TABLE OF CONTENTS6
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................ 434
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior...................437
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ............................ 440
General maintenance.............. 443
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs .................................... 446
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions.................................447
Hood ............................................... 449
Positioning a floor jack............. 450
Engine compartment .................451
12-volt battery ............................... 461
Tires.................................................. 465
Tire inflation pressure ................ 474
Wheels ............................................477
Air conditioning filter ................479
Electronic key battery............... 481
Checking and replacing fuses.............................................. 483
Light bulbs .................................... 486 8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers .................. 498
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency.... 499
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed................................500
If you think something is wrong ................ 504
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds.....505
If a warning message is displayed ................................... 511
If you have a flat tire ....................515
If the hybrid system will not start ............................................... 525
If the electronic key does not operate properly ......................527
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ................................. 529
If your vehicle overheats ......... 533
If the vehicle becomes stuck ..............................................537
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises
18Pictorial index
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Power switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 1 6 8
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 168
Emergency stop of the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 499
When the hybrid system will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 525
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 511
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 175
Changing the shift position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 175
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 500
When the shift lever does not move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 178
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. 505
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311-1. For safe use
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
1
For safety and security
WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
●Do not adjust the position of the driver’s seat while driving.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
●Do not place a cushion between the driver or passenger and the seatback.
A cushion may prevent correct posture from being achieved, and reduce the effec-
tiveness of the seat belt, head restraint and other safety systems, increasing the risk of
death or serious injury to the occupant.
●Do not place anything under the front seats.
Objects placed under the front seats may become jammed in the seat tracks and stop
the seat from locking in place. This may lead to an accident and the adjustment mech-
anism may also be damaged.
●Always observe the legal speed limit when driving on public roads.
●When driving over long distances, take regular breaks before you start to feel tired.
Also, if you feel tired or sleepy while driving, do not force yourself to continue driving
and take a break immediately.
681-2. Hybrid system
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
◆When stopped/during start off
The gasoline engine stops
* when the vehicle is stopped. During start off, the
electric motor (traction motor) drives the vehicle. At slow speeds or when
traveling down a gentle slope, the engine is stopped
* and the electric motor
(traction motor) is used.
When the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) is not being
charged.
*: When the hybrid battery (traction battery) requires charging or the engine is warming up, etc., the ga soline engine will not automatically stop. ( →P. 6 9 )
◆During normal driving
The gasoline engine is predominantly used. The electric motor (traction
motor) charges the hybrid battery (traction battery) as necessary.
◆When accelerating sharply
When the accelerator pedal is depressed heavily, the power of the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) is added to that of the gasoline engine via the electric
motor (traction motor).
◆When braking (regenerative braking)
The wheels operate the electric motor (traction motor) as a power generator,
and the hybrid battery (traction battery) is charged.
When driving with the ga soline engine stopped, a sound, which changes in
accordance with the driving speed, will be played in order to warn people nearby
of the vehicle’s approach. The sound will stop when the vehicle speed exceeds
approximately 15 mph (25 km/h).
Vehicle proximity notification system
691-2. Hybrid system
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
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For safety and security
■Regenerative braking
In the following situations, kinetic energy is converted to electric energy and decelera-
tion force can be obtained in conjunction with the recharging of the hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery).
●The accelerator pedal is released while driving with the shift lever in D or S.
●The brake pedal is depressed while driv ing with the shift lever in D or S.
■EV indicator
■Conditions in which the gasoline engine may not stop
The gasoline engine starts and stops automatically. However, it may not stop automati-
cally in the following conditions:
●During gasoline engine warm-up
●During hybrid battery (traction battery) charging
●When the temperature of the hybrid battery (traction battery) is high or low
●When the heater is switched on
■Charging the hybrid battery (traction battery)
As the gasoline engine charges the hybrid battery (traction battery), the battery does not
need to be charged from an outside source. However, if the vehicle is left parked for a
long time the hybrid battery (traction battery) will slowly discharge. For this reason, be
sure to drive the vehicle at least once every few months for at least 30 minutes or 10
miles (16 km). If the hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes fully discharged and you
are unable to start the hybrid system, contact your Lexus dealer.
■Charging the 12-volt battery
→P. 5 3 1
■After the 12-volt battery has discharged or when the terminal has been removed and
installed during exchange, etc.
The gasoline engine may not stop even if the vehicle is being driven by the hybrid battery
(traction battery). If this continues for a few days, contact your Lexus dealer. The EV indicator comes on when the vehicle is
driven using only the electric motor (traction
motor) or the gasoline engine is stopped.
701-2. Hybrid system
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
There may be no engine sound or vibration even though the vehicle is able to move with
the “READY” indicator is illuminated. For safety, apply the parking brake and make sure
to shift the shift lever 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.
●Relay operating sounds such as a snap or so ft clank will be emitted from the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery), behind the rear se ats, when the hybrid system is started or
stopped.
●Sounds from the hybrid system may be heard when the trunk lid is open.
●Sounds may be heard from the transmission when the gasoline engine starts or stops,
when driving at low sp eeds, or during idling.
●Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
●Sounds may be heard due to regenerative braking when the brake pedal is depressed
or as the accelerator pedal is released.
●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 sur-
rounding 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 vehicle, it
may be more difficult to hear from the rear of the vehicle compared to the front.
■If “Proximity Notification System Malfunction” is displayed on the multi-information
display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■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. 5 6 2 )
721-2. Hybrid system
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
There is an air intake vent beside the
rear left seat for the purpose of cooling
the hybrid battery (traction battery). If
the vent becomes blocked, the hybrid
battery may overheat, leading to a
reduction in hybrid battery output.
When a certain level of impact is detected by the impact sensor, the emergency
shut off system blocks the high voltage current and stops the fuel pump to mini-
mize the risk of electrocution and fuel leakage. If the emergency shut off system
activates, your vehicle will not restart. To restart the hybrid system, contact your
Lexus dealer.
A message is automatically displayed when a malfunction occurs in the hybrid
system or an improper operation is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on the
multi-information display, read the
message and follow the instructions.
Hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake vent
Emergency shut off system
Hybrid warning message
761-3. Theft deterrent system
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
Immobilizer system
The indicator light flashes after the
power switch has been turned off to
indicate that the system is operating.
The indicator light stops flashing after
the power switch has been turned to
ACCESSORY or ON mode to indi-
cate that the system has been canceled.
■System maintenance
The vehicle has a maintenance-free type immobilizer system.
■Conditions that may cause the system to malfunction
●If the grip portion of the key is in contact with a metallic object
●If the key is in close proximity to or touching a key to the security system (key with a
built-in transponder chip) of another vehicle
The vehicle’s keys have built-in transponder chips that prevent the hybrid sys-
tem from starting if a key has not been previously registered in the vehicle’s
on-board computer.
Never leave the keys inside the vehicle when you leave the vehicle.
This system is designed to help prevent vehicle theft but does not guarantee
absolute security against all vehicle thefts.