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4-1. Before driving
CAUTION
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or
those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Gasoline vehicles: Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
Hybrid vehicles: Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running
on>, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the
vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely
apply the parking brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed whil e the vehicle is stopped may cause the
exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is
nearby.
Page 191 of 917

ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
1914-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehi-
cle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical com-
ponents.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such
as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded
or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place contain-
ers such as air fresheners on the instru ment panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs
or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a metal-
lized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to
act as a lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine
system> and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running
operating>.
●Do not touch the exhaust pi pes while the engine is running
operating> or immediately after turn ing the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
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4-1. Before driving
CAUTION
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move
the shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire
due to engine overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a
poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side
of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may
not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the brake booster (gasoline vehicles) or brake actuator (hybrid vehicles) does
not operate, do not follow other vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that
require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes
fixed immediately.
●Gasoline vehicles only: Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted brakes.
●Gasoline vehicles: The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if
one of the systems fails, the other will st ill operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will
increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
Hybrid vehicles: The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic sys-
tems; if one of the systems fails, the other(s) will still operate. In this case, the brake
pedal should be depressed more firmly th an usual and the braking distance will
increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
Page 193 of 917

ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
1934-1. Before driving
4
Driving
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during driving,
as this may restrain driving torque.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at
the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■When parking the vehicle
Always shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or
the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally
depressed.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for an
extended period of time.
Doing so may damage th e power steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damag-
ing the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P. 7 9 2 )
Page 201 of 917
201
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Engine (ignition) switch (gasoline vehicles)
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
will be displayed on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be started.
Press the “START STOP
ENGINE” switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or
for up to 30 seconds, whichever is
less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal
until the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any
“START STOP ENGINE” switch
mode.
Performing the following operations when carrying the electronic key
on your person starts the engine or changes “START STOP ENGINE”
switch modes.
Starting the engine
1
2
3
4
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202
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
Stop the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Set the parking brake. (P. 2 2 6 )
Press the “START STOP ENGINE” switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that “POWER ON” on the multi-
information display is off.
Modes can be changed by pressing the “START STOP ENGINE” switch
with brake pedal released. (The mode changes each time the switch is
pressed.)
Off*
The emergency flashers can be used.
The multi-information display will not
be displayed.
ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as
the audio system can be used.
“POWER ON” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be
used.
“POWER ON” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other
than P when turning off the engine, the
“START STOP ENGINE” switch will
be turned to ACCESSORY mode,
not to off.
Stopping the engine
Changing “START STOP ENGINE” switch modes
1
2
3
4
5
Page 203 of 917
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
2034-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
If the engine is stopped with the shift lever in a position other than P, the
“START STOP ENGINE” switch will not be turned off but instead be
turned to ACCESSORY mode. Perfo rm the following procedure to turn
the switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “POWER ON” and “Turn Power OFF” are displayed alter-
nately on the multi-information d isplay and then press the “START
STOP ENGINE” switch once.
Check that “POWER ON” and “Tur n Power OFF” on the multi-infor-
mation display are off.
When stopping the engine with the shift lever in a position other
than P
1
2
3
4
Page 208 of 917
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ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch (hybrid vehicles)
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
will be displayed on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the hybrid system cannot be started.
Press the “POWER” switch.
Continue depressing the brake pedal
until the hybrid system is completely
started.
The hybrid system can be started from
any “POWER” switch mode.
Check that the “READY” indica-
tor is on.
The vehicle will not move when the
“READY” indicator is off.
Performing the following operations when carrying the electronic key
on your person starts the hybrid system or changes “POWER” switch
modes.
Starting the hybrid system
1
2
3
4
5