TABLE OF CONTENTS6
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7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................ 428
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle inte rior....................431
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ............................ 434
General maintenance...............437
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs .................................... 440
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions..................................441
Hood ............................................... 443
Positioning a floor jack............. 444
Engine compartment ............... 445
12-volt battery ............................. 455
Tires.................................................. 459
Tire inflation pressure ............... 468
Wheels ............................................. 471
Air conditioning filter ................473
Electronic key battery...............475
Checking and replacing fuses............................................... 477
Light bulbs ....................................480 8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers .................. 492
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency.... 493
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed................................ 494
If you think something is wrong ................ 498
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds..... 499
If a warning message is displayed ................................505
If you have a flat tire ..................508
If the hybrid system will not start ................................................ 518
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ..................... 520
If the electronic key does not operate properly ....................... 521
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ................................. 523
If your vehicle overheats ..........527
If the vehicle becomes stuck ...............................................531
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises
10
ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)Your Lexus is equipped with several sophis
ticated computers that will record certain
data, such as:
• Engine speed
• Electric motor speed (traction motor speed)
• Accelerator status
•Brake status
• Vehicle speed
•Shift position
• Hybrid battery (traction battery) status
The recorded data varies according to the ve hicle grade level and options with which it is
equipped. Furthermore, these computers do not record conversations, sounds or pic-
tures.
●Data usage
Lexus may use the data recorded in these computers to diagnose malfunctions, con-
duct research and development, and improve quality.
Lexus will not disclose the recorded data to a third party except:
• With the consent of the vehicle owner or with the consent of the lessee if the vehicle
is leased
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a government
agency
• For use by Lexus in a lawsuit
• For research purposes where the data is not tied to a specific vehicle or vehicle owner
●Usage of data collected through Safety Connect / Lexus Enform (U.S. main-
land only)
If your Lexus has Safety Connect or Lexus Enform and if you have subscribed to those
services, please refer to the Safety Connect / Lexus Enform Telematics Subscription
Service Agreement for information on data collected and its usage.
Vehicle data recordings
12
ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)The SRS airbag and seat belt pretensioner
devices in your Lexus contain explosive
chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbags and seat belt pretensioners not
deployed, this may cause an acci dent such as fire. Be sure to have the systems of the SRS
airbag and seat belt pretensioner removed an d disposed of by a qualified service shop or
by your Lexus dealer before you scrap your vehicle.
Special handling may apply, See www.dts c.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Your vehicle has components that may contain perchlorate. These components may
include airbag, seat belt pretensioners, and wireless remote control batteries.
Scrapping of your Lexus
Perchlorate Material
WA R N I N G
■General precautions while driving
●Obey all traffic laws
●The driver is responsible for the proper operation of the vehicle, including evaluation
of weather conditions and road conditions.
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs that have im paired your ability to operate your vehicle. Alcohol and
certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and reduce coordination, which
could lead to an accident that could result in death or serious injury.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other drivers or
pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full atte ntion to driving. Anything that distracts the
driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or reading can result in a
collision causing death or serious injury to you, your occupants or others.
■General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to have or use
the key.
Children may be able to start the vehicle or sh ift the vehicle into neutral. There is also a
danger that children may injure themselves by playing with the windows, the moon
roof, or other features of the vehicle. In addition, heat build-up or extremely cold tem-
peratures inside the vehicl e can be fatal to children.
421-1. For safe use
ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Slight abrasions, burns, bruising etc., may be sustained from SRS airbags, due to the
extremely high speed deployment (inflation) by hot gases.
●A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as well as the
seats, parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side rails may be hot for several min-
utes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●For Lexus Enform Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event
of a severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emergency call to the
response center, notifying them of the vehicl e’s location (without needing to push the
“SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to speak with the occupants to ascertain the
level of emergency and assistance required . If the occupants are unable to communi-
cate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emergency and helps to dispatch the
necessary emergency services. ( P. 4 2 2 )
WA R N I N G
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not strike or apply signif icant levels of force to the area of the SRS airbag compo-
nents.
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
●Do not touch any of the component parts immediately after the SRS airbags have
deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.
●If breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbags have deployed, open a door or
window to allow fresh air in, or leave the vehicl e if it is safe to do so. Wash off any resi-
due as soon as possible to prevent skin irritation.
●If the areas where the SRS airbags are stored, such as the steering wheel pad and
front and rear pillar garnishes are damaged or cracked, have them replaced by your
Lexus dealer.
■Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications without
consulting your Lexus dealer. The SRS airb ags may malfunction or deploy (inflate)
accidentally, causing de ath or serious injury.
●Installation, removal, disassembl y and repair of the SRS airbags
●Repairs, modifications, removal or replac ement of the steering wheel, instrument
panel, dashboard, glove box, seats or seat upholstery, front, side and rear pillars or
roof side rails
●Repairs or modifications of the front fend er, front bumper, or side of the occupant
compartment
●Installation of a grille guar d (bull bars, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow plows, winches or
roof luggage carrier
●Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system
●Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios and CD players
●Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability
711-2. Hybrid system
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1
For safety and security
Hybrid system precautions
The illustration is an example for explanation and may differ from the actual item.
Take care when handling the hybrid system, as it is a high voltage system
(about 650 V at maximum) as well as contains parts that become extremely
hot when the hybrid system is operating. Obey the warning labels attached to
the vehicle.
Air conditioning compressor
Power control unit
High voltage cables (orange)
Hybrid battery (traction battery) Service plug
Electric motor (traction motor)
Warning label1
2
3
4
5
6
7
731-2. Hybrid system
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1
For safety and security
■If a warning light comes on, a warning message is displayed, or the 12-volt battery is dis-
connected
The hybrid system may not start. In this case, try to start the system again. If the “READY”
indicator does not come on, contact your Lexus dealer.
■Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and the hybrid system cannot be started, refuel the
vehicle with at least enough gasoline to make the low fuel level warning light (P. 500)
go off. If there is only a small amount of fu el, the hybrid system may not be able to start.
(The standard amount of fuel is about 3.0 gal. [11.3 L, 2.5 Imp.gal.], when the vehicle is on
a level surface. This value may vary when the vehicle is on a slope. Add extra fuel when
the vehicle is inclined.)
■Electromagnetic waves
●High voltage parts and cables on hybrid ve hicles incorporate electromagnetic shield-
ing, and therefore emit approximately the same amount of electromagnetic waves as
conventional gasoline powered vehicl es or home electronic appliances.
●Your vehicle may cause sound interference in some third party-produced radio parts.
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
The hybrid battery (traction battery) has a limited service life. The lifespan of the hybrid
battery (traction battery) can change in accordance with driving style and driving condi-
tions.
WA R N I N G
■High voltage precautions
This vehicle has high voltage DC and AC systems as well as a 12-volt system. DC and
AC high voltage is very dangerous and can cause severe burns and electric shock that
may result in death or serious injury.
●Never touch, disassemble, remove or replace the high voltage parts, cables or their
connectors.
●The hybrid system will become hot after star ting as the system uses high voltage. Be
careful of both the high voltage and the hi gh temperature, and always obey the warn-
ing labels attached to the vehicle.
●Never try to open the service plug access
hole located behind the rear seats. The ser-
vice plug is used only when the vehicle is ser-
viced and is subject to high voltage.
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.
280
ES300h_OM_OM33B71U_(U)4-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.
•Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
●Have a service technician inspect the condition of the 12-volt battery.
●Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for
the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the specified size and brand, and that chains match the size of
the tires.
Perform the following according to the driving conditions:
●Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away the water imme-
diately to prevent it from freezing.
●To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan, remove any
snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the windshield.
●Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on
the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassis, around the tires or on the brakes.
●Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the
vehicle.
Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle
ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road conditions.
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the vehi-
cle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the prevail-
ing weather conditions.
Preparation for winter
Before driving the vehicle
When driving the vehicle