2015 Lexus ES350 transmission

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
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6 4 3
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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

761-2. Hybrid system
ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
■After the 12-volt battery has discharged or has been changed or removed
The gasoline engine may not stop even if the vehicle is running on the hybrid battery
(traction battery). If this continues for a few days, contact your Lexus dealer.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicles
There may be no engine sounds or vibration even though the vehicle is able to move.
For safety, apply the parking brake and make sure to shift the shift position to P when
parked.
The following sounds or vibrations may occur when the hybrid system is operating
and are not a malfunction:
●Motor sounds may be heard from the engine compartment.
●Sounds may be heard from the hybrid battery (traction battery) behind the rear
seats when the hybrid system starts or stops.
●Sounds from the hybrid system may be heard when the trunk lid is open.
●Sounds may be heard from the hybrid transmission when the hybrid system starts
or stops.
●Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
●Sounds may be heard due to regenerative braking when the brake pedal is
depressed.
●Vibration may be felt when the gasoline engine starts or stops.
●Cooling fan sounds may be heard from the air intake vent on rear left seat.
■Vehicle proximity notification system
In the following cases, the vehicle proximity notification system may be difficult for
surrounding people to hear.
●In very noisy areas
●In the wind or the rain
Also, as the vehicle proximity notification system is installed on the front of the vehi-
cle, it may be more difficult to hear from the rear of the vehicle compared to the
front.
■Maintenance, repair, recycling, and disposal
Contact your Lexus dealer regarding maintenance, repair, recycling and disposal.
Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. on/off operation of the EV indicator) can be changed.
(Customizable features: → P. 7 3 0 )

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(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

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
1934-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or
roll forward while the shift lever is in R.
Gasoline vehicles: Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake
and steering performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles: 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 control.
●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 control.
●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 control.
●Gasoline vehicles: Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will dis-
engage the engine from the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N
is selected.
Hybrid vehicles: Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disen-
gage 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. Shift-
ing the shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid accel-
eration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious
injury.

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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. 223)

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
■S mode
●When the shift range is S4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift
range to S6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically
selects a higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
●To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automatically
selects a higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high.
■When driving with cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine brak-
ing, the engine brake will not operate in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or
4. (→P. 2 5 4 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when the shift
lever is in D.)
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
→P. 6 76
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever
to S cancels the function.)

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4-2. Driving procedures
Hybrid transmission (hybrid vehicles)
While the “POWER” switch is in 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: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in D for normaldriving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control engine braking forces.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( → P. 2 2 7 )

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
■S mode
●When the shift range is S4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift
range to S6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically
selects a higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
■When driving with cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine brak-
ing, the engine brake will not operate in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or
4. (→P. 2 5 4 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when the shift
lever is in D.)
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
→P. 6 76
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position. (Shifting
the shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)