2008 Lexus RX 400h Owners Manual - Page 175

2-5. Driving information CAUTION n Off-road driving precautions Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of serious personal injury or damage to your vehicle: l Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous places. l Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and especially your thumbs on the outside of the rim. l Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand, 2 When driving mud, water or snow. l After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown or fire could occur. l When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage to your vehicle's suspension and chassis. NOTICE n To prevent the water damage Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the hybrid battery, hybrid system or other components does not occur. l Water entering the engine compartment may cause severe damage to the hybrid system. Water entering the interior may cause the hybrid battery stowed under the rear seats to short circuit. l Water entering the hybrid transaxle will cause deterioration in transmission qual- ity. The malfunction indicator may come on, and the vehicle may not be drivable. l Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature failure, and may also enter the transaxle case, reducing the gear oil's lubricating qualities. 177