2013 Lexus IS300h ECO mode

1934-1. Before driving
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. (P. 286)
Driving in the rain
Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially
slippery.
Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because
there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing
the steering and brakes from operating properly.
Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
When the accelerator pedal is released
When the brake pedal is depressed while sport mode is selected
Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
For the first 300 km (186 miles):
Avoid sudden stops.
For the first 800 km (500 miles):
Do not tow a trailer.
For the first 1000 km (621 miles):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake
system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or whenever the
parking brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have any authorized Lexus dealer
or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional, perform the bed-
ding down operation.
Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. (P. 564)

1964-1. Before driving
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
When driving on slippery road surfaces
Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce
your ability to control the vehicle.
Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shift changing, or changes in
engine speed could cause the vehicle to skid.
After driving through a puddle, depress the brake pedal to make sure that the
brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from
functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not function-
ing properly, steering control may be affected.
When shifting the shift lever
Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in D or S, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
Do not shift the shift lever to D while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
Shifting the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not available when N is selected.
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected
rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in
death or serious injury.
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by any authorized Lexus dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional as soon as possi-
ble.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
Moderate levels of brake pad and disc wear allow enhanced braking power. As
a result, the discs may wear more quickly than conventional brake discs. There-
fore, when replacing the brake pads, Lexus recommends that you also have the
thickness of the discs measured.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/
or those of the brake discs are exceeded.

2124-2. Driving procedures
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
Steering lock
After turning the power switch off and opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the power
switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
When the steering lock cannot be released
Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, operation of 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 Entry & Start System” is displayed on the multi-information dis-
play
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by any autho-
rized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional 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 any authorized
Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional
immediately.
If the hybrid system is malfunctioning
P. 516
If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 545
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 system.
If the smart entry & start system has been deactivated by a customized setting
P. 548 “Steering Lock active” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is in P. Press the
power switch while turning the steering
wheel left and right.

2134-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
CAUTION
When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress
the accelerator pedal while starting the hybrid system under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
Caution while driving
If hybrid system failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or open
the doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activation of the
steering lock in this circumstance may lead to an accident, resulting in death or
serious injury.
Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
If you want to stop the hybrid system in an emergency while driving the vehi-
cle, press and hold the power switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly
3 times or more in succession. (P. 499)
However, do not touch the power switch while driving except in an emergency.
Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or
braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This will
make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the power switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long periods
of time without the hybrid system on.
If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the meters while the
hybrid system is not operating, 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
any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional 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 any
authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped
professional immediately.

2154-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
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 after a short period of time 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 drive mode indicator will flash and go off.
The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy monitor” display is low.
(P. 123)
Vehicle speed becomes more than about 45 km/h (28 mph).
The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill, etc.
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 2 km (1.2 mile). Driving is possible at speeds of less than approx-
imately 45 km/h (28 mph). However, depending on vehicle conditions, there are
situations 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.
CAUTION
Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode, pay special attention to the area around the
vehicle. Because there is no engine noise, pedestrians, people riding bicycles or
other people and vehicles in the area may not be aware of the vehicle starting
off or approaching them, so take extra care while driving.

2174-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for nor-
mal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerating force and
engine braking force.
Sport mode/Eco drive mode
P. 2 8 3
Snow mode
Snow mode can be selected to suit the conditions when driving on slip-
pery road surfaces, such as snow.
Press the switch.
Press the switch again to return to
normal mode.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 (P. 219)
Selecting the driving mode

2274-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
This system allows the headlights and front position lights to be turned on
for 30 seconds when the power switch is off.
Pull the lever toward you and
release it with the light switch is in
or after turning the power
switch off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it again to turn off the lights.
Daytime running light system
To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, the front position lights turn
on automatically (at an increased intensity) whenever the hybrid system is started
and the parking brake is released. Daytime running lights are not designed for
use at night.
Headlight control sensor
Automatic light off system
When the light switch is in or : The headlights and front fog lights turn
off automatically if the power switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned
off.
When the light switch is in : The headlights and all lights turn off automati-
cally if the power switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off.
To turn the lights on again, turn the power switch to ON mode, or turn the light
switch off once and then back to or .
If any of the doors or trunk lid is left open, the lights automatically turn off after
20 minutes.
Follow me home system
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 detect-
ing the level of ambient light and may cause
the automatic headlight system to malfunc-
tion.

2284-3. Operating the lights and wipers
IS300h_EE(OM53B95E)
Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the 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
The level of the headlights is automatically adjusted according to the number of
passengers and the loading condition of the vehicle to ensure that the headlights
do not interfere with other road users.
Operation guide display (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers only)
When the headlight switch is operated to and from the “AUTO” position, the cur-
rent status is displayed on the meters for a few seconds to show that AUTO mode
is activated/deactivated. (P. 1 1 9 )
Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed.
(Customizable features: P. 581)
NOTICE
To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the hybrid system is off.