sensor Lexus ES350 2009 Owner's Manual

23
1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
1
Before driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
Unlocking and locking the doorsGrip the handle to unlock the
door.
Make sure to touch the sensor on
the back of the handle.
The door cannot be unlocked for 3
seconds after the door is locked.
Press the lock button to lock the
door.
Pressing and holding the button
closes the windows and standard
moon roof.
Unlocking the trunkPress and hold the button to
unlock the trunk.

52
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
Pre-collision seat belts (front seats of vehicles with pre-collision system)
If the pre-collision sensor detects that a collision is unavoidable, the pre-
collision system will retract the seat belt, thus enhancing the effectiveness
of the seat belt pretensioner in a crash.
The same will happen if the driver makes an emergency braking or loses con-
trol of the vehicle. ( →P. 1 6 4 )
■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. 9 7 )
■Pregnant women
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat belt
in the proper way. (→P. 5 0 )
Women who are pregnant should position
the lap belt as low as possible over the hips in
the same manner as other occupants. Extend
the shoulder belt completely over the shoul-
der and position the belt across the chest.
Avoid belt contact over the rounding of the
abdominal area.
If the seat belt is not worn properly, not only a
pregnant woman, but also the fetus could suf-
fer death or serious injury as a result of sud-
den braking or a collision.

54
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
CAUTION
●Do not recline the seat any more than necessary to achieve a proper seating
position. The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats.
●Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
●Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
■Adjustable shoulder anchor
Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned across the center of your shoul-
der. The belt should be kept away from your neck, but not falling off your shoulder.
Failure to do so could reduce the amount of protection in an accident and cause
death or serious injuries in the event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or accident.
(→ P. 5 1 )
■Seat belt pretensioners
●Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger's seat. Doing so
will disperse the passenger's weight, which prevents the sensor from detecting
the passenger's weight properly. As a result, the seat belt pretensioner for the
front passenger's seat may not activate in the event of a collision.
●If the pretensioner has activated, the SRS warning light will come on. In that case,
the seat belt cannot be used again and must be replaced at your Lexus dealer.
■Child restraint lock function belt precaution
Do not allow children to play with the child restraint lock function belt. If the belt
becomes twisted around a child’s neck, it will not be possible to pull the belt out
leading to choking or other serious injuries that could result in death. If this occurs
and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used to cut the belt.

57
1
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror
■To prevent sensor error
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
Do not adjust the position of the mirror while driving.
Doing so may lead to mishandling of the vehicle and an accident, resulting in death
or serious injury.
In AUTO mode, sensors are used to detect the headlights of vehicles
behind and automatically reduces the reflected light.
Turns AUTO mode ON/OFF
The indicator comes on when
AUTO mode is turned ON.
The anti-glare mirror default
mode is AUTO. The anti-glare
mirror is automatically set to
AUTO whenever the “ENGINE
START STOP” switch is turned
on.
To ensure that the sensors operate properly,
do not touch or cover it.

78
1-7. Safety information
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
Airbag system componentsYour vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag system
controls airbag deployment power for the driver and front passenger. The
driver airbag system consists of the driver seat’s position sensor etc. The
front passenger’s airbag system consists of the front passenger occupant
classification sensor etc. Front passenger airbag
Curtain shield airbags
AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG
OFF indicator lights
Side airbags for the front pas-
sengers
Side and curtain shield airbag
sensors
Curtain shield airbag sensors
Side airbags for the rear out-
side passengers (if equipped)
SRS warning light
Driver airbag
Driver's seat position sensor
Knee airbags
Driver's seat belt buckle switch
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Airbag sensor assembly
Occupant detection system
(ECU and sensors)
Front airbag sensors

79
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The SRS air-
bag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sen-
sor assembly consists of a safing sensor and an airbag sensor.
In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag system
triggers the airbag inflators. A chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying (inflating)
SRS airbag.
●A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the seats, and parts of the front pillar, rear pillar and roof side rail, may be
hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The front windshield may crack.
■SRS airbag deployment conditions (front airbags)
●The front SRS airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds the
set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to a 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30
km/h] frontal collision with a fixed wall that does not move or deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in
which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
●It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the vehi-
cle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the
seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.
●The SRS front passenger airbag will not activate if there is no passenger sitting
in the front passenger seat. However, the front passenger airbag may deploy if
luggage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is fastened, even if the seat is unoccu-
pied. (
→P. 8 8 )

136
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
AFS (vehicles with discharge headlights)AFS (Adaptive Front lighting System) improves visibility at intersections
and on curves by automatically adjusting the direction of light axis of the
headlights according to vehicle speed and the degree of the tire angle
that are controlled by steering input.
Operates at speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
■ Deactivating AFS
Turn the switch OFF to deactivate
AFS.
OFF
ON
■Daytime running light system
To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, the headlights turn on automati-
cally (at a reduced intensity) whenever the engine is started and the parking brake
is released. Daytime running lights are not designed for use at night.
■Headlight control sensor
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that blocks the sensor is affixed to the wind-
shield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight control system to mal-
function.

137
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
■Automatic light off system
●When the headlights come on: The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds
after all doors are closed with the “ENGINE START STOP” switch switched to
ACCESSORY mode or turned OFF. (The light turns off immediately if
the button on the key is pressed after all doors are locked.)
●When only the tail lights come on: The tail lights turn off automatically if the
“ENGINE START STOP” switch is switched to ACCESSORY mode or turned
OFF and driver’s door is opened.
To turn the lights on again, switch to IGNITION ON mode, or turn the light switch
OFF once and then back to the
or position.
■Automatic headlight leveling system (vehicles with discharge headlights)
The level of the headlights is automatically adjusted according to the number of
passengers and the loading condition of the vehicle to ensure that the headlights do
not interfere with other road users.
■If the indicator flashes... (vehicles with discharge headlights)
It may indicate a malfunction in the system. Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Customization that can be configured at Lexus dealer
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed. (Customizable features →P.
447)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the engine is not running.

140
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
Wash/wipe operation
Wipers operate automatically.
■Rain-sensing windshield wipers (if equipped)
With AUTO selected, the wipers will operate automatically when
the sensor detects falling rain. The system automatically adjusts
wiper timing in accordance with rain volume and vehicle speed.
Rain-sensing windshield
wiper operation
Low speed windshield wiper
operation
High speed windshield wiper
operation
Temporary operation

141
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
ES350_U_(L/O_0808)
■The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■Rain drop sensor (vehicles equipped with the rain-sensing windshield wipers)
■AUTO mode
If the wiper switch is turned to AUTO position while the “ENGINE START STOP”
switch is in IGNITION ON mode, the wiper will operate once to show that AUTO
mode is activated.
Sensor sensitivity (high)
Sensor sensitivity (low)
Wash/wipe operation
Wipers operate automatically.
(With AUTO selected, after
operating several times, the wip-
ers operate one more time after
a short delay to prevent drip-
ping.)
The sensor judges the amount of raindrops.