1654-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer. Help to avoid an
accident, death or serious injury, keep
the following in mind when towing:
Speed limits for towing a trailer vary
by state or province. Do not exceed
the posted towing speed limit.
Lexus recommends that the vehicle-
trailer speed limit is 65 mph (104
km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road.
Do not exceed this limit, the posted
towing speed limit or the speed limit
for your trailer as set forth in your
trailer owner’s manual, whichever is
lowest. Instability of the towing vehi-
cle-trailer combination (trailer
sway) increases as speed increases.
Exceeding speed limits may cause
loss of control.
Before starting out, check the trailer
lights, tires and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving
a short distance.
Practice turning, stopping and
reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you
become accustomed to the feel of
the vehicle-trailer combination.
Reversing with a tr ailer attached is
difficult and requires practice. Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel
and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left. Move
your hand to the right to move the
trailer to right. (This is generally
opposite to reversing without a
trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have someone
guide you when reversing to reduce
the risk of an accident.
As stopping distance is increased
when towing a trailer, vehicle-to
vehicle distance should be
increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/
h) of speed, allow at least one vehi-
cle and trailer length.
Avoid sudden braking as you may
skid, resulting in the trailer jackknif-
ing and a loss of vehicle control. This
is especially true on wet or slippery
surfaces.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden accel-
eration.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp
turns, and slow down before making
turn.
Note that when making a turn, the
trailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Compensate by making a
wider than normal turning radius.
Slow down before making a turn, in
cross winds, on wet or slippery sur-
faces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can desta-
bilize the trailer.
Take care when passing other vehi-
cles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After pass ing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer,
and be sure you have plenty of room
before changing lanes.
To maintain engine braking effi-
ciency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, Trailer towing tips
1714-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving ods of time when the hybrid system is not
operating. ■
When stopping the hybrid system with
the shift lever in a po sition other than P
If the hybrid system is stopped with the shift
lever in a position ot her 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:
1 Check that the parking brake is set.
2 Shift the shift lever to P.
3 Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is dis-
played on the multi-information display
and then press the power switch once.
4 Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on the
multi-information display is off.
Turns EV drive mode on/off When EV drive mode is turned on, the EV
drive mode indicator will come on.
Pressing the switch wh en in EV drive mode
will return the vehicle to normal driving
(using the gasoline engine and electric
motor [traction motor]).
■
Situations in which EV drive mode can-
not be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive
mode on in the following situations. If it can-
not be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a
message will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display.
●
The temperature of the hybrid system is
high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun, NOTICE■
To prevent 12-volt battery discharge●
Do not leave the power switch in
ACCESSORY or ON mode for long
periods of time without the hybrid sys-
tem on.●
If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display while the hybrid system is
not operating, the power switch is not
off. Exit the vehicle after turning the
power switch off.
●
Do not stop the hybrid system when
the shift lever is in a position other than
P. If the hybrid sy stem is stopped in
another shift lever position, the power
switch will not be turned off but instead
be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If
the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY
mode, 12-volt battery discharge may
occur. EV drive mode In EV drive mode, electric power is
supplied by the hybrid battery
(traction battery), and only the
electric motor (traction motor) is
used to drive the vehicle.
This mode allows you to drive in res-
idential areas early in the morning
and late at night, or in indoor park-
ing lots, etc., without concern for
noises and gas emissions.
Operating instructions
176 4-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 2 DownshiftingThe selected shift range, from 1 to 6, will be
displayed.
The initial shift range in S mode is 4. ■
Shift ranges and their functions
You can choose from 6 levels of
accelerating force and engine brak-
ing force.
A lower shift range will provide
greater accelerating force and
engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and the engine revolu-
tions will also increase. ■
Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor-
mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances,
downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever or paddle shift switch is
operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
3 Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
4 Left turn ■
Turn signals can be operated when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■
If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear
turn signal lights has not burned out.
■
Customization
→ P.425Turn signal lever
Operating instructions
2554-6. Driving tips
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving 4-6.Driving tips
When using Eco mode, the torque cor-
responding to the accelerator pedal
depression amount can be generated
more smoothly than it is in normal con-
ditions. In addition, the operation of the
air conditioning system (heating/cool-
ing) will be minimized, improving the
fuel economy. ( → P.249)
The Eco-friendly driving is possible by
keeping the indicator needle of Hybrid
System Indicator within Eco area.
( → P.82)
Shift the shift lever to D when stopped
at a traffic light, or driving in heavy traf-
fic, etc. Shift the shift lever to P when
parking. When using the N, there is no
positive effect on fuel consumption. In
the N, the gasoline engine operates
but electricity cannot be generated.
Also, when using the air conditioning
system, etc., the hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) power is consumed. Drive your vehicle smoothly. Avoid
abrupt acceleration and decelera-
tion. Gradual acceleration and
deceleration will make more effec-
tive use of the electric motor (trac-
tion motor) without having to use
gasoline engine power.
Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration consumes
hybrid battery (traction battery)
power, resulting in poor fuel con-
sumption. Battery power can be
restored by driving with the acceler-
ator pedal slightly released.
Make sure to operate the brakes gently
and in a timely manner. A greater
amount of electrical energy can be
regenerated when slowing down.
Repeated acceleration and decelera-
tion, as well as long waits at traffic
lights, will lead to bad fuel economy.
Check traffic reports before leaving
and avoid delays as much as possible.
When driving in a traffic jam, gently
release the brake pedal to allow the
vehicle to move forward slightly while
avoiding overuse of the accelerator
pedal. Doing so can help control
excessive gasoline consumption.Hybrid vehicle driving tips For economical and ecological
driving, pay attention to the follow-
ing points:
Using Eco mode
Use of Hybrid System Indicator
Shift Changing the shift lever
operation Accelerator pedal/brake pedal
operation
When braking
Delays
256 4-6. Driving tips
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U Control and maintain the vehicle at a
constant speed. Before stopping at a
toll booth or similar, allow plenty of
time to release the accelerator and
gently apply the brakes. A greater
amount of electrical energy can be
regenerated when slowing down.
Use the air conditioning only when
necessary. Doing so can help reduce
excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: When the ambient tem-
perature is high, use the recirculated
air mode. Doing so will help to reduce
the burden on the air conditioning sys-
tem and reduce fuel consumption as
well.
In winter: Because the gasoline engine
will not automatically cut out until it and
the interior of the vehicle are warm, it
will consume fuel. Also, fuel consump-
tion can be improved by avoiding over-
use of the heater.
Make sure to check the tire inflation
pressure frequently. Improper tire infla-
tion pressure can cause poor fuel
economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause large
amounts of friction, their use on dry
roads can lead to poor fuel economy.
Use tires that are appropriate for the
season. Carrying heavy luggage will lead to
poor fuel economy. Avoid carrying
unnecessary luggage. Installing a large
roof rack will also cause poor fuel
economy.
Since the gasoline engine starts up and
cuts out automatically when cold,
warming up the engine is unnecessary.
Moreover, frequently driving short dis-
tances will cause the engine to repeat-
edly warm up, which can lead to excess
fuel consumption.Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation pressure Luggage
Warming up before driving
2614-6. Driving tips
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving WARNING●
Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.●
After driving through tall grass, mud,
rock, sand, water, etc., check that there
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone,
sand, etc. adhering or trapped to the
underbody. Clear off any such matter
from the underbody. If the vehicle is
used with these materials trapped or
adhering to the underbody, a break-
down or fire could occur.●
When driving off-road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sh arp turns, strike
objects, etc. This may cause loss of
control or vehicle rollover causing
death or serious injury. You are also
risking expensive damage to your
vehicle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE■
To prevent water damage
Take all necessary sa fety measures to
ensure that water da mage to the hybrid
battery (traction battery), hybrid system
or other components does not occur. ●
Water entering the engine compart-
ment may cause severe damage to the
hybrid system. Water entering the inte-
rior may cause the hybrid battery
stowed under the rear seats to short
circuit.
●
Water entering the hybrid transmis-
sion and rear electr ic motor (traction
motor) will cause deterioration in
transmission quality. The malfunction
indicator may come on, and the vehi-
cle may not be drivable.
●
Water can wash the grease from wheel
bearings, causing rusting and prema-
ture failure, and may also enter the
hybrid transmission case, reducing the
gear oil’s lubricating qualities. ■
When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when
crossing shallow streams, first check the
depth of the water and the bottom of the
riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and
avoid deep water. ■
Inspection after off-road driving ●
Sand and mud that has accumulated
around brake discs may affect braking
efficiency and may damage brake sys-
tem components. ●
Always perform a maintenance
inspection after each day of off-road
driving that has taken you through
rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For
scheduled maintena nce information,
refer to the “Warranty and Services
Guide/Owner’s Manual Supplement/
Scheduled Maintenance”.
313
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 6 6
Maintenance and care Maintenance and care 6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehi-
cle exterior ................................. 314
Cleaning and protecting the vehi-
cle interior .................................. 317
6-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements ... 319
General maintenance ............. 320
Emission inspection and mainte-
nance (I/M) programs ......... 322
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions
........................................................ 324
Hood............................................... 325
Positioning a floor jack............ 326
Engine compartment............... 327
12-volt battery............................. 333
Tires ................................................ 336
Tire inflation pressure .............. 343
Wheels........................................... 345
Air conditioning filter............... 346
Electronic key battery ............. 347
Checking and replacing fuses
........................................................ 349
Headlight aim............................... 351
Light bulbs .................................... 353
3196-2. Maintenance
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
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Maintenance and care 6-2.Maintenance
■
Repair and replacement
It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts
be used for repairs to ensure performance
of each system. If non-Lexus parts are used
in replacement or if a repair shop other than
a Lexus dealer perfor ms repairs, confirm
the warranty coverage. ■
Allow inspection and repairs to be per-
formed by a Lexus dealer●
Lexus technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the
latest service information. They are well
informed about the operation of all sys-
tems on your vehicle.●
Keep a copy of the repa ir order. It proves
that the maintenance that has been per-
formed is under warra nty coverage. If any
problem should arise while your vehicle is
under warranty, your Lexus dealer will
promptly take care of it. General maintenance should be per-
formed on a daily basis. This can be
done by yourself or by a Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance should be
performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance sched-
ule. For details about ma intenance items and
schedules, refer to the “Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.
■
Resetting the message indicating main-
tenance is required (U.S.A. only)
After the required maintenance is pre-
formed according to the maintenance
schedule, please reset the message.
To reset the message, follow the procedures
described below:
1 Press or of the meter control
switches and select .Maintenance requirements To ensure safe and economical driv-
ing, day-to-day care and regular
maintenance are essential. It is the
owner’s responsibility to perform
regular checks. Lexus recommends
the following maintenance:
WARNING
■
If your vehicle is not properly main-
tained
Improper maintenanc e could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and possi-
ble serious injury or death.
■
Handling of the 12-volt battery
●
Engine exhaust, some of its constitu-
ents, and a wide variety of automobile
components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects and
other reproductive harm. Work in a
well ventilated area. ●
Oils, fuels and fluids contained in vehi-
cles as well as waste produced by
component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of Cali-
fornia to cause cancer and birth
defects or other re productive harm.
Avoid exposure and wash any affected
area immediately. ●
12-volt Battery post s, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds which are known to
cause brain damage. Wash your hands
after handling. ( → P.333)
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance