warning light Lexus ES350 2008 Owner's Guide

When trouble arises5
351
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
5-1. Essential information................... 352
If your vehicle needs to be towed ...................................... 352
If you think something is wrong ..................................... 358
Fuel pump shut off system ..................................... 359
Event data recorder .............. 360
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency.................... 362
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ................................. 362
If a warning message is displayed ................................ 373
If you have a flat tire .............. 384
If the engine will not start.......................................... 394
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P........................ 396
If you lose your keys ............... 397
If the electronic key does not operate properly ......... 398
If the vehicle battery is discharged............................ 400
If your vehicle overheats ............................... 403 If the vehicle becomes
stuck........................................ 405

362
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds...
Stop the vehicle immediately. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
The following warning indicates a possible problem in the brake system.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
*: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer:
→P. 3 76
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(USA)
(Canada)
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)*
Indicates the following;
• Low brake fluid
• Malfunction in the brake booster system
This light also comes on when the parking brake is not
released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is fully
released the system is operating normally.
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights turn on or
flash. If a light turns on or flashes, but then turns off, this does not necessar-
ily indicate a malfunction in the system.

5
When trouble arises
363
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
Stop the vehicle immediately.The following warnings indicate the possibility of damage to the vehicle
that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and contact your Lexus dealer.
Have the vehicle inspected by yo ur Lexus dealer immediately.
Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to the
system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system.
(USA)

(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lampIndicates the following:
• Empty fuel tank
• Loose fuel tank
• Malfunction in the electronic engine control system;
• Malfunction in the electronic throttle control system; or
• Malfunction in the electronic automatic transmission con-trol system.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
SRS warning lightIndicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system; or
• Front passenger occupant classification system
• The seat belt pretensioner system.

364
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
Follow the correction procedure.After taking the specified steps to correct the suspected problem, check
that the warning light turns off.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(USA)
(Canada)
ABS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The ABS; or
• The brake assist system.
Pre-collision system warning lightIndicates a malfunction in the pre-collision system.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Open door warning light
(warning buzzer
*1)
Indicates that a door or trunk
is not fully closed.Check that all doors and the
trunk are closed.
Rear light failure warning
light
Indicates one or more stop
lights are burned out.
Have the defective bulbs
replaced by your Lexus dealer.
Low fuel level warning lightIndicates remaining fuel level
is low.
(Approximately 2.8 gal.
[10.5 L, 2.3 Imp.gal.] or less)
Refuel the vehicle.

5
When trouble arises
365
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
Driver’s seat belt reminder
light (warning buzzer
*2)
Warns the driver to fasten his
or her seat belt.Fasten the seat belt.
(with naviga- tion system)
(without navi-
gation system)Front passenger’s seat belt
reminder light
(warning buzzer
*2)
Warns the front passenger to
fasten his or her seat belt.Fasten the seat belt.
Tire pressure warning light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure.Adjust the tire inflation pres-
sure.
When the light comes on after
blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire pres-
sure warning system
Have the system checked by
your Lexus dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure

366
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
*1: Open door warning buzzer:
→P. 3 76
*2: Driver's and front passenger’s seat belt reminders:
The driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts reminder sounds to alert the
driver and front passenger that his or he r sear belt is not fastened. The buzzer
sounds intermittently for 10 seconds after the vehicle has reached a speed of
at least 12 mph (20 km/h). Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer
will sound in a different tone for 20 more seconds.
Master warning light
A buzzer sounds and the
warning light comes on and
flashes to indicate that the
master warning system has
detected a malfunction.
→ P. 3 7 3
■First check when the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
Check the following:
●Is the fuel tank empty?
If it is, fill the fuel tank immediately.
●Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The lamp will go off after taking several driving trips.
If the lamp does not go off even after several trips, contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure

5
When trouble arises
367
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the following:
• The airbag sensor assembly
• The front airbag sensors
• The side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
• The curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies
• The driver’s seat position sensor
• The driver’s seat belt buckle switch
• Occupant detection system (ECU and sensors)
• AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG OFF indicator lights
• Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
• The seat belt pretensioner assemblies
• The inflators
• The interconnecting wiring and power sources
■Front passenger detection sensor and passenger seat belt reminder
If luggage or other load is placed on the front passenger seat, depending on its
weight, the reminder light may flash and buzzer may sound.
■When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level. Pushing the tire
pressure warning reset switch does not turn off the tire pressure warning light.
■The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes such as natural air
leaks or tire inflation pressure changes caused by temperature. In this case, adjust-
ing the tire inflation pressure will turn off the warning light (after a few minutes).

368
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
■When a tire is replaced with a spare tireFull-size spare tire
The spare tire is also equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.
The tire pressure warning light will turn on if the tire inflation pressure of the spare
tire is low. If a tire goes flat, even though the flat tire is replaced with the spare tire,
the tire pressure warning light does not turn off. Replace the spare tire with the
repaired tire and adjust the proper tire inflation pressure. The tire pressure warning
light will turn off after a few minutes. Compact spare tire
The compact spare tire is not equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will not turn off even
though the flat tire is replaced with the spare tire. Replace the spare tire with the
repaired tire and adjust the proper tire inflation pressure. The tire pressure warning
light will turn off after a few minutes.

370
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on after blinking for 1 minute frequently
If the tire pressure warning light comes on after blinking for 1 minute frequently
when the “ENGINE START STOP” switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, have
it checked by your Lexus dealer.
■Customization that can be configured at Lexus dealer
The vehicle speed linked seat belt reminder buzzer can be disabled. (Customizable
features →P. 433)
CAUTION
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could cause loss of
vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire inflation pres-
sure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjust-
ment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires. If the tire is flat,
change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Lexus
dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you could
lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.

5
When trouble arises
371
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label).
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label [tire and load information label], you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when one or more of your tires is sig-
nificantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pres-
sure warning light) illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling
and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning system)
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction indicator is combined with the
low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light). When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illumi-
nated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a variety of rea-
sons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) from functioning
properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction tell-
tale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning
system) to continue to function properly.