2014 Lexus ES300h sensor

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Driving
This mode employs a radar sensor to detect the presence of vehicles up to
approximately 400 ft. (120 m) ahead, determines the current vehicle-to-
vehicle following distance, and operates to maintain a suitable following
distance from the vehicle ahead.
Note that vehicle-to-vehicle distance will close in when traveling on long downhill
slopes.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle
distance can also be set by operating the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control.
Example of deceleration cruising
When the vehicle ahead is driving slower than the set speed
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically decel-
erates your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the
system applies the brakes. A warning tone warns you when the system cannot
decelerate sufficiently to prevent your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle
ahead.
Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
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■Dynamic radar cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in D or range 4 or higher of S has been selected.
●Vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph (50 km/h).
■Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
The vehicle can accelerate normally. After acceleration, the set speed resumes.
However, during vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode, the vehicle speed may
decrease below the set speed in order to maintain the distance to the vehicle ahead.
■Automatic cancelation of vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control driving is automatically canceled in the following
situations:
●Actual vehicle speed falls below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●The sensor cannot operate correctly because it is covered in some way.
●The windshield wipers are operating at high speed (when the wipers are in AUTO
mode or the high speed wiper operation).
If vehicle-to-vehicle distance control driving is automatically canceled for any other
reason, there may be a malfunction in the system. Contact your Lexus dealer.

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Driving
■Automatic cancelation of constant speed control
The cruise control will stop maintaining the vehicle speed in the following situations:
●Actual vehicle speed is more than approximately 10 mph (16 km/h) below the set
vehicle speed.
At this time, the memorized set speed is not retained.
●Vehicle speed falls below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
■Radar sensor and grille cover
Always keep the sensor and grille cover clean to ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control operates properly. (Some obstructions, such as snow, ice and plastic
objects, cannot be detected by the obstruction sensor.)
Dynamic radar cruise control is canceled if an obstruction is detected.
■Warning messages and buzzers for dynamic radar cruise control
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to
inform the driver of the need for caution while driving. (→P. 7 7 1 )
Grille cover
Radar sensor
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CAUTION
■To avoid inadvertent cruise control activation
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON/OFF” button when not in use.
■Situations unsuitable for dynamic radar cruise control
Do not use dynamic radar cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in inappropriate speed control and could cause an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep downhills, or where there are sudden changes between sharp up and
down gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
●At entrances to expressways
●When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sensors
from functioning correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
●When an approach warning buzzer is heard often
●During emergency towing

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Driving
CAUTION
■When the sensor may not be correctly detecting the vehicle ahead
Apply the brakes as necessary when any of the following types of vehicles are in
front of you.
As the sensor may not be able to correctly detect these types of vehicles, the
approach warning (→P. 258) will not be activated, and a fatal or serious accident
may result.
●Vehicles that cut in suddenly
●Vehicles traveling at low speeds
●Vehicles that are not moving
●Vehicles with small rear ends (trailers with no load on board etc.)
●Motorcycles traveling in the same lane
■Conditions under which the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control may not function
correctly
Apply the brakes as necessary in the following conditions as the radar sensor may
not be able to correctly detect vehicles ahead, and a fatal or serious accident may
result:
●When water or snow thrown up by the surrounding vehicles hinders the function-
ing of the sensor
●When your vehicle is pointing upwards (caused by a heavy load in the trunk etc.)
●When the road curves or when the lanes are narrow
●When steering wheel operation or your position in the lane is unstable
●When the vehicle ahead of you decelerates suddenly

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CAUTION
■Handling the radar sensor
Observe the following to ensure the cruise control system can function effectively.
Otherwise, the system may not function correctly and could result in an accident.
●Keep the sensor and grille cover clean at all times.
Clean the sensor and grille cover with a soft cloth so you do not mark or damage
them.
●Do not subject the sensor or surrounding area to a strong impact.
If the sensor moves even slightly off position, the system may malfunction. If the
sensor or surrounding area is subject to a strong impact, always have the area
inspected and adjusted by your Lexus dealer.
●Do not disassemble the sensor.
●Do not attach accessories or stickers to the sensor, grille cover or surrounding
area.
●Do not modify or paint the sensor and grille cover.
●Do not replace them with non-genuine parts.

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LDA (Lane Departure Alert)∗
While driving on a road that has lane markers, this system recognizes the
lane markers using a camera as a sensor to alert the driver when the vehi-
cle deviates from its lane.
If the system judges that the vehicle may deviate from its lane, it alerts the
driver using beeping and indications on the multi-information display.
Camera sensor∗
: If equipped
Summary of function

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■Temporary cancelation of the LDA system
If any of the following occurs, the LDA system will be temporarily canceled.
The function will resume after the necessary operating conditions have returned.
●The vehicle speed deviates from the operating range of the LDA system.
●The turn signal lever is operated.
●When the lane lines cannot be recognized while driving.
●When the lane departure warning sounds.
The lane departure warning function will not operate again for a several seconds
after it has been activated, even if the vehicle leaves the lane again.
■The lane departure warning
Depending on the audio system sound level or air conditioning fan noise while the
audio system or air conditioning system is in use, it may be difficult to hear the warn-
ing sound.
■After the vehicle has been parked in the sun
The LDA system may not be available and a warning message (→P. 779) will be dis-
played for a while after driving has started. When the temperature in the cabin
decreases and the temperature around the camera sensor ( →P. 267) becomes suit-
able for its operation, the functions will begin to operate.
■If there are lane markers on only one side of the vehicle
The lane departure warning will not operate for the side on which lane markers
could not be recognized.
■Conditions in which the function may not operate correctly
In the following conditions, the camera sensor may be unable to recognize lane
markers causing the lane departure warning function to operate incorrectly. How-
ever, this does not indicate a malfunction.
●When driving through an area with no lane markers, such as a tollbooth, a crossing
or before a ticket checkpoint
●When driving on a sharp curve
●When lane markers are extremely narrow or extremely wide
●When the vehicle leans to one side an unusual amount due to a heavy load or
improper tire inflation pressure
●When the following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is
extremely short
●When the lane markers are yellow (These may be more difficult for the system to
recognize compared to white markers.)
●When the lane markers are broken, “Botts’ dots”, “Raised pavement marker” or
stones