tow Lexus ES350 2016 Quick Guide / LEXUS 2016 ES350 (OM33B64U) User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: LEXUS, Model Year: 2016, Model line: ES350, Model: Lexus ES350 2016Pages: 576, PDF Size: 8.3 MB
Page 147 of 576

ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)
1474-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
■Things that must not be carried in the trunk
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals from being depressed properly, may block the
driver’s vision, or may result in items hittin g the driver or passengers, possibly causing
an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
•On the dashboard
• In front of the navigation system screen or Lexus Display Audio system screen
●Secure all items in th e occupant compartment.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight ra ting or the total vehicle weight rating. 
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less than the total load
capacity, do not apply the load unevenly.  Improper loading may cause deterioration
of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury. 
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ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): 
P.  5 1 2
Total load capacity means the combined  weight of occupants, cargo and lug-
gage. 
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximum number of occupants whose estimated
average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person. 
◆To w i n g  c a p a c i t y
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. 
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrea se depending on the weight and the
number of occupants. 
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the  tire and loading information label. (P. 444)
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity, towing capac-
ity and cargo capacity. 
WA R N I N G
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires,  but also degrade steering and braking ability,
resulting in an accident.  
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149
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Trailer towing
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus also does
not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier
for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc. 
Your vehicle is not designed for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers. 
Page 150 of 576

150
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be ding
hy towed (with 4 wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home. 
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground. 
Page 158 of 576

158
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■S mode
●When the shift range is 4 or lower, holding th
e shift lever toward “+” sets the shift range
to 6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
●To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high.
■When driving with cruise control or  dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions  with the intent of enabling engine braking,
the engine brake will not operate in the S mo de, even when downshifting to 5 or 4. 
(  P.  2 1 7 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some  circumstances, downshifting may  not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even af ter shifting the shift lever to the S position
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately. 
(In this situation, the transmission will operat e in the same manner as when the shift lever
is in the D position.)
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
 P.  4 9 8
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically select s the suitable gear according to driver performance and
driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift  lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever to S
cancels the function.)
WA R N I N G
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause th e vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in an
accident. 
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162
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
With the headlights on, push the
lever away from you to turn on the
high beams. 
Pull the lever toward you to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it to flash the high beams once. 
You can flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) impr
oves visibility at intersections and on
curves by automatically adjusting the lateral angle of the headlights according to
vehicle speed and the degree of the tire angle that are controlled by steering
input.
Operates at speed of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
■Deactivating AFS
Select “AFS” on   (settings display) of the multi-information display.
( P.  7 9 )
Press the meter control switch.
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically whenever the engine is started and the parking
brake is released. (Illuminate brighter than  the parking lights.) Daytime running lights
are not designed for use at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can  be turned off by operating the switch.
●Compared to turning on the headlights, the  daytime running light system offers greater
durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve fuel economy.
■Headlight control sensor
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything that
blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield. 
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight system to malfunction. 
1
2 
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166
ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Camera sensor dete
ction information
●The high beam may not be automatically turned off in the following situations:
• When oncoming vehicles sudd enly appear from a curve
• When the vehicle is cut in front of by another vehicle
• When vehicles ahead are hidden from sight due to repeated curves, road dividers or roadside trees
• When vehicles ahead appear from  the faraway lane on wide road
• When vehicles ahead have no lights
●The high beam may be turned off if a vehicl e ahead that is using fog lights without using
the headlights is detected.
●House lights, street lights, traffic signals,  and illuminated billboards or signs may cause
the high beam to switch to the low be ams, or the low beams to remain on.
●The following factors may affect the amount of time taken to turn the high beam on or
off:
• The brightness of headlights, fog lights, and tail lights of vehicles ahead
• The movement and direction of vehicles ahead
• When a vehicle ahead only has  operational lights on one side
• When a vehicle ahead is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The condition of the road (gradient, curve, condition of the road surface etc.)
• The number of passengers and amount of luggage
●The high beam may be turned on or off when the driver does not expect it.
●Bicycles or similar objects may not be detected.
●In the situations shown below, the system may not be able to accurately detect sur-
rounding brightness levels. This may caus e the low beams to remain on or the high
beams to cause problems for pedestrians, ve hicles ahead or other parties. In these
cases, manually switch between the high and low beams.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• The camera sensor temperature is extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to  those of headlights, tail lights or fog lights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights that are either  switched off, dirty, are
changing color, or are not aimed properly.
• When driving through an area of intermit tently changing brightness and darkness.
• When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel tracks etc.).
• When frequently and repeat edly taking curves or driving on a winding road.
• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aimed properly.
• The vehicle is listing or tilting due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in an abnor- mal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may  be causing problems or distress to other
drivers or pedestrians nearby. 
Page 171 of 576

ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)
1714-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If the wiper switch is turned to AUTO position while the engine switch is in IGNITION
ON mode, the wipers will operate once to  show that AUTO mode is activated.
●When the sensor sensitivity ring is turned toward high while in AUTO mode, the wipers
will operate once to indicate that the sensor sensitivity is enhanced.
●If the temperature of the raindrop sensor  is 185°F (85°C) or higher, or -22°F
(-30°C) or lower, automatic operation ma y not occur. In this case, operate the
wipers in any mode other than AUTO mode.
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked  if there is washer fluid in the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
●The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is ad opted. It may not oper-
ate properly when sunlight from the rising or
setting of the sun intermittently strikes the
windshield, or if bugs etc. are present on the
windshield.
WA R N I N G
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wi pers in AUTO mode (vehicles with rain-
sensing windshield wipers)
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield 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 fl uid until the windshield becomes warm. The
fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause lo w visibility. This may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury. 
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ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled toward you and
held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Lexus dealer. 
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
■When standing the windshield wipers up
Raise the wipers in line with the windshield. (
P.  2 6 2 )
Failure to do so may result in dama ge to the wipers and/or the hood. 
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ES350_OM_OM33B64U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
WA R N I N G
■When to disable the pre-collision system
●In the following situations, disable the syst
em, as it may not operate properly, possibly
leading to an accident resultin g in death or serious injury:
• When the vehicle is being towed
• When your vehicle is towing another vehicle
• When transporting the vehicle via truck, boat, train or similar means of transporta- tion
• When the vehicle is raised on a lift with the engine running and the tires are allowed to rotate freely
• When inspecting the vehicle using a drum  tester such as a chassis dynamometer
or speedometer tester, or when using an on vehicle wheel balancer
• When a strong impact is applied to the fron t bumper or front grille, due to an acci-
dent or other reasons
• If the vehicle cannot be driven in a stable manner, such as when the vehicle has
been in an accident or is malfunctioning
• When the vehicle is driven in a sporty manner or off-road
• When the tires are not properly inflated
• When the tires are very worn
• When tires of a size other  than specified are installed
• When tire chains are installed
• When a compact spare tire or an emergency tire puncture repair kit is used
• If the suspension is modified
• If the front of the vehicle is raised or lo wered, such as when loaded with heavy lug-
gage