tow Lexus IS250 2008 Owner's Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
08_IS350/250_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.
6Ve h i c l e
specificationsDetailed vehicle information.
7For US ownersReporting safety defects for US owners
IndexAlphabetical listing of information contained in this manual.

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2
3
4
5
6
7
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
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2-2. Instrument cluster..................... 130Gauges 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
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger ............. 192
Automatic air conditioning system ............................................. 192
Rear window and outside rear view mirror defoggers ........... 200
3-2. Using the audio system............ 201 Audio system type ........................ 201
Using the radio.............................. 204
Using the CD player...................... 211
Playing back MP3 and WMA discs.................................... 217
Optimal use of the audio system ............................................ 225
Using the AUX adapter............ 228
Using the steering wheel audio switches ............................ 229
3-3. Using the interior lights ........... 231 Interior lights list............................. 231
• Interior lights ............................... 234
• Personal lights ............................ 234
3Interior features

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2
3
4
5
6
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08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
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5-1. Essential information .............. 350If your vehicle needs to be towed............................................. 350
If you think something is wrong ............................................. 356
Fuel pump shut off system ........ 357
Event data recorder ................... 358
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency .............................. 360
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds... ....................................... 360
If a warning message is displayed....................................... 369
If you have a flat tire.................... 382
If the engine will not start ........... 391
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P .............................. 392
If you lose your keys .................... 393
If the electronic key does not operate properly ....................... 394
If the vehicle battery is discharged ................................... 397
If your vehicle overheats .......... 400
If the vehicle becomes stuck................................................ 402 6-1. Specifications............................ 406
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.) ................................ 406
Fuel information............................. 421
Tire information ............................ 424
6-2. Customization .......................... 436 Customizable features .............. 436
6-3. Initialization ................................ 441 Items to initialize ............................ 441
Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners ........................................... 444
Abbreviation list ................................... 446
Alphabetical index............................... 448
What to do if... ....................................... 458
5When trouble arises6Vehicle specifications
7For US owners
Index

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1-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
■Operation signals
A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors have
been locked/unlocked. (Locked: Once; Unlocked: Twice)
■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 from
operating properly:
(Ways of coping:
→P. 3 9 4 )
●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
●When another wireless key (that emits radio waves) is being used nearby
●When carrying or using the electronic key together with the following devices
that emit radio waves
• Another vehicle's electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computer or personal digital assistant (PDA)
• Digital audio player
• Portable game system
●If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the rear
window

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1
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
08_IS350/250_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.
CAUTION
■Head restraint precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the head restraints. Failure to do so
may result in death or serious injury.
●Use the head restraints designed for each respective seat.
●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.

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1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of sudden
braking or an accident.
Failing to do so may cause death or severe injury.
■Wearing a seat belt
●Ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt.
●Always wear a seat belt properly.
●Each seat belt should be used by one person only. Do not use a seat belt for more
than one person at once, including children.
●Lexus recommends that children be seated in the rear seat and always use a seat
belt and/or an appropriate child restraint system.
●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.
■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 seat belt becomes locked: it cannot be fur-
ther extended, nor will it return to the stowed position. The seat belt cannot be
used again and must be replaced at your Lexus dealer.

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1
1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
08_IS350/250_U_(L/O_0708)
Steering wheel (power-adjustable type)
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.
Switching 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.

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
08_IS350/250_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 drivers 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.

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
08_IS350/250_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
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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