2015 Lexus ES300h trailer

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B36U_(U)
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4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ..................... 188
Cargo and luggage.................... 199
Vehicle load limits ...................... 202
Trailer towing ............................... 203
Dinghy towing ............................. 204
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (gasoline vehicles).................. 205
Power (ignition) switch (hybrid vehicles) ........................212
EV drive mode (hybrid vehicles) ........................219
Automatic transmission (gasoline vehicles).................. 222
Hybrid transmission (hybrid vehicles) ...................... 226
Turn signal lever .......................... 230
Parking brake ................................231
Horn ................................................ 232
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ........................ 233
Automatic High Beam..............237
Fog light switch ............................244
Windshield wipers and washer .................................245
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap ......249 4-5. Using the driving support
systems
Cruise control ............................. 254
Dynamic radar cruise control............................ 258
LDA (Lane Departure Alert).........273
Intuitive parking assist ................281
Lexus parking assist monitor........................................ 294
Driving mode select switch .............................................. 311
Driving assist systems ................313
Hill-start assist control (hybrid vehicles) ........................319
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ...........321
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)..... 328 • Blind Spot Monitor function .................................... 332
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert function .................................... 335
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips (hybrid vehicles) ..................... 338
Winter driving tips .......................341
4Driving

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B36U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ......................188
Cargo and luggage .................... 199
Vehicle load limits ......................202
Trailer towing ................................203
Dinghy towing..............................204
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (gasoline vehicles) ................. 205
Power (ignition) switch (hybrid vehicles) ....................... 212
EV drive mode (hybrid vehicles) ....................... 219
Automatic transmission (gasoline vehicles) .................. 222
Hybrid transmission (hybrid vehicles) ...................... 226
Turn signal lever ......................... 230
Parking brake ................................ 231
Horn.................................................232
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch .........................233
Automatic High Beam ............. 237
Fog light switch............................ 244
Windshield wipers and washer................................. 245 4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ..... 249
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control ............................. 254
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................258
LDA (Lane Departure Alert) .........273
Intuitive parking assist ............... 281
Lexus parking assist monitor ........................................ 294
Driving mode select switch .............................................. 311
Driving assist systems................ 313
Hill-start assist control (hybrid vehicles) ....................... 319
PCS (Pre-Collision System)........... 321
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ..... 328 •Blind Spot Monitor function .................................... 332
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert function .................................... 335
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips (hybrid vehicles) .....................338
Winter driving tips ...................... 341

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B36U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Cargo and luggage
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit 
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 − 750 (5 × 150) = 650
lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be trans- ferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
(→P. 202)
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not
designed for trailer towing.
Take notice of the following information about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B36U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): →P. 7 0 0
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximu m number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆Towing capacity
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information label. ( →P. 577)
Vehicle load limits incl ude total load capacity, seating capacity, towing
capacity and cargo capacity.
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering and braking
ability, resulting in an accident.

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4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Trailer towing
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus
also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a
tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, sc ooter, bicycle, etc. Your vehicle is
not designed for trailer towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted car-
riers.

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B36U_(U)
2414-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
●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.
• The camera sensor temperature is extremely high.
• 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 back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• 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 high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in an abnormal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B36U_(U)
2714-5. Using the driving support systems
4
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. 264) 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
●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.)
■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 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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4-5. Using the driving support systems
CAUTION
■Limitations of the pre-collision system
Do not overly rely on the pre-collision system. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings and checking for any obstacles or other road hazards.
Failure to do so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■When the sensor may not be correctly detecting the vehicle ahead
Apply the brakes as necessary in any of the following situations.
●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 luggage
compartment etc.)
●Vehicles that cut in suddenly
●Vehicles with small rear ends (trailers with no load on board etc.)
●Motorcycles traveling in the same lane
■Handling the radar sensor
Observe the following to ensure the pre-collision 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 become inaccurate
or 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.