tow Lexus ES350 2008 Owner's Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
1
1Before drivingAdjusting and operating features such as door locks, mir-
rors, and steering column.
2When drivingDriving, stopping and safe-driving information.
3Interior featuresAir conditioning and audio systems, as well as other interior
features for a comfortable driving experience.
4Maintenance
and careCleaning and protecting your vehicle, performing do-it-your-
self maintenance, and maintenance information.
5When trouble
arisesWhat to do if the vehicle needs to be towed, gets a flat tire,
or is involved in an accident.
6Vehicle
specificationsDetailed vehicle information.
7For US ownersReporting safety defects for US owners
IndexAlphabetical listing of information contained in this manual.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
3
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers ................... 132
Headlight switch ............................ 132
Fog light switch .............................. 135
Windshield wipers and washer............................................. 136
2-4. Using other driving systems.... 139 Cruise control ................................ 139
Dynamic radar cruise control............................................. 142
Intuitive parking assist ................... 151
Driving assist systems.................. 157
PCS (Pre-Collision System)..... 160
2-5. Driving information ................... 163 Cargo and luggage ...................... 163
Vehicle load limits ......................... 166
Winter driving tips ........................ 167
Trailer towing .................................. 173
Dinghy towing ................................ 180
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger ............. 182
Automatic air conditioning system ............................................. 182
Rear window and outside rear view mirror defoggers ............. 189 3-2. Using the audio system............ 190
Audio system type ........................ 190
Using the radio............................... 192
Using the CD player.................... 199
Playing back MP3 and WMA discs................................. 205
Optimal use of the audio system ............................................. 213
Using the AUX adapter............. 216
Using the steering wheel audio switches .............................. 217
3-3. Using the hands-free phone system
(for cellular phone) ................ 219
Hands-free phone system features (for cellular phone) .. 219
Using the hands-free phone system (for cellular phone) ... 222
Making a phone call.................... 230
Setting a cellular phone............. 234
Security and system setup........ 238
Using the phone book................. 241
3-4. Using the interior lights .......... 247 Interior lights list............................ 247
• Front interior lights ................... 249
• Personal lights ............................ 249
3Interior features

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
5
5-1. Essential information .............. 352If 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 6-1. Specifications............................ 408
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.).................... 408
Fuel information............................. 418
Tire information ............................. 421
6-2. Customization .......................... 433 Customizable features .............. 433
6-3. Initialization ............................... 438 Items to initialize .......................... 438
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners........................... 440
Abbreviation list .................................. 442
Alphabetical index.............................. 444
What to do if... ...................................... 454
5When trouble arises6Vehicle specifications
7For US owners
Index

26
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
■Operation signals
Doors: A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors
have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: Once; Unlocked: Twice)
Trunk: A buzzer sounds to indicate that the trunk has been unlocked.
Windows and standard moon roof: A buzzer sounds to indicate that the windows
and standard moon roof are operating.
■Door lock buzzer
If a door is not fully closed, a buzzer sounds for 10 seconds if an attempt to lock the
door is made. Fully close the door to stop the buzzer, and lock the vehicle once
more.
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart access system with push-button start uses weak radio waves. In the fol-
lowing situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle
may be affected, preventing the smart access system with push-button start and
wireless remote control from operating properly:
(Ways of coping: →P. 3 9 8 )
●When the electronic key battery is depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display,
airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical noise
●When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wire-
less communication devices
●When the electronic key is in contact with, or is covered by the following metal-
lic objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• Metallic wallets or bags
• Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When multiple electronic keys are in the vicinity

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1
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
Head restraints
■Adjusting the height of the head restraints
■Adjusting the rear seat head restraints
Always raise the head restraint one level from the stowed position when using.
■Head restraints of different seats
The head restraints are specially designed for the seats on which they are installed.
CAUTION
■Head restraint precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the head restraints. Failure to do so
may result in death or serious injury.
●Adjust the head restraints to the correct position at all times.
●Do not drive with the head restraints removed.
Vertical adjustment
Push and hold the lock release
button when lowering the head
restraint.
Removal
Pull the head restraint up while
pushing the lock release button.
Lock
release
button
Make sure that the head restraints are
adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of your ears.

56
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
Steering wheel
Auto tilt awayWhen the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch is turned OFF, the
steering wheel returns to its
stowed position by moving up and
away to enable easier driver entry
and exit.
Turning the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch to ACCESSORY or
IGNITION ON mode will return
the steering wheel to the original
position.
The steering wheel can be adjusted to a comfortable position while the
“ENGINE START STOP” switch is in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode.
Up
Down
Away from the driver
Toward the driver
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle the vehicle and an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.

83
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the 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 driver 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 driv- ers 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 main-
taining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.

85
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean
against the dashboard.
●Do not allow a child to sit on the knees of a
front passenger while the vehicle is moving.
●Do not drive the vehicle while the driver or
passenger have items resting on their
knees.
●Do not lean against the door, the roof side
rail or the front, side and rear pillars.
●Do not allow anyone to kneel on the pas-
senger seat toward the door or put their
head or hands outside the vehicle.

When driving2
105
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
2-1. Driving procedures ....... 106Driving the vehicle.................. 106
Engine (ignition) switch .......... 114
Automatic Transmission ......... 117
Turn signal lever ....................... 120
Parking brake ............................ 121
2-2. Instrument cluster .......... 122 Gauges and meters ................ 122
Indicators and warning lights ......................................... 124
Multi-information display ..... 128
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers......... 132
Headlight switch...................... 132
Fog light switch ........................ 135
Windshield wipers and washer ..................................... 136 2-4. Using other driving
systems .......................... 139
Cruise control.......................... 139
Dynamic radar cruise control ..................................... 142
Intuitive parking assist ............ 151
Driving assist systems ............. 157
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ....... 160
2-5. Driving information........ 163 Cargo and luggage ................ 163
Vehicle load limits ................... 166
Winter driving tips ................... 167
Trailer towing ........................... 173
Dinghy towing.......................... 180

132
ES350_U_(L/O_0708)
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
Headlight switch
Turning on the high beam headlightsWith the headlights on, push the
lever forward to turn on the high
beams.
Pull the lever back to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you to turn
on the high beams.
Release to turn them off. You can
flash the high beams with the head-
lights on or off.
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
The side marker, parking,tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights
turn on.
The headlights and all lights listed above turn
on.
The headlights and park- ing lights turn on and off
automatically.
(When the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch is
in IGNITION ON
mode) USA
Canada