2013 Lexus ES300h eco mode

ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
2034-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the “START STOP ENGINE” switch in ACCESSORY or IGNI-
TION ON mode for long periods of time without the engine running.
●If “POWER ON” is displayed on the multi-information display, the “START STOP
ENGINE” switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the “START STOP
ENGINE” switch off.
●Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If the
engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the “START STOP ENGINE”
switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the
vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode, 12-volt battery discharge may occur.
■When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehicle
checked by your Lexus dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the “START STOP ENGINE” switch
If the “START STOP ENGINE” switch seems to be operating somewhat differently
than usual, such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact
your Lexus dealer immediately.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
■When the steering lock cannot be released
■Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be suspended if
the hybrid system is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period of time. In this
case, refrain from operating the hybrid system. After about 10 seconds, the steering
lock motor will resume functioning.
■When “Check Access System with Elec. Key” is displayed on the multi-information
display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
■If the “READY” indicator does not come on
If the “READY” indicator does not come on when you press the “POWER” switch
with the shift lever in P and the brake pedal depressed, contact your Lexus dealer
immediately.
■If the hybrid system is malfunctioning
→P. 76 2
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
→P. 7 1 0
■Operation of the “POWER” switch
●When operating the “POWER” switch, one short, firm press is enough. If the switch
is pressed improperly, the hybrid system may not start or the “POWER” switch
mode may not change. It is not necessary to press and hold the switch.
●If attempting to restart the hybrid system immediately after turning the “POWER”
switch off, the hybrid system may not start in some cases. After turning the
“POWER” switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the hybrid sys-
tem.
■If the smart access system with push-button start has been deactivated in a cus-
tomized setting
→P. 8 0 2
“Steering Lock active” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press the
“POWER” switch while turning the steering
wheel left and right.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the “POWER” switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods of time without the hybrid system on.
●If “POWER ON” is displayed on the multi-information display, the “POWER”
switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the “POWER” switch off.
●Do not stop the hybrid system when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If
the hybrid system is stopped in another shift lever position, the “POWER” switch
will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the vehicle
is left in ACCESSORY mode, 12-volt battery discharge may occur.
■When starting the hybrid system
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
●If the hybrid system becomes difficult to start, have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the “POWER” switch
If the “POWER” switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus
dealer immediately.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
■Switching to EV drive mode when the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gasoline engine
will start automatically in order to warm up. In this case, you will become unable to
switch to EV drive mode.
After the hybrid system has started and the “READY” indicator has illuminated,
press the EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts to switch to EV
drive mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the
following situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will sound and the
EV indicator will flash 3 times and go off.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” screen or the multi-
information display is low. ( →P. 1 1 0 )
●Vehicle speed becomes more than about 25 mph (40 km/h).
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly.
When it is possible to inform the driver of automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-information display.
■Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters to
approximately 1.3 mile (2 km). Driving is possible at speeds of less than approxi-
mately 25 mph (40 km/h). However, depending on vehicle conditions, there are sit-
uations when EV drive mode cannot be used.
(The distance that is possible depends on the hybrid battery [traction battery] level
and driving conditions.)
■Fuel economy
Your Lexus is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline engine and electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel economy.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
Automatic transmission (gasoline vehicles)
While the “START STOP ENGINE” switch is in IGNITION ON
mode, move the shift lever with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is
completely stopped.
*1: Shifting the shift lever to D allows the system to select a gear suitable for the driv-ing conditions.
Setting the shift lever to D is recommended for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible gearranges, controls engine braking force, and prevents unnecessary upshifting.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( → P. 2 1 5 )

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, the parking lights turn on auto-
matically (at an increased intensity) whenever the engine is started
and the parking brake is released. Daytime running lights are not designed for use
at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
●Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system offers
greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve fuel econ-
omy.
■Headlight control sensor
■Automatic light off system
When the light switch is in : The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds
after the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch is turned to ACCESSORY
mode or turned off and a door is opened and all of the doors and trunk are closed.
(The lights turn off immediately if on the key is pressed twice after all the doors
are closed.)
To turn the lights on again, turn the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch to
IGNITION ON mode, or turn the light switch off once and then back to
or .
If any of the doors or trunk lid is kept open, the lights automatically turn off after 20
minutes.
■Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch is turned
off or turned to ACCESSORY mode and the driver’s door is opened while the lights
are turned on.
■Automatic headlight leveling system (if equipped)
The level of the headlights is automatically adjusted according to the number of pas-
sengers and the loading condition of the vehi cle to ensure that the headlights do not
interfere with other road users. The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that blocks the sensor is affixed to the wind-
shield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight system to malfunction.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
●In the situations below, the system may not be able to correctly detect the sur-
rounding brightness levels, and may flash or expose nearby pedestrians to the high
beam. Therefore, you should consider turning the high beams on or off manually
rather than relying on the Automatic High Beam system.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights or foglights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights that are either switched off, dirty, are changing color, or are not aimed properly.
• When driving through an area of intermittently changing brightness and dark- ness.
• When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel tracks
etc.).
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road.
• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aimed properly.
• The vehicle is listing or titling, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed etc.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.
■Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
Turn the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch off while the following
conditions are met.
• The headlight switch is in or .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.
Turn the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch to IGNITION ON
mode.
Within 5 seconds after , repeat pulling the headlight switch lever to the origi-
nal position then pushing it to the high beam position quickly 9 times, then leave
the lever in high beam position.
Automatic High Beam (headlights) may turn on even the vehicle is stopped.
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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
2374-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If the wiper switch is turned to AUTO position while the “START STOP ENGINE”
<“POWER”> switch is in IGNITION ON mode, the wipers will operate once
to show that AUTO mode is activated.
●When the sensor sensitivity ring is turned toward high while in AUTO mode, the
wipers will operate once to indicate that the sensor sensitivity is enhanced.
●If the temperature of the raindrop sensor is 185°F (85°C) or higher, or -22°F
(-30°C) or lower, automatic operation may not occur. In this case, operate the
wipers in any mode other than AUTO mode.
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the wind-
shield washer fluid reservoir.
●The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is adopted. It may not
operate properly when sunlight from the
rising or setting of the sun intermittently
strikes the windshield, or if bugs etc. are
present on the windshield.
CAUTION
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode (vehicles with
rain-sensing windshield wipers)
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the
windshield is subject to vibration in AUTO mode. Take care that your fingers or
anything else do not become caught in the windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer fluid until the windshield becomes warm.
The fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause low visibility. This may lead to an
accident, resulting in death or serious injury.