engine LEXUS RX400H 2008 Owners Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
RX400h_U
2
1-1. Hybrid system ............................... 24Hybrid system................................... 24
1-2. Key information ........................... 34 Keys ...................................................... 34
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors...................................... 36
Wireless remote control .............. 36
Side doors .......................................... 39
Back door ........................................... 44
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors,
steering wheel) .......................... 49
Front seats .......................................... 49
Rear seats ........................................... 52
Driving position memory ............. 55
Head restraints................................. 57
Seat belts ........................................... 58
Steering wheel (manually adjustable type) ....... 65
Steering wheel (power-adjustable type)............ 66
Anti-glare inside rear view mirror ................................................ 67
Outside rear view mirrors ........... 68
Roof luggage carrier ..................... 70 1-5. Opening and closing the
windows and moon roof .......... 72
Power windows................................ 72
Moon roof .......................................... 75
1-6. Refueling ........................................ 78 Opening the fuel tank cap........... 78
1-7. Theft deterrent system.............. 83 Hybrid vehicle immobilizer system ............................................... 83
Alarm................................................... 85
Theft prevention labels (U.S.A.) ............................................ 88
1-8. Safety information ...................... 89 Correct driving posture ............... 89
SRS airbags ........................................ 91
Front passenger occupant classification system .................. 103
Child restraint systems ............... 108
Installing child restraints ............... 112
2-1. Driving procedures................... 122 Driving the vehicle ........................ 122
Engine (ignition) switch ................ 131
Transmission ................................... 135
Turn signal lever............................. 136
Parking brake ................................. 137
1Before driving
2When driving

TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex
RX400h_U
4
Using the DVD player (MP3 discs) ................................. 249
Using the video mode ................. 251
Changing the initial setting ...... 253
3-4. Using the interior lights .......... 260 Interior lights list........................... 260
• Interior lights ............................... 263
• Personal lights ............................ 264
3-5. Using the storage features .... 265 List of storage features............... 265
• Glove box..................................... 265
• Console boxes ........................... 266
• Coin holder................................. 268
• Overhead console.................... 269
• Cup holders................................. 269
• Door pockets ............................... 271
3-6. Other interior features........... 272 Sun visors......................................... 272
Vanity mirror .................................. 273
Clock ................................................. 274
Outside temperature display ............................................ 275
Multi-display light control ......... 276
Power outlets ................................. 277
Seat heaters ................................... 280
Armrest ............................................ 282
Floor mat......................................... 283
Luggage compartment features......................................... 284
Garage door opener.................. 287
Compass.......................................... 292 4-1. Maintenance and care............ 298
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ......................... 298
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior............................. 301
4-2. Maintenance............................. 304 Maintenance requirements .... 304
General maintenance ............... 306
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ..................................... 309
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance ... 310 Do-it-yourself service precautions ................................... 310
Hood................................................... 313
Positioning a floor jack................ 314
Engine compartment................... 316
Tires .................................................... 331
Tire inflation pressure................ 340
Wheels.............................................. 344
Air conditioning filter.................. 346
Wireless remote control battery ........................................... 348
Rear seat entertainment system controller...................... 350
Checking and replacing fuses ................................................ 352
4Maintenance and care

14
Pictorial indexInstrument panel
Headlight switch Turn signal lever Fog light switch P. 148
P. 136
P. 151
Power back door main switch ∗ P. 45
Tilt steering lock release lever ∗ P. 65
Tilt and telescopic steering control switch ∗ P. 66
Parking brake pedal P. 137
Tire pressure warning reset switch P. 332
Hood release lever P. 313
Gauges and meters P. 138
Audio remote control switches P. 231
Glove box P. 265
Tire pressure warning select switch P. 335
Engine (ignition) switch P. 131

24
RX400h_U
1-1. Hybrid system
Hybrid system
Your vehicle is a hybrid vehicle. It has characteristics different from con-
ventional vehicles. Be sure you are closely familiar with the characteristics
of your vehicle, and operate with care.
The hybrid system combines a gasoline engine and an electric motor (trac-
tion motor) according to driving conditions, improving fuel efficiency and
reducing exhaust emissions.
Gasoline engine
Front electric motor (traction motor)
Rear electric motor (traction motor)*
*: With AWD models only
■ When stopped/during take-off
The gasoline engine stops when the vehicle is stopped. During take-
off, the electric motor (traction motor) drives the vehicle. At slow
speeds or when traveling down a gentle slope, the engine is stopped
and the motor is used.

25
1-1. Hybrid system
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
■Regenerative braking
The motor generator converts kinetic energy to electric energy when:
●The accelerator pedal is released.
●The brake pedal is depressed with the shift lever in D.
■Conditions in which the gasoline engine may not stop
The gasoline engine starts and stops automatically. However, it may not stop auto-
matically in the following conditions:
●During gasoline engine warm-up
●During hybrid battery (traction battery) charging
●During low or high hybrid battery (traction battery) temperature
■Charging the battery
●As the gasoline engine charges the hybrid battery (traction battery), the battery
does not need to be charged from an outside source. However, if the vehicle is
left parked for a long time the hybrid battery will slowly discharge. For this rea-
son, be sure to drive the vehicle at least once every several months for at least
30 minutes or 10 miles (16 km). If the hybrid battery becomes fully discharged
and you are unable to jump-start the vehicle with the battery, contact your
Lexus dealer.
●If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) will not be charged.
When driving in heavy traffic, operate the vehicle with the shift lever in D to
avoid discharging the battery.
■During normal driving
The gasoline engine is predominantly used. The electric motor
(traction motor) charges the hybrid battery as necessary.
■ When accelerating sharply
The power of the hybrid battery (traction battery) is added via elec-
tric motor (traction motor) to that of the gasoline engine.
■ When braking (regenerative brake)
The electric motor (traction motor) charges the hybrid battery
(traction battery).

26
1-1. Hybrid system
RX400h_U
■After the 12-volt battery has discharged or has been changed or removed
The gasoline engine may not stop even if the vehicle is running on the hybrid battery
(traction battery). If this continues for a few days, contact your Lexus dealer.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
There may be no engine sounds or vibration even though the vehicle is able to
move. Always put the shift lever in P when parked.
The following sounds or vibrations may occur when the hybrid system is operating,
and are not a malfunction.
●Motor sounds may be heard from the engine compartment.
●Sounds may be heard from the hybrid battery (traction battery) behind the rear
seat when the hybrid system starts or stops.
●Sounds may be heard from the transmission when the hybrid system starts or
stops, or while the vehicle is idling.
●Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
●Sounds may be heard from the regenerative brake when you press the brake
pedal.
●Vibration may be felt when the gasoline engine starts or stops.
●You may hear cooling fan sounds coming from the air intake vents under the
rear seat.
■Maintenance, repair, recycling, and disposal
Contact your Lexus dealer regarding maintenance, repair, recycling and disposal.
Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself.

29
1-1. Hybrid system
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
Navigation system screenMulti-information display
When the vehicle is
powered by the elec-
tric motor (traction
motor)
When the vehicle is
powered by both the
gasoline engine and the
electric motor (traction
motor)
When the vehicle is
powered by the
gasoline engine
When the vehicle is
charging the hybrid
battery (traction
battery)
When there is no
energy flow
Hybrid battery
(traction battery) statusLowFullLowFull

40
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
RX400h_U
Locking the front doors from the outside without a key
The door cannot be locked if either of the front doors is open and the key
is in the engine switch.
Rear door child-protector lock
The rear door cannot be
opened from inside the vehicle
when the locks are set.
These locks can be set to prevent
children from opening the rear
doors. Push down on each rear
door switch to lock both rear
doors.
■Inside lock button
Locks the door
Unlocks the door
The front doors can be opened
by pulling the inside handle even
if the lock buttons are in the lock
position.

41
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
Automatic door locking and unlocking systems
The following functions can be set or cancelled:
To switch between setting and canceling, follow the procedure below: Close all the doors and turn the engine switch to the ON position.
(Perform the step 2 within 10 seconds.)
Shift the shift lever to P or N, and press and hold the driver's door
lock switch (
or ) for approximately 5 seconds and then
release.
The shift lever and switch positions corresponding to the desired func-
tion to be set or canceled are shown as follows.

FunctionOperation
Shift position linked door
locking functionShifting the shift lever out of P locks all doors.
Shift position linked door
unlocking functionShifting the shift lever to P unlocks all doors.
Speed linked door locking
functionAll doors are locked when the vehicle speed is
approximately 12 mph (20 km/h) or higher.
Driver's door linked door
unlocking functionAll doors are unlocked when the driver's door is
opened within 10 seconds after turning the engine
switch to the LOCK position.
STEP1
STEP2

47
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
■The power back door can be opened when
The engine switch is in the ON position, and the shift lever is in P.
■Jam protection function
If anything obstructs the power back door while it is closing/opening, the back door
will automatically operate in the opposite direction.
■If the power back door does not work
The back door must be initialized. To initialize, close the back door completely by
hand.
■Customization that can be configured at Lexus dealer
Settings (e.g. beep sound) can be changed. (Customizable features →P. 4 5 8 )
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Falling to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■Keep the back door closed while driving
If the back door is opening, the luggage will be thrown out and exhaust gases will be
entered in the vehicle.
■When the back door is opened while parking
The open back door hides the rear lights. Other road users must be warned of the
presence of your vehicle by a warning triangle or other device.
■Operating the power back door
●Check to make sure that passengers do not have any part of their body in a posi-
tion where it could be caught or hit when the back door is being operated.
●Careful attention is needed so as not to get your fingers trapped as the back door
automatically closes when it has not been fully closed.
●Do not allow children to operate the back door.
Closing the back door on someone can cause serious injury, and in some
instances, even death.