2018 Lexus ES300h tow

3
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
1
9 8
7
6 4 3
2
10
5
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ......................154
Cargo and luggage ....................162
Vehicle load limits .......................165
Trailer towing ................................166
Dinghy towing ............................... 167
4-2. Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch............. 168
EV drive mode .............................. 173
Hybrid transmission....................175
Turn signal lever .......................... 180
Parking brake ................................. 181
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ......................... 182
Automatic High Beam.............. 185
Fog light switch ............................ 189
Windshield wipers and washer ................................. 190
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .......194 4-5. Using the driving support
systems
Lexus Safety System+ ............... 198
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ......... 205
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering co ntrol) .............. 216
Dynamic radar cruise control............................ 225
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

TABLE OF CONTENTS6
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................ 430
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior.................. 433
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ............................ 436
General mainte nance.............. 439
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs.................................... 442
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions................................ 443
Hood ............................................... 445
Positioning a floor jack ............ 446
Engine compartment ............... 447
12-volt battery ............................. 457
Tires ...................................................461
Tire inflation pressure ................ 471
Wheels ........................................... 474
Air conditioning filter ............... 476
Electronic key battery.............. 478
Checking and replacing fuses..............................................480
Light bulbs .................................... 483 8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers .................. 496
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency ... 497
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed ............................... 498
If you think something is wrong................ 502
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds ....503
If a warning message is displayed ................................ 509
If you have a flat tire ....................513
If the hybrid system will not start ............................................... 523
If the electronic key does not operate properly..................... 525
If the 12-volt battery is discharged................................. 527
If your vehicle overheats...........531
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................................. 535
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises

18Pictorial index
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Power switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 168
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 168
Emergency stop of the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 497
When the hybrid system will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 523
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 509
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 175
Changing the shift position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 175
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 498
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. 503
1
2
3

391-1. For safe use
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
1
For safety and security
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVA NCED AIRBAGS designed based on the
US motor vehicle safety standards (F MVSS208). The airbag sensor assembly
(ECU) controls airbag deployment based on information obtained from the sen-
sors etc. shown in the system compon ents diagram above. This information
includes crash severity and occupant information. As the airbags deploy, a
chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to
help restrain the motion of the occupants.
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precaution s regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be us ed with the seat belts.
●The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or seri-
ous injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of inflation,
placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides you with a clear
margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering wheel to
your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in . (250 mm) away now, you can change your
driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals com-
fortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm) dis-
tance, even with the driver seat all the wa y forward, simply by reclining the back of
the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to see the road,
raise yourself by using a firm , non-slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle
has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is ad justable, tilt it downward. This points the airbag toward
your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA ab ove, while still maintain-
ing control of the foot pedals, steering whee l, and your view of the instrument panel
controls.

411-1. For safe use
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
1
For safety and security
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not hang coat hangers or hard objects on the coat hooks. All of these items could
become projectiles and may cause death or serious injury, should the SRS curtain
shield airbags deploy.
●If a vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS knee airbag will deploy, be sure to
remove it.
●Do not use seat accessories which cover th e parts where the SRS side airbags inflate
as they may interfere with inflation of th e airbags. Such accessories may prevent the
side airbags from activating correctly, disable the system or cause the side airbags to
inflate accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
●Do not lean against the door, the roof side rail
or the front, side and rear pillars.
●Do not allow anyone to kneel on the passen-
ger seats toward the door or put their head or
hands outside the vehicle.
●Do not attach anything to or lean anything
against areas such as the dashboard, steering
wheel pad, lower portion of the instrument
panel and door of the glove box.
These items can become projectiles when the
SRS driver, front passeng er and knee airbags
deploy.
●Do not attach anything to areas such as a
door, windshield glass, side door glass, front
or rear pillar, roof side rail and assist grip.

741-2. Hybrid system
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
WARNING
■Road accident cautions
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of death or serious injury:
●Pull your vehicle off the road, apply the park ing 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 ou tside your vehicle, an electric shock may
occur. Never touch exposed electric wires.
●If a fluid leak occurs, do not touch the flui d 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 immedi ate medical attention.
●If a fire occurs in the hybrid vehicles, leav e 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 elec tricity. This may cause a fire. (→P. 498)
●Carefully inspect the ground under the vehicl e. 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 vehicle, 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 cause electric shock that can result in death or
serious injury.

ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
1233-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
3
Operation of each component
■Electronic Key Battery-Saving Function
When battery-saving mode is set, battery depletion is minimized by stopping the elec-
tronic key from receiving radio waves.
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart access system with push-button st art uses weak radio waves. In the following
situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be
affected, preventing the smar t access system with push-but ton start, wireless remote
control and immobilizer system from operating properly. (Ways of coping: → P. 525)
●When the electronic key battery is depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas st ation, radio station, large display, airport or
other facility that generates strong radio wave s or electrical noise
●When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless com-
munication device
●When the electronic key is in contact wi th, or is covered by the following metallic
objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• Metallic wallets or bags
•Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wireless keys (that emit radio waves) are being used nearby
●When carrying the electronic key together with the following devices that emit radio
waves
• Another vehicle’s electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or person al digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint with a metallic content or me tallic objects are attached to the rear win-
dow
Press twice while pressing and holding
. Confirm that the electronic key indica-
tor flashes 4 times.
While the battery-saving mode is set, the smart
access system with push -button start cannot be
used. To cancel the function, press any of the
electronic key buttons.

ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
1373-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
■Installing the head restraints
Front seats
Rear seats
■Adjusting the height of the head restraints
■Adjusting the rear seat head restraint
Always raise the head restraint one level from the stowed position when using.
Align the head restraint with the installation
holes and push it down to the lock position.
Press and hold the lock release button when
lowering the head restraint.
Align the head restrain
t with the installation
holes and push it down to the lowest lock posi-
tion while pressing the lock release button.
Make sure that the head restraints are adjusted
so that the center of the head restraint is closest
to the top of your ears.
WARNING
■Head restraint precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding th e head restraints. Failure to do so may
result in death or serious injury.
●Use the head restraints designed for each respective seat.
●Adjust the head restraints to th e correct position at all times.
●After adjusting the head restraints, push down on them and make sure they are
locked in position.
●Do not drive with the head restraints removed.
Lock release button
Lock release button