2012 Lexus HS250h brake

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5-1. Essential information
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If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towingThe following may indicate a problem with your hybrid transmission.
Contact your Lexus dealer before towing.
● The hybrid system is operating but the vehicle will not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing
If a tow truck is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or
chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelet(s). This should only
be attempted on hard surfaced
roads for short distances at under
18 mph (30 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to
steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles,
steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by your
Lexus dealer or a commercial towing service, using a lift-type truck or a
flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/provincial
and local laws.

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5-1. Essential information
HS250h_U_75050UTighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut wrench.
Towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
Towing with a wheel-lift type truckFrom the front Release the parking brake.

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5-1. Essential information
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■Before emergency towingTurn the “POWER” switch to ON mode. ( →P. 1 5 3 )
Do not turn the “POWER” switch to ACCESSORY mode.
Release the parking brake.
Change the shift position to N.
When the “POWER” switch is in ACCESSORY mode, the shift position
cannot be changed to N.
■Emergency towing eyelet location
→ P. 5 3 2
CAUTION
■Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which would place excessive
stress on the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains. Always be cau-
tious of the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
●Do not turn off the power switch.
This may lead to accidents as the parking lock will be engaged.
●If the hybrid system is off, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle
Make sure that the towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, the towing eyelets may come loose during towing. This may
lead to accidents that cause serious injury or even death.

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5-1. Essential information
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If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
■Visible symptoms
● Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● High engine coolant temperature warning light flashes or comes
on
■ Audible symptoms
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
■ Operational symptoms
● Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road.
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds...
Stop the vehicle immediately. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
The following warning indicates a possible problem in the brake system.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
*: Brake system warning buzzer
When there is a possible problem that could affect braking performance, the
warning light will come on and a warning buzzer will sound.
Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
→ P. 5 1 6
Stop the vehicl e immediately.
The following warning indicates the possibility of damage to the vehicle
that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and contact your Lexus dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(U.S.A.)

(Canada)
Brake system warning li ght and warning buzzer*
•Low brake fluid
• Malfunction in the brake system This light also comes on when the parking brake is not
released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is fully
released the system is operating normally.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights comes on
or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then goes off, this does not nec-
essarily indicate a malfunction in the system. However, if this continues to
occur, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to the
system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
High engine coolant temperatur e warning light (flashes or
comes on)
Indicates that the engine is overheating →P. 552
• Flashes: Engine is overheating. Drive carefully.
• Comes on: Engine is overheated. Stop the vehicle.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Brake system warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The regenerative brake system; or
• The electronically controlled brake system
(U.S.A.)

(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lampIndicates a malfunction in:
• The hybrid system;
• The electronic engine control system;
• The electronic throttle control system; or
• The hybrid transmission control system
SRS warning light
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• The front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system
(U.S.A.)

(Canada)
“ABS” warning lightIndicates a malfunction in:
•The ABS; or
• The brake assist system
Warning lightWarning light/Details

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute
when the “POWER” switch is turned to ON mode, have it checked by your Lexus
dealer.
■Customization that can be configured at Lexus dealer
The vehicle speed linked seat belt reminder buzzer can be disabled.
(Customizable features →P. 5 8 4 )
CAUTION
■When the electric power steering system warning light comes on
The steering wheel may become extremely heavy.
If the steering wheel becomes heavier than usual when operating, hold firmly and
operate it using more force than usual.
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could cause loss of
vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire inflation pres-
sure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjust-
ment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires. If a tire is flat, change
it with the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Lexus dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you could
lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.

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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.A buzzer sounds and a warning message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display. Failure to investigate the cause of the following warnings may
lead to the system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
Wa r n i n g m e s s a g eDetails
Indicates a malfunction in the P position control A buzzer also sounds.
In this situation, there is a possibility that the parking
lock mechanism will not work.
When parking, park the vehicle on a flat surface and
apply the parking brake securely. Also, it may not be
possible to turn the “POWER” switch off. If this hap-
pens, applying the parking brake will enable the
switch to be turned off.
(Flashes)
(If equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in the LED headlight system A buzzer also sounds.
(Flashes)
(If equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in the pre-collision system A buzzer also sounds.