rain sensor Lexus GS350 2015 Owner's Manual

321-1. For safe use
GS350_OM_OM30F69U_(U)If the pre-collision sensor detects that a collision is unavoidable, the pre-
collision system will retract the seat belt before the collision occurs.
(→
P. 2 5 8 )
■Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on impact. It may also lock if
you lean forward too quickly. A slow, easy motion will allow the belt to extend so that
you can move around fully.
■Automatic locking retractor (ALR)
When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and then retracted even
slightly, the belt is locked in that position and cannot be extended. This feature is used
to hold the child restraint system (CRS) firmly . To free the belt again, fully retract the
belt and then pull the belt out once more. ( →P. 5 9 )
■Child seat belt usage
The seat belts of your vehicle were principally designed for persons of adult size.
●Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child, until the child becomes large
enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt. ( →P. 5 5 )
●When the child becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt, fol-
low the instructions regarding seat belt usage. ( →P. 3 0 )
■Replacing the belt after the pretensioner has been activated
If the vehicle is involved in multiple collisions, the pretensioner will activate for the
first collision, but will not activate for the second or subsequent collisions.
■Seat belt extender
Pre-collision seat belts (front seat s of vehicles with pre-collision
system)
If your seat belts cannot be fastened securely
because they are not long enough, a person-
alized seat belt extender is available from
your Lexus dealer free of charge.
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391-1. For safe use
GS350_OM_OM30F69U_(U)
1
For safety and security
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag sen-
sor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on information
obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system components diagram
above. This information includes crash severity and occupant information.
As the airbags deploy, a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occupants.
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
●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 the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of
inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) 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 10 in. (250 mm) 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 pedalscomfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm)
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, non-slippery cushion, or raise the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• 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.
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4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
XRain-sensing windshield wipers
(U.S.A.) or (Canada)
Move the lever up 2 levels
Move the lever up 1 level

(U.S.A.) or (Canada)
Move the lever down 1 level

(U.S.A.) or (Canada)
Move the lever down 2 lev-
els
AUTO mode on/off switch
With AUTO mode selected, the wip-
ers will operate automatically when
the sensor detects falling rain. The sys-
tem automatically adjusts wiper timing
in accordance with rain volume and
vehicle speed.
AUTO mode indicator will turn on
when AUTO mode is selected.
AUTO mode
indicator
1
2
3
4
5
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GS350_OM_OM30F69U_(U)
2074-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If AUTO mode is selected while 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 temporary operation
AUTO mode cannot be activated 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 wind-
shield washer fluid reservoir.
●The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is adopted. It may not
operate properly when sunlight from the
rising or setting of the sun intermittently
strikes the windshield, or if bugs etc. are
present on the windshield.
CAUTION
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the
windshield 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 fluid 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.
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4-5. Using the driving support systems
CAUTION
■To avoid inadvertent cruise control activation
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON/OFF” button when not in use.
■Situations unsuitable for dynamic radar cruise control
Do not use dynamic radar cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in inappropriate speed control and could cause an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep downhills, or where there are sudden changes between sharp up and
down gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
●At entrances to expressways
●When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sensors
from functioning correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
●When an approach warning buzzer is heard often
●During emergency towing
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GS350_OM_OM30F69U_(U)
2394-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■If there are lane markers on only one side of the vehicle
The lane keeping assist function will not operate. Also, the lane departure warning
will not operate for the side on which lane markers could not be recognized.
■Conditions in which the function may not operate correctly
In the following conditions, the LKA system functions may not operate, or it may not
be possible to ensure adequate performance. Also, the camera sensor may be
unable to recognize lane lines causing the lane departure warning function to oper-
ate incorrectly, or the lane keeping assist function may not operate properly. How-
ever, this does not indicate a malfunction.
●When driving through an area with no lane markers, such as a tollbooth, a crossing
or before a ticket checkpoint
●When driving on a sharp curve
●When lanes are extremely narrow or extremely wide
●When the vehicle leans to one side an unusual amount due to a heavy load or
improper tire inflation pressure
●When the following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is
extremely short
●When the lane markers are yellow (These may be more difficult for the system to
recognize compared to white markers.)
●When the lane markers are broken, “Botts’ dots”, “Raised pavement marker” or
stones
●When lane markers are obscured or partially obscured by sand, dirt, etc.
●When there are shadows on the road running parallel with lane markers, or if a
shadow covers the lane markers
●When driving on a particularly bright road surface, such as concrete
●When driving on a road surface that is bright due to reflected light
●When driving in a location where the light level changes rapidly, such as the
entrance to or exit from a tunnel
●When sunlight or the headlights of oncoming vehicles are shining directly into the
camera lens
●When driving on roads that are branching or merging
●When driving on a road surface that is wet due to rain, previous rainfall, standing
water, etc.
●When the vehicle experiences strong up-and-down motion such as when driving
on an extremely rough road or on a seam in the pavement
●When headlight brightness at nighttime is reduced due to dirt on the lenses, or
when the headlights are misaligned
●When driving with a strong crosswind
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4-5. Using the driving support systems
NOTICE
■Camera sensor (→P. 2 3 3 )
Observe the following to ensure that the LKA system functions correctly.
●Keep the windshield clean at all times.
Performance could be affected if the windshield is dirty, or if raindrops, conden-
sation or ice are adhering to the windshield.
●When adjusting the rear view mirror, make sure that it does not block the camera
lens.
●Do not attach window tinting to the windshield.
●Do not install an antenna in front of the camera lens.
●If the windshield is fogged up, use the windshield defogger to remove fog from
the windshield.
When it is cold, using the heater with air blowing to the feet may allow the upper
part of the windshield to fog up. This will have a negative effect on the images.
●Do not place anything on the dashboard.
The camera sensor may recognize the image reflected on the windshield as lane
markers by mistake.
●Do not scratch the camera lens, or let it get dirty.
When cleaning the inside of the windshield, be careful not to get any glass
cleaner etc. on the lens. Also, do not touch the lens.
For lens repair, contact your Lexus dealer.
●Do not change the installation position or direction of the camera sensor or
remove it. The direction of the camera sensor is precisely adjusted.
●Do not subject the camera sensor to strong impact or force, and do not disas-
semble the camera sensor.
●Do not attach a sticker or other items to the
windshield near the camera sensor.
●Do not install or place anything near the
camera.
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4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Conditions that may trigger the system even if there is no danger of a collision
●When there is an object by the roadside at the entrance to a curve
●When passing an oncoming vehicle on a curve
●When driving over a narrow iron bridge
●When there is a metal object on the road surface
●When driving on an uneven road surface
●When passing an oncoming vehicle on a left-turn
●When your vehicle rapidly closes on the vehicle in front
●When a grade separation/interchange, sign, billboard, or other structure appears
to be directly in the vehicle’s line of travel
●When climbing a steep hill causes an overhead billboard or other metallic structure
to appear directly in the vehicle’s line of travel
When the system is activated in the situations described above, there is also a possi-
bility that the seat belts will retract quickly and the brakes will be applied with a force
greater than normal. When the seat belt is locked in the retracted position, stop the
vehicle in a safe place, release the seat belt and refasten it.
■Obstacles not detected
The sensor cannot detect plastic obstacles such as traffic cones. There may also be
occasions when the sensor cannot detect pedestrians, animals, bicycles, motorcy-
cles, trees, or snowdrifts.
■Situations in which the pre-collision system does not function properly
The system may not function effectively in situations such as the following:
●On roads with sharp bends or uneven surfaces
●If a vehicle suddenly moves in front of your vehicle, such as at an intersection
●If a vehicle suddenly cuts in front of your vehicle, such as when overtaking
●In inclement weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow or sand storms
●When your vehicle is skidding
●When your vehicle is steeply inclined
●When the radar sensor moves off position due to its surrounding area being sub-
jected to a strong impact
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4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Conditions under which the Rear Cross Traffic Alert function will not detect a vehi-
cle
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is not designed to detect the following types of
vehicles and/or objects.
●Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians etc.*
●Vehicles approaching from directly behind
●Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehicles and similar stationary objects*
●Vehicles moving away from your vehicle
●Vehicles approaching from the parking spaces next to your vehicle*
●Vehicles backing up in the parking space next to your vehicle*
*
: Depending on conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.
■Conditions under which the Rear Cross Traffic Alert function may not function
correctly
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function may not detect vehicles correctly in the follow-
ing conditions:
●During bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow etc.
●When ice or mud etc. is attached to the rear bumper
●When multiple vehicles approach continuously
●Shallow angle parking
●When a vehicle is approaching at high speed
●When parking on a steep incline, such as hills, a dip in the road etc.
●Directly after the BSM main switch is set to on
●When items such as a bicycle carrier are installed on the rear of the vehicle
●Directly after the engine is started with the BSM main switch on
●When the sensors cannot detect vehicles
because of obstacles
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2814-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
NOTICE
■The near-infrared camera
●Make sure the front windshield is kept clean.
●System performance may deteriorate if rain water, condensation or ice adheres
to the camera. If you notice the inner lens of the camera is dirty, the garnish will
have to be replaced. Consult your Lexus dealer.
●Do not subject the camera to strong impacts, or disassemble the camera.
●As the alignment of the camera has been very finely adjusted, do not change or
remove the mounting.
●If the front windshield fogs up, defog the windshield using the front defroster.
●Do not dirty or scratch the camera lens.
●Night view may not function properly if an object is placed on the sensor, or any-
thing that blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield.
Follow these precautions to avoid damage to
or incorrect operation of the Lexus night
view.
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