steering lexus LFA 2012 Technical Information / LEXUS 2012 LFA (OM77006U) Owner's Manual

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1-7. Safety information
The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The SRS air-
bag system is controlled by the airb ag 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 chemica l reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to he lp restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasion s 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 seats may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●For Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event of a
severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emergency call to
the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location (without needing to
push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to speak with the occupants
to ascertain the level of emergency and assistance required. If the occupants
are unable to communicate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emer-
gency and helps to dispatch the necessary emergency services. ( P. 2 1 9 )

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
■When to contact your Lexus dealer
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer 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 accident
that was not severe enough to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate.
●The seat belt is torn, worn or otherwise
damaged in an accident that was not
severe enough to cause the SRS seat belt
airbags to inflate.
●The pad section of the steering wheel,
dashboard near the passenger airbag,
lower portion of the instrument panel, or
the seat belt is scratched, cracked, or oth-
erwise damaged.

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1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and passenger 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 the driver airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of infla-
tion, 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 pedals
comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many dr ivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm)
distance, even with the driver’s 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, or raise the seat if your vehicle
has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, ti lt 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
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Wear the seat belt correctly.
●If a vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS knee airbag will deploy, be sure to
remove it.
●Do not wrap seat belt covers or other such items around the area where the SRS
seat belt air bag will inflate.
●Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area of the SRS airbag
components shown on P. 63.
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
●Do not touch any of the component parts immediately after the SRS airbags 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/or seat belt, are damaged or cracked, have them replaced by your Lexus
dealer.

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications with-
out consulting your Lexus dealer.
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 replace ment of the steering wheel, instrument
panel, dashboard or seat belt.
●Repairs or modifications of the front fender or front bumper.
●Installation of snow plows, winches, etc. to the front grille (bull bars, kangaroo bar
etc.).
●Modifications to the vehi cle's suspension system.
●Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios or CD players.
●Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability.

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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■When parking the vehicle
P. 1 1 0
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the
correct fuel. ( P. 3 6 0 )
CAUTION
■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 accelerato r pedal instead of the brake pedal will
result in sudden acceleration that may le ad to an accident that could result in
death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your bo dy 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. This allows you to depress the brake and accelerator pedals
properly.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
●If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and check
that the rear hatch 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 select Neutral while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause insufficient engine braking, resulting in an accident.
●Do not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering 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.

92
2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
●Do not adjust the positions 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, resulting
in death or serious injury.
●Always check that all occupants’ arms, heads and other body parts are not out-
side the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steer ing may cause tire slippage and reduce
your ability to control the vehi cle, resulting in an accident.
●Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-shifting
and down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a pudd le, 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 on ly one side are wet and not functioning
properly, steering control may be af fected, resulting in an accident.
■When operating the paddle shift switches/reverse selector switch
Do not operate the paddle shift switches or reverse selector switch with the accel-
erator pedal depressed and Neutral selected.
Doing so may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause
an accident and result in death or serious injury.
■If a brake pad wear warning message is displayed
Have your Lexus dealer check and replac e the brake pads as soon as possible.
The disc damage can result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
Moderate levels of the brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced braking power. As
a result, the discs may wear more quickly than conventional brake discs. Therefore,
when replacing the brake pads, Lexus recommends that you also have the thick-
ness of the discs measured.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or
those of the brake discs are exceeded.

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2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during driving.
If the brake pedal is depressed whil e driving with the accelerator pedal
depressed, driving torque may be restrained.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at
the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill. Doing so may damage the clutch.
■When parking the vehicle
●Parking with the rear of the vehicle close to a wall or similar structure may cause
the area around the exhaust pipes to over heat. As this may result in damage to
the rear bumper or other components, be sure to park the vehicle rear end as far
away as possible from walls and other such structures.
●When it rains, do not park on a slope with an angle of 15 degrees or more, as rain-
water may enter the vehicle. If parking at such an angle is unavoidable, use wheel
chocks and place a car cover over the vehicle.
■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, be careful and drive as slowly as possible
to avoid damaging the wheels, tires, 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 depress the brak e pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P. 3 3 2 )

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2-1. Driving procedures
Ignition switch
■Starting the engine
Sit in the driver’s seat and firmly depress the brake pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the
“ON” position.
The current gear will be displayed
on the meter as a blinking symbol.
Pull both paddle shift switches at
the same time.
“N” will be displayed in the gear
indicator.
The indicator light on the steering
wheel illuminates in red.
Press the “ENGINE START”
switch.
After one press, the engine will
crank until it starts or for up to 20
seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal until the engine is completely
started.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■Changing the ignition switch positions
“LOCK”
The steering wheel is locked and
the key can be removed.
“A C C ”
Some electrical components such
as the power outlet can be used.
“ON”
All electrical components can be
used.
■Turning the key from “ACC” to “LOCK”
■Default driving mode
AUTO driving mode will be automatically se lected each time the engine is started.
(  P. 1 0 4 )
Push in the key and turn it to the “LOCK”
position.