light Lexus IS250 2008 Owner's Guide

100
1-7. Safety information
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)While pushing the child seat down
into the rear seat, allow the shoul-
der belt to retract until the child
seat is securely in place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
■
Forward facing  Convertible seat
Place the child seat on the seat
facing the front of the vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the child
seat and insert the plate into the
buckle. Make sure that the belt is
not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder strap and
then allow it to retract slightly into
the ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP4
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

When driving2
107
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
2-1. Driving procedures ....... 108Driving the vehicle................. 108
Engine (ignition) switch .......... 117
Automatic Transmission ........ 122
Manual Transmission.............. 126
Turn signal lever ....................... 128
Parking brake ........................... 129
2-2. Instrument cluster ......... 130 Gauges and meters ................ 130
Indicators and warning lights ......................................... 136
Multi-information display ...................................... 139
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers......... 143
Headlight switch...................... 143
Fog light switch ........................ 146
Windshield wipers and washer ..................................... 147
Headlight cleaner switch....... 151 2-4. Using other driving
systems .......................... 152
Cruise control.......................... 152
Dynamic radar cruise control ..................................... 155
Intuitive parking assist ........... 164
Driving assist systems ............ 170
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ........ 176
2-5. Driving information........ 179 Cargo and luggage ................. 179
Vehicle load limits ................... 182
Winter driving tips .................. 183
Trailer towing ........................... 187
Dinghy towing (vehicles with an automatic
transmission) ......................... 188
Dinghy towing (vehicles with a manual
transmission) ......................... 189

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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Starting on a steep uphillAutomatic transmission Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
Manual transmission
With the parking brake firmly set and the clutch pedal fully
depressed, shift the shift lever into 1.
Lightly depress the accelerator pedal at the same time as gradu-
ally releasing the clutch pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■Parking the vehicle
Automatic transmission
With the shift lever in D, push the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake. (→P. 1 2 9 )
Shift the shift lever to P. (→ P. 122)
Press the “ENGINE START STOP” switch and stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on
your person.
Manual transmission
With the clutch pedal fully depressed, push the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake. (→P. 1 2 9 )
Shift the shift lever into N. (→P. 1 2 6 )
Press the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on
your person.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

111
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
■When starting the vehicle
With automatic transmission vehicles, always keep your foot on the brake pedal
while stopped with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator
pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal willresult 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 difficulty 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 prop-
erly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, resulting in an acci-
dent.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
●With automatic transmission vehicles, 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 perfor-
mance, 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 your Lexus dealer immediately.
●Do not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to P, R or N (automatic trans-
mission vehicles) or R (manual transmission vehicles) while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the transmission system and may result
in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause the engine brake to not operate properly and lead to an
accident.

112
2-1. Driving procedures
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
●Do not turn the engine off while driving.
The brake booster system will not operate properly if the engine is not running.
●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 effec-
tiveness. (→P. 1 2 3 )
●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 bodies are
not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
●Do not drive the vehicle off-road.
This is not a AWD vehicle designed for real off-road driving. Proceed with all due
caution if it becomes unavoidable to drive off-road.
●Do not drive across river crossings or through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/electronic components to short circuit, damage the
engine or cause other serious damage to the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do
not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-speed capability
tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire failure, loss of control and
possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on
your vehicle are high-speed capability tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■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, resulting in an accident.

113
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
■When shifting the shift lever
With automatic transmission vehicles, be careful not to shift the shift lever with the
accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or serious injury.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P (vehicles with an automatic transmission
only) or N the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, and may cause
an accident.
●Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space and
check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
●With automatic transmission vehicles, always keep a foot on the brake pedal
while the engine is running to prevent an accident caused by the vehicle moving.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehi-
cle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following.
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic
material of eye glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle's electrical com-
ponents.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P (vehicles with an auto-
matic transmission only), stop the engine and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately after
turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.

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2-1. Driving procedures
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Turn signal lever
■Turn signals can be operated when
The “ENGINE START STOP” switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■If the indicators flash faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned out.
Left turn
Right turn
Move and hold the lever part-
way to signal a lane change
The left hand signal will flash
until you release the lever.
Move and hold the lever part-
way to signal a lane change
The right hand signal will flash
until you release the lever.

131
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Instrument panel light controlThe brightness of the instrument panel lights can be adjusted. Darker
Brighter
Odometer and trip meter
Odometer: Displays the total distance the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter: Displays the distance the vehicle has been driven sincethe meter was last reset. Trip meters “A” and “B” can be
used to record and display different distances indepen-
dently.
Speed indicator
When the set speed is reached while driving, this ring-shaped indicator
comes on in yellow. The indicator comes on in red when the vehicle speed
reaches the dangerous range.
Fuel gauge
Displays the quantity of fuel remaining in the tank.
Odometer/trip meter and trip meter reset button
Switches between odometer and trip meter displays. Pushing and holding
the button will reset the trip meter when the trip meter is being displayed.

136
2-2. Instrument cluster
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Indicators and warning lights
The indicator and warning lights on the instrument cluster and center
panel inform the driver of the status of the vehicle’s various systems.
Instrument cluster
The units used on the speedometer and the tachometer gauge display may
differ depending on the model/type.

Center panel

137
2-2. Instrument cluster
2
When driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
■Indicators
The indicators inform the driver of the operating state of the vehi-
cle’s various systems.
Turn signal indicator
(
→P. 1 2 8 )(vehicles with
an automatic
transmission)
“ECT SNOW” indicator
(
→P. 1 2 3 )
Headlight high beam indi-
cator (
→P. 1 4 3 )(vehicles with
a manual
transmission)
“ETCS SNOW” indicator
(
→P. 1 2 6 )
(U.S.A.)
Headlight indicator
(
→P. 1 4 3 )(vehicles with
an automatic
transmission)
“ECT PWR” indicator
(
→P. 1 2 3 )
(CANADA)
Tail light indicator
(
→P. 1 4 3 )
Cruise control indicator
(
→P. 1 5 2 )
Front fog light indicator
(
→P. 1 4 6 ) (if equipped)
“AFS OFF” indicator light
(
→P. 144)
(vehicles with an automatic trans-
mission)
Shift position and shift range indica-
tors (
→P. 122)
(if equipped)
Intuitive parking assist
indicator (
→P. 1 6 4 )
Slip indicator (→P. 171)
“VSC OFF” indicator
(
→P. 1 7 2 )
SRS airbag on-off indica-
tor (
→P. 9 0 )
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