2016 Lexus ES300h Towing

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ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)
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4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ......................154
Cargo and luggage.................... 160
Vehicle load limits ........................163
Trailer towing .................................164
Dinghy towing ...............................165
4-2. Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch ..............166
EV drive mode ............................... 171
Hybrid transmission .................... 173
Turn signal lever ............................ 176
Parking brake ................................ 177
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch .......................... 178
Automatic High Beam................ 181
Fog light switch ............................ 185
Windshield wipers and washer ................................. 186
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap ...... 190 4-5. Using the driving support
systems
Lexus Safety System+ ................194
PCS (Pre-Collision System) .......... 201
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering co ntrol) ..............213
Dynamic radar cruise control............................ 222
Cruise control ............................. 234
Intuitive parking assist ...............237
Lexus parking assist monitor.........................................246
Driving mode select switch ............................................262
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)..... 264 •Blind Spot Monitor function ..................................... 267
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
function .................................... 269
Driving assist systems ............... 272
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips ......278
Winter driving tips ..................... 280
4Driving

18Pictorial index
ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Power switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 1 6 6
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 166
Emergency stop of the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 493
When the hybrid system will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 518
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 505
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 173
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 173
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 494
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 520
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 86
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 86
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 82
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 499
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741-2. Hybrid system
ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)
WA R N I N G
■Road accident cautions
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of death or serious injury:
●Pull your vehicle off the road, apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, and
turn the hybrid system off.
●Do not touch the high voltage parts, cables and connectors.
●If electric wires are exposed inside or outside your vehicle, an electric shock may
occur. Never touch exposed electric wires.
●If a fluid leak occurs, do not touch the fluid as it may be strong alkaline electrolyte
from the hybrid battery (traction battery). If it comes into contact with your skin or
eyes, wash it off immediately with a large amount of water or, if possible, boric acid
solution. Seek immediate medical attention.
●If a fire occurs in the hybrid vehicles, leave the vehicle as soon as possible. Never use
a fire extinguisher that is not meant for electric fires. Using even a small amount of
water may be dangerous.
●If your vehicle needs to be towed, do so with front wheels raised. If the wheels con-
nected to the electric motor (traction motor) are on the ground when towing, the
motor may continue to generate electricity. This may cause a fire. (P. 4 9 4 )
●Carefully inspect the ground under the vehicle. If you find that liquid has leaked onto
the ground, the fuel system may have been damaged. Leave the vehicle as soon as
possible.
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
●Never resell, hand over or modify the hybrid battery. To prevent accidents, hybrid
batteries that have been removed from a disposed vehicle are collected through
Lexus dealer. Do not dispose of the battery yourself.
Unless the battery is properly collected, th e following may occur, resulting in death
or serious injury:
• The hybrid battery may be illegally dispos ed of or dumped, and it is hazardous to
the environment or someone may touch a high voltage part, resulting in an electric
shock.
• The hybrid battery is intended to be used exclusively with your hybrid vehicle. If
the hybrid battery is used outside of your vehicle or modified in any way, accidents
such as electric shock, heat generation , smoke generation, an explosion and elec-
trolyte leakage may occur.
When reselling or handing over your ve hicle, the possibility of an accident is
extremely high because the person receiving the vehicle may not be aware of these
dangers.
●If your vehicle is disposed of without the hybrid battery having been removed, there is
a danger of serious electric shock if high voltage parts, cables and their connectors
are touched. In the event that your vehicle must be disposed of, the hybrid battery
must be disposed of by your Lexus dealer or a qualified service shop. If the hybrid bat-
tery is not disposed of properly, it may caus e electric shock that can result in death or
serious injury.

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ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ...................... 154
Cargo and luggage .................... 160
Vehicle load limits ....................... 163
Trailer towing ................................. 164
Dinghy towing............................... 165
4-2. Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch.............. 166
EV drive mode ............................... 171
Hybrid transmission ....................173
Turn signal lever ............................ 176
Parking brake .................................177 4-3. Operating the lights
and wipers
Headlight switch...........................178
Automatic High Beam ................181
Fog light switch ............................ 185
Windshield wipers and washer.................................. 186
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap ...... 190
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Lexus Safety System+ ............... 194
PCS (Pre-Collision System)........... 201
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering control) ............. 213
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................ 222
Cruise control ............................. 234
Intuitive parking assist .............. 237
Lexus parking assist monitor ........................................ 246
Driving mode select switch ........................................... 262
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ..... 264 • Blind Spot Monitor
function .....................................267
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert function .................................... 269
Driving assist systems................272
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips...... 278
Winter driving tips .....................280

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ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Cargo and luggage
Cargo capacity depends on the to
tal 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 ava ilable 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 am ount 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 transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. (P. 1 6 3 )
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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ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)4-1. Before driving
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Driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight):
P. 5 3 4
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo and lug-
gage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximum number of occupants whose estimated
average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆To w i n g c a p a c i t y
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrea se 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. 4 6 8 )
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity, towing capac-
ity and cargo capacity.
WA R N I N G
■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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ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)4-1. Before 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, scooter, bicycle, etc.
Your vehicle is not designed for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

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ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be ding
hy towed (with 4 wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.