Page 461 of 640

4617-1. Maintenance and care
7
Maintenance and care
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
■When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the following correction proce-
dures to wash the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 2 m (6 ft.) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehi- cle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
●Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart entry & start system.( P. 157)
■Aluminum wheels
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical cleaners. Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
●Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after driving a longdistance in hot weather.
●Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.
■Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
■Side windows water-repellent coating
●The following precautions can extend the effectiveness of the water-repellent coating.
• Remove any dirt, etc. from the side windows regularly. • Do not allow dirt and dust to accumulate on the windows for a long period.
Clean the windows with a soft, damp cloth as soon as possible. • Do not use wax or glass cleaners that co ntain abrasives when cleaning the windows. • Do not use any metallic objects to remove condensation build up.
●When the water-repellent performance has become insufficient, the coating can be
repaired. Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Page 482 of 640

4827-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
The meanings of each caution symbol on the top of the 12-volt battery are as fol-
lows:
■Before recharging
When recharging, the 12-volt battery produc es hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. Therefore, observe the follo wing precautions before recharging:
●If recharging with the 12-volt battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the
ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the charger is off when connecting and disconnecting
the charger cables to the 12-volt battery.
■After recharging/reconnecting the 12-volt battery
●The hybrid system may not start. Follow the procedure below to initialize the system.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Open and close any of the doors.
Restart the hybrid system.
●Unlocking the doors using the smart entry & start system may not be possible immedi- ately after reconnecting the 12-volt battery. If this happens, use the wireless remote control or the mechanical key to lock/unlock the doors.
●Start the hybrid system with the power switch in ACCESSORY mode. The hybrid sys-tem may not start with the power switch turned off. However, the hybrid system willoperate normally from the second attempt.
●The power switch mode is recorded by the vehicle. If the 12-volt battery is reconnected,the vehicle will return the power switch mode to the status it was in before the 12-volt battery was disconnected. Make sure to turn off the power switch before disconnecting
the 12-volt battery. Take extra care when connecting the 12-volt battery if the power switch mode prior to the 12-volt battery being disconnected is unknown.
If the system will not start even after multip le attempts at all the methods above, contact
any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes- sional.
Caution symbols
No smoking, no nakedflames, no sparks12-volt battery acid
Shield eyesNote operating instructions
Keep away from childrenExplosive gas
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Page 511 of 640
5117-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
●Flathead screwdriver
●Small flathead screwdriver
●Lithium battery CR2032
Take out the mechanical key.
Remove the cover.
To prevent damage to the key, wrap the
tip of the screwdriver with tape.
Remove the battery cover.
To prevent damage to the key, wrap the
tip of the screwdriver with tape.
Electronic key battery
Replace the battery with a new one if it is depleted.
You will need the following items:
Replacing the battery
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Page 512 of 640

5127-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
Remove the depleted battery.
Insert a new battery with the “+” termi-
nal facing up.
■Use a CR2032 lithium battery
●Batteries can be purchased at any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional, local electrical appliance shops or camera stores.
●Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer.
●Dispose of used batteries according to local laws.
■When the card key battery needs to be replaced (if equipped)
The battery for the card key is available only at Lexus dealers. Your Lexus dealer can replace the battery for you.
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
The following symptoms may occur:
●The smart entry & start system and wireless remote control will not function properly.
●The operational range will be reduced.
■Certification for the key battery
●Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer.
●Dispose of used batteries according to the local laws.
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Page 527 of 640
527
8When trouble arises
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ..................528
If your vehicle has
to be stopped
in an emergency...................... 529
8-2. Steps to take
in an emergency
If your vehicle needs
to be towed................................530
If you think something
is wrong....................................... 536
If a warning light turns
on or a warning buzzer
sounds.......................................... 537
If a warning message
is displayed ................................ 542
If you have a flat tire .................. 563
If the hybrid system will
not start ....................................... 576
If the electronic key does
not operate properly ............. 578
If the 12-volt battery is
discharged .................................582
If your vehicle overheats ......... 587
If the vehicle becomes
stuck ............................................. 592
Page 559 of 640

5598-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
OnceCon- tinuous
An attempt was made to lock the
doors using the smart entry & start system while the electronic key wasstill inside the vehicle.
Retrieve the electronic key from the vehicle and lock thedoors again.
An attempt was made to lock either
door by opening a door and putting the inside lock button into the lockposition, then closing the door by
pulling on the outside door handle with the electronic key still inside thevehicle.
Retrieve the electronic key from the vehicle and lock thedoors again.
An attempt was made to lock the
doors other than using the smart entry & start system while the elec-tronic key was still inside the vehicle.
Retrieve the electronic key from the vehicle and lock the
doors again.
Once
The electronic key has a low 12-volt battery. Replace the electronic key bat-
tery. ( P. 511)
Once
The steering lock could not be released within 3 seconds of the
power switch being pressed. Press the power switch while depressing the brake pedal and
moving the steering wheel left and right.
InteriorbuzzerExteriorbuzzerWarning messageDetails/Actions
(Flashes)
(Flashes)
Page 576 of 640

5768-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
One of the following may be the cause of the problem:
●The electronic key may not be functioning properly. (P. 580)
●There may not be sufficient fuel in the vehicle’s tank.
Refuel the vehicle.
●There may be a malfunction in the immobilizer system. ( P. 95)
●There may be a malfunction in the steering lock system.
●The hybrid system may be malfunctioning due to an electrical problem such
as electronic key battery depletion or a blown fuse. However, depending on
the type of malfunction, an interim measure is available to start the hybrid sys-
tem. ( P. 577)
One of the following may be the cause of the problem:
●The 12-volt battery may be discharged. ( P. 582)
●The 12-volt battery terminal connections may be loose or corroded.
( P. 481)
If the hybrid system will not start
Reasons for the hybrid system not starting vary depending on the situation.
Check the following and perform the appropriate procedure:
The hybrid system will not start even though the correct starting proce-
dure is being followed. ( P. 215)
The interior lights and headlights are dim, or the horn does not sound or
sounds at a low volume.
Page 578 of 640
5788-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
Use the mechanical key (P. 139) in order to perform the following operations:
■Unlocking the door
Insert the mechanical key while
pulling on the driver’s door han-
dle.
Unlocking the door.
Remove the key, return the handle, and then pull the handle again.
If the electronic key does not operate properly
If communication between the electronic key and vehicle is interrupted ( P.
157) or the electronic key cannot be used because the battery is depleted, the
smart entry & start system and wireless remote control cannot be used. In
such cases, the doors and trunk can be opened and the hybrid system can be
started by following the procedure below.
Locking and unlocking the doors and opening the trunk
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