2018 Lexus ES300h engine

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ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■Switching to EV drive mode wh
en the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gasoline engine will
start automatically in order to warm up. In th is case, you will become unable to switch to
EV drive mode.
After the hybrid system has started and the “READY” indicator has illuminated, press the
EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts to switch to EV drive mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the fol-
lowing situations. When EV drive mode is ca nceled, a buzzer will sound and the EV indi-
cator will flash 3 times and go off.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” screen is low. (→P. 97)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
When it is possible to inform the driver of automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-information display.
■Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters to approxi-
mately 1.3 mile (2 km). Howe ver, depending on vehicle conditions, there are situations
when EV drive mode cannot be used.
(The distance that is possible depends on th e hybrid battery [traction battery] level and
driving conditions.)
■Fuel economy
The hybrid system is designed to achieve th e best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline engine and electr ic motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necess ary may lower fuel economy.
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode no engine noise is made. As such, pedestrians, people
riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in the surrounding area may not be aware
of the vehicle starting off or approaching th em. Therefore, take extra care while driving
even if the vehicle proximity notification system is active.

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4
Driving
Hybrid transmission
While the power switch is in ON mode
, move the shift lever with the brake
pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises , set the shift lever in D for normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control engine braking forces.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 (→ P. 176)

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ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
To enter S mode, shift the shift lever to S. Shift ranges can then be selected by
operating the shift lever, allowing you to
drive in the shift range of your choosing.
Upshifting
Downshifting
The selected shift range, from 1 to 6, will
be displayed in the meter.
The initial shift range in S mode is auto-
matically set to 4 to 5 according to vehi-
cle speed.
■Shift ranges and their functions
●You can choose from 6 levels of engine braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide greate r engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and the engine revolutions will also increase.
●If you accelerate while in ranges 1 to 4, the shift range may automatically
range up in accordance with the vehicle’s speed.
Selecting shift ranges in the S position
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4
Driving
■S mode
●When the shift range is 4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift range
to 6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
■When driving with dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
the engine brake will not operate in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 225)
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifti ng operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circum stances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the hybr id transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operat e in the same manner as when the shift lever
is in D.)
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent ac cidental operation of the shift lever in start-
ing.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only wh en the power switch is in ON mode and the
brake pedal is being depressed.
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
●When the following unusual operation is pe rformed, the hybrid system output may be
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D includes S) with the acce lerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. If a warning message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follo w the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.

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ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brak
e pedal is being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brake pedal, there may be a prob-
lem with the shift lock system. Have the vehi cle inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensure that the shift lever
can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake. (→ P. 181)
Turn the power switch to off.
Depress the brake pedal.
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver performance and
driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever to S
cancels the function.) Pry the cover up with
a flathead screwdriver
or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover the tip
of the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the button
is pressed.
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause th e vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in an
accident.
■To prevent an accident wh en releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override butto n, make sure to set the parking brake and
depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depres s instead of the brake pedal when the shift
lock override button is pressed and the shif t lever is shifted out of P, the vehicle may
suddenly start, possibly leading to an acci dent resulting in death or serious injury.
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Driving
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery) charge
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction ba ttery) will not be charged even
when the engine is running. Therefore, if the vehicle is left with the shift lever in N for a
long period of time, the hybrid battery (t raction battery) will discharge, and this may
result in the vehicle not being able to start.

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4
Driving
■The intuitive parking assist can be operated when
●Front center sensors:
• The power switch is in ON mode.
• The shift lever is in a position other than P or R.
• The vehicle speed is less than about 6 mph (10 km/h).
●Front corner sensors:
• The power switch is in ON mode.
• The shift lever is in a position other than P.
• The vehicle speed is less than about 6 mph (10 km/h).(At any speed when the shift lever is in R)
●Rear corner and rear center sensors:
• The power switch is in ON mode.
• The shift lever is in R.
■Intuitive parking assist display
When an obstacle is de tected while the Lexus parking assist monitor is in use, the warn-
ing indicator will appear in the upper part of the screen even if the display setting has
been set to off.
■Sensor detectio n information
●The sensor’s detection areas ar e limited to the areas around the vehicle’s front corners
and rear bumper.
●Certain vehicle conditions and the surroundi ng environment may affect the ability of
the sensor to correctly detect obstacles. Particular instances where this may occur are
listed below.
• There is dirt, snow or ice on the sensor . (Wiping the sensors will resolve this prob-
lem.)
• The sensor is frozen. (Thawing the area will resolve this problem.)
In especially cold weather, if a sensor is frozen the screen may show an abnormal
display, or obstacles may not be detected.
• The sensor is covered in any way.
• The vehicle is leaning considerably to one side.
• On an extremely bumpy road, on an incline, on gravel, or on grass.
• The vicinity of the vehicle is noisy due to vehicle horns, motorcycle engines, air
brakes of large vehicles, or other loud noises producing ultrasonic waves.
• There is another vehicle equipped with parking assist sensors in the vicinity.
• The sensor is coated with a sheet of spray or heavy rain.
• The vehicle is equipped with a fender pole or wireless antenna.
• Towing eyelets are installed.
• The bumper or sensor re ceives a strong impact.
• The vehicle is approaching a tall or curved curb.
• In harsh sunlight or intense cold weather.
• The area directly under the bumpers is not detected.
• If obstacles draw too close to the sensor.
• A non-genuine Lexus suspension (low ered suspension etc.) is installed.
• People may not be detected if they are wearing certain types of clothing.
In addition to the examples above, there ar e instances in which, because of their shape,
signs and other objects may be judged by the sensor to be closer than they are.

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Driving
■ECB operating sound
ECB operating sound may be heard in the following cases, but it does not indicate that a
malfunction has occurred.
●Operating sound heard from the engine compartment when the brake pedal is oper-
ated.
●Motor sound of the brake system heard from the front part of the vehicle when the
driver’s door is opened.
●Operating sound heard from the engine compartment when one or two minutes
passed after the stop of the hybrid system.
■EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be heard.
This does not indicate a malfunction.
■Automatic reactivation of TRAC and VSC systems
After turing the TRAC and VSC systems off, the syst ems will be automatically re-
enabled in the following situations:
●When the power switch is turned off
●If only the TRAC system is turned off, the TRAC will turn on when vehicle speed
increases.
If both the TRAC and VSC systems are turned off, automatic re-enabling will not occur
when vehicle speed increases.
■Operating conditions of hill-start assist control
When the following four conditions are met, the hill-start assist control will operate:
●The shift lever is in a position other than P or N (when starting off forward/backward on
an upward incline).
●The vehicle is stopped.
●The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
●The parking brake is not engaged.
■Automatic system cancelation of hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn off in any of the following situations:
●The shift lever is moved to P or N.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed.
●The parking brake is engaged.
●Approximately 2 seconds elapse af ter the brake pedal is released.
■Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from overheating
when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of time. The steering
wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain from excessive steering input
or stop the vehicle and turn the hybrid system off. The EPS system should return to nor-
mal within 10 minutes.