
2164-2. Driving procedures
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
Modes can be changed by pressing the power switch with brake pedal released.
(The mode changes each time the switch is pressed.)
Off*
The emergency flashers can be used.
ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the meters.
ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the meters.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other than
P when turning off the hybrid system,
the power switch will be turned to
ACCESSORY mode, not to off.
If the hybrid system is stopped with the sh ift lever in a position other than P, the
power switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. Perform the following procedure to turn the switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Power OFF” is displayed on the multi-information display
and then press the power switch once.
Check that “Turn Power OFF” on the multi-information display is off.
Changing power switch modes
1
2
3
When stopping the hybrid system with the shift lever in a position other
than P
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2
3
4

2174-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or ON mode (the hybrid system is not operating) for more than an hour with the shift lever in P, the power switch will automatically turn off. However, th is function cannot entirely prevent 12-volt
battery discharge. Do not leave the vehicle with the power switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long periods of time when the hybrid system is not operating.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
P. 88
■Electronic key battery depletion
P. 141
■When the ambient temperature is low, such as during winter driving conditions
When starting the hybrid system, the flashing time of the “READY” indicator may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is until the “REA DY” indicator is steady on, as steady means
the vehicle is able to move.
■Conditions affecting operation
P. 157
■Notes for the entry function
P. 158
■If the hybrid system does not start
●Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The hybrid system may not start if the shift lever is displaced out of P.
●The immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. ( P. 95)
Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
■Steering lock
After turning the power switch off and openin g and closing the doors, the steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock func tion. Operating the power switch again auto- matically cancels the steering lock.
■When the steering lock cannot be released
■Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from over heating, operation of the motor may be sus- pended if the hybrid system is turned on an d off repeatedly in a short period of time. In
this case, refrain from operating the power switch. After about 10 seconds, the steering lock motor will resume functioning.
“Steering Lock active” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is in P. Press the power switch while turning the steering wheel left and
right.

2184-2. Driving procedures
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
■When “Check Entry & Start System” is displayed on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qua lified and equipped professional immediately.
■If the “READY” indicator does not come on
In the event that the “READY” indicator does not come on even after performing the proper procedures for starting the vehicle, contact any authorized Lexus dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional immediately.
■If the hybrid system is malfunctioning
P. 543
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 511
■Operation of the power switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the power switch mode may not change or the hybrid system may not start.
●If attempting to restart the hybrid system immediately after turning the power switch off,
the hybrid system may not start in some cases. After turning the power switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the hybrid system.
■If the smart entry & start system has been deactivated by a customized setting
P. 578
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sittin g in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the accelerator pedal while starting the hybrid system under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resu lting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If hybrid system failure occurs while the ve hicle is moving, do not lock or open the
doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and c omplete stop. Activation of the steering lock in this circumstance may lead to an accide nt, resulting in death or serious injury.
■Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
If you want to stop the hybrid system in an emergency while driving the vehicle, press and hold the power switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly 3 times or morein succession. ( P. 529)
However, do not touch the power switch while driving except in an emergency. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, however, power assist to the steering will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer
smoothly, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

2204-2. Driving procedures
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned on, “EV MODE” will be displayed on the multi-information display. Pressing the switch
when in EV drive mode will return the vehicle to normal driving (using the gas-oline engine and electric motor [traction
motor]).
■Situations in which EV drive mode cannot be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situations. If it cannot be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-information dis- play.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is high. The vehicle has been left in the sun, driv en on a hill, driven at high speeds, etc.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is low.
The vehicle has been left in temperatures lower than about 0 C (32F) for a long period of time etc.
●The gasoline engine is warming up.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) is low.The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy monitor” display is low. ( P. 129)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill, etc.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, electric power is supplied by the hybrid battery (traction
battery), and only the electric motor (tra ction motor) is used to drive the vehi-
cle.
This mode allows you to drive in residential areas early in the morning and late
at night, or in indoor parking lots etc. without concern for noises and gas emis-
sions.

2374-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
■The Automatic High Beam can be operated when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■Camera sensor detection information
●High beam may not be automatically turned off in the following situations:
• When oncoming vehicles suddenly appear from a curve • When the vehicle is cut in front of by another vehicle• When oncoming or preceding vehicles are hidden from sight due to repeated
curves, road dividers or roadside trees
●High beam may be turned off if an oncoming vehicle that is using fog lights without
using the headlights is detected.
●House lights, street lights, red traffic sign als, and illuminated billboards or signs may cause the high beam to turn off.
●The following factors may affect the amount of time taken to turn high beam on or off:
• The brightness of headlights, fog lights, and tail lights of oncoming and preceding vehicles
• The movement and direction of oncoming and preceding vehicles • When an oncoming or preceding vehicle only has operational lights on one side • When an oncoming or preceding vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The condition of the road (gradient, curve, condition of the road surface etc.) • The number of passengers and amount of luggage
●High beam may be turned on or off when unexpected by the driver.
●Small vehicles, such as bicycles, may not be detected.
●In the situations below, the system may not be able to correctly detect the surrounding
brightness levels, and may flash or expose nearby pedestrians to the high beam. There- fore, you should consider turning the high be ams on or off manually rather than relying on the Automatic High Beam system.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.) • The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty. • Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights or fog lights. • Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights that are either switched off, dirty, chang-
ing color, or have improperly adjusted aim. • When driving through an area of interm ittently changing brightness and darkness. • When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with
rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel tracks etc.). • When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road.• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty. • The vehicle is listing or titling, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed etc.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.• The vehicle is used in a territory in which vehicles travel on the opposite side of the
road of the country for which the vehicle is approved, for example using a vehicle designed for right-hand traffic in a left-hand traffic territory, or vice versa.

2554-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
■Cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in D or range 4 or higher of S has been selected.
●Range 4 or higher of D has been selected by using the paddle shift.
●Vehicle speed is above approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
■Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
●The vehicle can be accelerated by operating accelerator pedal. After accelerating, the set speed resumes.
●Even without canceling the cruise control, the set speed can be increased by first accel-erating the vehicle to the desired speed and then pushing the lever down to set the newspeed.
■Automatic cruise control cancelation
Cruise control is automatically canceled in any of the following situations.
●Actual vehicle speed falls more than approximately 16 km/h (10 mph) below the set
speed.
●Actual vehicle speed is below approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
●VSC is activated.
●TRC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRC system is turned off by pressing the VSC OFF switch.
■If the warning message for the cruise contro l is shown on the multi-information display
Press the “ON/OFF” button once to deactivate the system, and then press the button again to reactivate the system.If the cruise control speed cannot be set or if the cruise control cancels immediately after
being activated, there may be a malfunction in the cruise control system. Have the vehi- cle inspected by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified andequipped professional.

2594-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
Press the “ON/OFF” button to acti-
vate the cruise control.
Radar cruise control indicator will come
on and a message will be displayed on the multi-information display.
Press the button again to deactivate the
cruise control.
Accelerate or decelerate, with
accelerator pedal operation, to the
desired vehicle speed (above
approximately 50 km/h [30 mph])
and push the lever down to set the
speed.
Cruise control “SET” indicator and set
speed will be displayed.
The vehicle speed at the moment the lever is released be comes the set speed.
Setting the vehicle speed (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode)
1
2

2654-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RC300h_EE(OM24740E)
■Radar sensor and grille cover
Always keep the sensor and grille cover clean to ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle dis- tance control mode operates properly. (Some ob structions, such as snow, ice and plastic
objects, cannot be detected by the obstruction sensor.) Dynamic radar cruise control is canceled if an obstruction is detected.
■Operation guide display
When the dynamic radar cruise control switch is operated, a guidance display is shown
on the meters for a few seconds as to how to operate the dynamic radar cruise control switch or distance switch. ( P. 126)
■Warning messages and buzzers for dynamic radar cruise control
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform the driver of the need for caution while driving. ( P. 548)
Grille cover
Radar sensor
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