steering LEXUS RX350 2011 Service Manual

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1-3. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1

Before driving
nAutomatic adjustment of the mirror angle (vehicles with driving position mem-
ory)
A desired mirror face angle can be entered to memory and recalled automatically
by the driving position memory. (→P. 7 0 )
nAuto anti-glare function (if equipped)
When the anti-glare inside rear view mirror is set to automatic mode, the outside
rear view mirrors will activate in conjunction with the anti-glare inside rear view mir-
ror to reduce reflected light. (→P. 8 5 )
CAUTION
nWhen driving the vehicle
Observe the following precautions while driving.
Failing to do so may result in loss of control of the vehicle and cause an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
lDo not adjust the mirrors while driving.
lDo not drive with the mirrors folded.
lBoth the driver and passenger side mirrors must be extended and properly
adjusted before driving.
nWhen a mirror is moving
To avoid personal injury and mirror malfunction, be careful not to get your hand
caught by the moving mirror.
nWhen the mirror defoggers are operating
Do not touch the rear view mirror surfaces, as they can become very hot and burn
you.

107
1

Before driving
1-7. Safety information
Correct driving posture
Drive in a good posture as follows:
Sit upright and well back in
the seat. (→P. 6 1 )
Adjust the position of the seat
forward or backward to
ensure the pedals can be
reached and easily
depressed to the extent
required. (→P. 6 1 )
Adjust the seatback so that
the controls are easily opera-
ble. (→P. 6 1 )
Adjust the tilt and telescopic
positions of the steering
wheel downward so the air-
bag is facing your chest.
(→P. 8 3 )
Lock the head restraint in
place with the center of the
head restraint closest to the
top of your ears. (→P. 7 3 )
Wear the seat belt correctly.
(→P. 7 5 )

112
1-7. Safety information
The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The SRS air-
bag system is controlled by the airbag 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 chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
nIf the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
lBruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying (inflating)
SRS airbag.
lA loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
lParts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the seats, and parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side rails, may
be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
lThe windshield may crack.
lFor 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. 4 3 6 )

116
1-7. Safety information
nWhen to contact your Lexus dealer
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
lAny of the SRS airbags has been inflated.
lThe 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.
lA 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.
lThe pad section of the steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag
or lower portion of the instrument panel is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
lThe surface of the seats with the side air-
bag is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.
lThe portion of the front pillars, rear pillars
or roof side rail garnishes (padding) con-
taining the curtain shield airbags inside is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.

117
1-7. Safety information
1

Before driving
CAUTION
nSRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
lThe 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.
lThe 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’s 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:

120
1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
nSRS airbag precautions
lIf a vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS knee airbags will deploy, be sure
to remove it.
lDo not use seat accessories which cover the parts where the SRS side airbags
inflate as they may interfere with inflation of the airbags. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly, disable the system or cause the
side airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
lDo not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area of the SRS airbag
components.
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
lDo not touch any of the component parts immediately after the SRS airbags have
deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.
lIf breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbags have 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.
lIf the areas where the SRS airbags are stored, such as the steering wheel pad and
front and rear pillar garnishes, are damaged or cracked, have them replaced by
your Lexus dealer.
lDo not attach anything to or lean anything
against areas such as the dashboard, steer-
ing wheel pad or lower portion of the
instrument panel.
These items can become projectiles when
SRS driver, front passenger and knee air-
bags deploy.
lDo not attach anything to areas such as the
door, windshield glass, side door glass,
front and rear pillars, roof side rail or assist
grip.
lDo not hang coat hangers or other hard
objects on the coat hooks. All of these
items could become projectiles and may
cause death or serious injury, should the
SRS curtain shield airbags deploy.

121
1-7. Safety information
1

Before driving
CAUTION
nSRS airbag precautions
lDo 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 SRS front passenger airbag may
not deploy in the event of a collision.
nModification 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.
lInstallation, removal, disassembly and repair of the SRS airbags
lRepairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel, instrument
panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, side and rear pillars or roof side
rails
lRepairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the occupant
compartment
lInstallation of snow plows, winches, etc. to the front grille (bull bars or kangaroo
bar etc.)
lModifications to the vehicle's suspension system
lInstallation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios or CD players
lModifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability

145
2-1. Driving procedures
2

When driving
nDriving in the rain
lDrive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows
may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
lDrive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially
slippery.
lRefrain 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 surface, preventing
the steering and brakes from operating properly.
nBreaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
lFor the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
lFor the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
lFor the first 1000 miles (1600 km):

147
2-1. Driving procedures
2

When driving
CAUTION
lDo not under any circumstances shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is mov-
ing forward.
Doing so can cause significant damage to the driveline and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
lDo not shift the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so may cause insufficient engine braking, resulting in an accident.
lDo not turn the engine off while driving.
The power steering and brake booster will not operate properly if the engine is
not running.
lUse 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 5 9 )
lWhen stopped on an incline, use the brake pedal and parking brake to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backward or forward, causing an accident.
lDo 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, resulting
in death or serious injury.
lAlways check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their body are not
outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
lDo 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.

148
2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
nWhen driving on slippery road surfaces
lSudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce
your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
lSudden 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.
lAfter 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.
nWhen shifting the shift lever
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.
nWhen the vehicle is stopped
lDo not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
lDo 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.
lIn order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the parking
brake as necessary.
lIf the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the
vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely
apply the parking brake as needed.
lAvoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the
exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is
nearby.