steering Lexus IS F 2011 Owner's Guide

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
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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, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the front 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 windshield may crack.
SRS airbag deployment conditions (front airbags)
The SRS front airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds
the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approxi-
mately 20 - 30 km/h [12 - 18 mph] 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 vehicle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front
airbags and the seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.
SRS airbag deployment conditions (side and curtain shield airbags)
The SRS side airbags and SRS curtain shield airbags will deploy in the
event of an impact that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force
corresponding to the impact force produced by an approximately 1500 kg
[3300 lb.] vehicle colliding with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpen-
dicular to the vehicle orientation at an approximate speed of 20 - 30 km/h
[12 - 18 mph]).

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1-7. Safety information
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When to contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly
qualified and equipped professional
In the following cases, contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional, as soon as possible.
Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
The front of the vehicle is damaged or
deformed, or was involved in an acci-
dent that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS airbags to inflate.
A portion of the doors is damaged or
deformed, or the vehicle was involved
in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the SRS side airbags
and curtain shield airbags to inflate.
The pad section of the steering wheel,
front passenger airbag cover or lower
portion of the instrument panel is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
The surface of the seats with the side
airbag is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.
The portion of the front pillars, rear
pillars or roof side rail garnishes (pad-
ding) containing the curtain shield air-
bags inside is scratched, cracked, or
otherwise damaged.

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
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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.
Since the risk zone for driver airbag is the first 50 - 75 mm (2 - 3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10 in.) from your driver airbag pro-
vides 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 250
mm (10 in.) 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
pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat.
Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 250 mm
(10 in.) 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 above, while still maintain-
ing control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instru-
ment panel controls.

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
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CAUTION
SRS airbag precautions
Do not lean against the door, the roof
side rail or the front, side and rear pil-
lars.
Do not allow anyone to kneel on the
passenger seat toward the door or put
their head or hands outside the vehicle.
Do not attach anything to or lean any-
thing against areas such as the dash-
board, steering wheel pad or lower
portion of the instrument panel.
These items can become projectiles
when SRS driver, front passenger and
knee airbags deploy.
Do not attach anything to areas such as
the door, windshield glass, side door
glass, front and rear pillars, roof side
rail or assist grip.
Do not hang coat hangers or other hard
objects on the coat hooks. All of these
items could become projectiles and
seriously injure or kill you, should the
SRS curtain shield airbag deploy.

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1-7. Safety information
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CAUTION
SRS airbag precautions
If a vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS knee airbag will deploy,
be sure to remove it.
Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts where the SRS side air-
bags inflate as they may interfere with inflation of the airbags.
Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area of the SRS air-
bag components shown on P. 106.
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
Do not touch any of the component parts immediately after the SRS air-
bags have deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.
If breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbag has deployed, open a
door or window to allow fresh air in, or leave the vehicle if it is safe to do
so. Wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent skin irritation.
If the areas where the SRS airbags are stored, such as the steering wheel
pad and front pillar garnish, are damaged or cracked, have them replaced
by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional.

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
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CAUTION
Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifica-
tions without consulting any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another
duly qualified and equipped professional.
The SRS airbags may malfunction or deploy (inflate) accidentally, causing
death or serious injury.
Installation, removal, disassembly and repair of the SRS airbags
Repairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel,
instrument panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, side and rear
pillars or roof side rails.
Repairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the
occupant compartment
Installation of snow plows, winches, etc. to the front grille (bull bars, kan-
garoo bar etc.)
Modifications to the vehicle's suspension system
Installation of electronic devices such as an RF-transmitter system or CD
players
Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
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Driving in the rain
Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road sur-
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driv-
ing. This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implemen-
tation to meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
When the accelerator pedal is released
Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recom-
mended to observe:
For the first 300 km (186 miles):
Avoid sudden stops.
For the first 1000 km (621 miles):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of
brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or when-
ever the parking brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have any authorized
Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional, perform the bedding down.
Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the avail-
ability of the correct fuel. (P. 4 7 4 )

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When starting off
To prevent the vehicle from creeping forward, keep the brake pedal firmly
depressed when shifting the shift lever.
When driving the vehicle
Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident
that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi-
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the
vehicle only slightly, allowing you to depress the brake and accelerator
pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materi-
als.
Do not let the vehicle roll backwards while the shift lever is in a driving
position, or roll forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering
performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the trunk is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehicle can
cause driver drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a serious
health hazard. Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer
or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional, immedi-
ately.
Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
Do not shift the shift lever to D while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle
control.

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
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CAUTION
Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the
engine from the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N is
selected.
During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off
while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the
power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more difficult
to steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as
it is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible
to stop the vehicle in the normal way: P. 4 6 9
Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. (P. 153, 155)
When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing
an accident.
Do not adjust the position of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control that can cause accidents
that may result in death or serious injury.
Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their bod-
ies are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
When driving on slippery road surfaces
Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.
After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are
wet and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, result-
ing in an accident.

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
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NOTICE
When parking the vehicle
Always put the shift lever in P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed.
Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually press the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
The vehicle will make abnormal sounds.
The vehicle will behave abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire (P. 446)
NOTICE
When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle.
Engine stalling
Short in electrical components
Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly quali-
fied and equipped professional check the following.
Brake function
Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, trans-
mission, differential, etc.
Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints
(where possible) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.