2012 Lexus HS250h brake

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2-5. Driving information
HS250h_U_75050U
CAUTION
■Things that must not be carried in the trunk
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations as the item may
get under the brake or accelerator pedal and prevent the pedals from being
depressed properly, block the driver’s vision, or hit the driver or passengers,
causing an accident:
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
•On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment, as they may shift and injure some-
one during sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less than the total
load capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper loading may cause dete-
rioration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.

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2-5. Driving information
HS250h_U_75050U
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the
vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the
prevailing weather conditions.
■Pre-winter preparations
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tempera-
tures.
• Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
● Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of
tire chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match
the size of the tires.
■ Before driving the vehicle
Perform the following according to the driving conditions:
●Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is fro-
zen. Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe
away the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.
● To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan,
remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in
front of the windshield.
● Remove any ice that has accumulated on the vehicle chassis.
● Periodically check for and remove any excess ice or snow that
may have accumulated in the wheel well or on the brakes.
■ When driving the vehicle
Accelerate the vehicle slowly and drive at a reduced speed suitable to the
road conditions.

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2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
HS250h_U_75050U
Selecting tire chainsUse the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains. Chain size
is regulated for each tire size. Side chain:0.12 in. (3 mm) in diameter
Cross chain: 0.16 in. (4 mm) in diameter
Regulations on the use of tire chains
Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on location
and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing chains.
■ When parking the vehicle
Park the vehicle and shift the shift position to P without setting the
parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from
being released. If necessary, block the wheels to prevent inadvert-
ent sliding or creeping.
■Tire chain installation
Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:
●Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
●Install tire chains on the front tires only. Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
●Install tire chains on front tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after driv-
ing 1 /4  1 /2 mile (0.5  1.0 km).
●Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.

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4-2. Maintenance
HS250h_U_75050U
General maintenance
Engine compartment
Tr u n k
ItemsCheck points
Brake fluidIs the brake fluid at the correct level?(→ P. 4 4 5 )
CoolantIs the engine coolant at the correct
level? (→ P. 4 4 2 )
Engine oilIs the engine oil at the correct level?
(→ P. 4 3 9 )
Exhaust systemThere should not be any fumes or
strange sounds.
Radiator/condenser
The radiator and condenser should
be free from foreign objects.
(→ P. 444)
Wa s h e r f l u i dIs there sufficient washer fluid?
(→ P. 446)
ItemsCheck points
12-volt batteryCheck the connections. ( →P. 4 4 7 )
Listed below are the general maintenance items that should be performed
at the intervals specified in the “Warranty and Service Guide” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement”. It is recommended that any problem you notice
should be brought to the attention of your Lexus dealer or qualified service
shop for advice.

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4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
HS250h_U_75050U
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal
• The accelerator pedal should move smoothly (without uneven pedal
effort or catching).
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have appro- priate clearance from the floor?
(→ P. 5 6 6 )
• Does the brake pedal have the cor- rect amount of free play?
(→ P. 5 6 6 )
Brakes
• The vehicle should not pull to one
side when the brakes are applied.
• The brakes should work effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel spongy.
• The brake pedal should not get too close to the floor when the brakes
are applied.
Head restraints• Do the head restraints move smoothly and lock securely?
Hybrid transmission “Park” mecha-
nism• Can the vehicle be held securely on an incline with the shift position
in P?
Indicators/buzzers• Do the indicators and buzzers
function properly?
Lights• Do all the lights come on?

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4-2. Maintenance
HS250h_U_75050U
ItemsCheck points
Parking brake
• Does the parking brake pedal move smoothly?
• When parked on a slope and the parking brake is on, is the vehicle
securely stopped?
Seat belts
• Do the seat belts operate smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be dam-
aged.
Seats• Do the seat controls operate prop-erly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steering wheel rotate smoothly?
• Does the steering wheel have the correct amount of free play?
• There should not be any strange sounds coming from the steering
wheel.

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4
Maintenance and care
HS250h_U_75050U
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself, be sure to follow the correct pro-
cedure as given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
12-volt battery condition ( →P. 4 4 7 )
•Grease
•Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level ( →P. 4 4 5 )
• FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE
J1703 brake fluid
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine/power control unit coolant
level (→ P. 4 4 2 )
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
or a similar high quality ethylene
glycol based non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrite and non-borate
coolant with long-life hybrid
organic acid technology.
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
is pre-mixed with 50% coolant and
50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
is pre-mixed with 55% coolant and
45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding cool- ant)

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HS250h_U_75050U
CAUTION
■When raising your vehicle
Make sure to observe the following precautions to reduce the possibility of death or
serious injury:
●When using a floor jack, follow the instructions of the manual provided with the
jack.
●Do not use the jack that was supplied with your vehicle.
●Do not put any part of your body underneath the vehicle when it is supported
only by the floor jack.
●Always use floor jack and/or automotive jack stands on a solid, flat, level surface.
●Do not start the hybrid system while the vehicle is supported by the floor jack.
●Stop the vehicle on level, firm ground, firmly set the parking brake and push the P
position switch.
●Make sure to set the floor jack properly at the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with an improperly positioned floor jack will damage the vehi-
cle and may cause the vehicle to fall off the floor jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in the vehicle.
●When raising the vehicle, do not place any object on top of or underneath the
floor jack.
●Lift up the vehicle using a floor jack such as
the one shown in the illustration.