to block this sensor.
When the headlights are on, they automatically turn off about
30 seconds after any door or trunk lid is opened and closed with
the ignition key turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.* If y\
ou
want to turn off the lights immediately, push the “LOCK” button
on the wireless remote control key twice. The lights also can
be turned off immediately by pushing the “LOCK” button on the
wireless remote control key with all the doors locked and the
trunk lid closed.
NOTE:
* The time before turning off the lights can be changed.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.
When only the tail lights are on, they automatically turn off with
the driver’s door opened and the ignition key turned to the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position.

SWITCHES
xli
Rainsensing windshield wipers
1Automatic control adjuster
2Washer on
To turn the wipers on, move the lever down until you reach
the desired speed setting.
The ignition switch must be in the “ON” position.
There are 3 settings:
“AUTO” position: Automatic operation
“LO” position: Low speed operation
“HI” position: High speed operation
Automatic operation
The wiper speed is determined by the amount of raindrops
and sunlight detected by the automatic wiper control
sensor. You may adjust the automatic wiper control sensitivity by
twisting the automatic control adjuster in the “”
direction, which requires more raindrop volume to start
the wiper, or in the “+” direction, which requires less
raindrop volume to start the wiper.
The sensor is on the inside of the windshield as shown above.
Even if the wiper lever is in the
“AUTO” position, the system will
switch to intermittent operations in the following conditions:
 When the windshield gets extremely cold (at less than
–10 C [14 F])
 When the system malfunctions
However, when the windshield gets extremely hot (at more
than 90 C [194F]), the wipers do not operate even if the wiper
lever is in the “AUTO” position.

SWITCHES
xliiWhen
the ignition switch is turned off with the wiper lever in the
“AUTO” position, and then the ignition switch is turned on
again, the automatic operation may not work even if raindrops
are on the windshield.
In this case, move the lever to another position and return it to
the “AUTO” position again.
CAUTION
Be careful not to get your fingers caught between the
wipers and windshield.
When the wiper lever is in the “AUTO” position with the
ignition switch on, the wipers could operate
automatically in the following cases:
 If you touch the upper center of the windshield
adjacent to the sensor.
 If you wipe the upper center of the windshield
(adjacent to which the sensor is located) with a towel.
 If the windshield vibrates.
 If you touch the sensor.
NOTICE
Do not apply detergent to or wet the automatic wiper
control sensor when cleaning the inside of the
windshield.
To make the washer squirt, pull the lever toward you and
release it.
Also, the wipers will automatically operate a couple of times
after the washer squirts even with the lever in the “OFF”
position.
The low washer fluid warning light in the instrument cluster
comes on when the fluid level in the tank becomes nearly
empty. For information on adding washer fluid, see “Adding
washer fluid” on page cdvi.
In cold weather, warm the windshield with the defroster before
using the washer. This will help prevent icing, which could
block your vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the windshield is dry. It may
scratch the glass.
When waxing your vehicle, make sure that the washer nozzles
do not become blocked. If a nozzle becomes blocked, contact
your Lexus dealer to have the vehicle serviced.
NOTICE
If a nozzle becomes blocked, do not try to clear it with
a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
lxi
CAUTION
If either of the following conditions occurs, immediately
stop your vehicle at a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
 The light does not turn off even after the parking
brake is released while the engine is running.
In this case, the brakes may not work properly and
your stopping distance will become longer. Depress
the brake pedal firmly and bring the vehicle to an
immediate stop.
 The brake system warning light remains on together
with the “ABS” warning light.
In this case, not only the antilock brake system will
fail but also the vehicle will become extremely
unstable during braking.
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzzer
The light and buzzer act as a reminder to buckle up the driver’s
seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to “ON” or “START”, the
reminder light and buzzer come on if the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened. Unless the driver fastens the belt, the light remains
on and the buzzer stops after about 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
The light acts as a reminder to have the front passenger buckle
up the seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position, the
reminder light flashes if a front passenger sits in the front
passenger seat and does not fasten the seat belt.
If luggage or other load is placed on the front passenger seat,
depending on its weight, the reminder light may come on.
(d) SRS Warning Light
This indicator comes on when the ignition key is turned to
the “ON” position. It goes off after about 6 seconds. This
means the SRS airbags and seat belt pretensioners are
operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side and curtain shield airbag
sensor assemblies, curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies,
driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch,
front passenger occupant classification system, “AIRBAG
OFF” indicator light, “AIRBAG ON” indicator light, front
passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat belt pretensioner
assemblies, inflators, warning light, interconnecting wiring and
power sources.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxix
Seat belt pretensioners
Both front seats and the two outboard rear seats are
equipped with seat belt pretensioners and are designed to
be activated in response to a severe frontal impact.
When the sensor detects a severe frontal impact, the seat belts
are quickly drawn back by the retractors so that the belts snugly
restrain the occupants.
The front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner will not activate
if no passenger is detected in the front passenger seat by the
front passenger occupant classification system. However, the
front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner may activate if
luggage is put on the seat, or the seat belt is buckled up
regardless of the presence of an occupant in the seat. (As for
the front passenger occupant classification system, see page
cxliii.) The outboard rear seat belt pretensioners are activated even
with no passenger in the outboard rear seats.
The seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags may not operate
together in all collisions.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
cxx
1Front passenger occupant classification system
(ECU and sensors)
2Front seat belt pretensioner assemblies
3Rear seat belt pretensioner assemblies
4SRS warning light
5Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
6Front airbag sensors
7Airbag sensor assembly
The seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the above
components, and their locations are shown in the illustration.
The seat belt pretensioners are controlled by the airbag sensor
assembly. The airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing
sensor and airbag sensor.
When the seat belt pretensioners are activated, an operating
noise may be heard and a small amount of non− toxic gas may
be released. This does not indicate that a fire is occurring. This
gas is normally harmless.
Once the seat belt pretensioners have been activated, the seat
belt retractors remain locked.