2019 LEXUS LS500H Owners Manual

1774-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
4
Driving
■Reverse warning buzzer
When shifting into R, a buzzer will sound to
inform the driver that the shift position is in
R.
■To protect the hybrid transmission
If the transmission fluid temperature is high,
“Transmission Fluid Temp High See
Owner’s Manual” will be displayed on the
multi-information display and the vehicle
will go into transmission protection mode
automatically. Have the vehicle inspected
by your Lexus dealer.
■When driving with the dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range
activated
Even when performing the following
actions with the intent of enabling engine
braking, engine braking will not be acti-
vated because the dynamic radar cruise
control with full-spe ed range will not be
canceled.
●While driving in the D position, down-
shifting to 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 or 4.
●When switching the driving mode to
sport mode while driving in the D position
(  P.297)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
 P.161
■AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatica lly selects the suit-
able gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when
the shift position is in D. (Shifting the shift
position to the M position cancels the func-
tion.)
■If a message about a shift operation is
shown
To prevent the shift position from being
selected incorrectly or the vehicle from
moving unexpectedly, the shift position may
be changed automatically or operating the
shift lever may be required. In this case,
change the shift positi on following the mes-
sages on the multi-information display.
■After recharging/reconnecting the
12-volt battery
 P.390
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.479)
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Do not accelerate or shift the shift posi-
tion suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may
cause the vehicle to sp in or skid, resulting
in an accident.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (t raction battery)
charge
If the shift position is in N, the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) will not be
charged. To help prevent the battery
from discharging, avoid leaving the N
position selected for an extended period
of time.
■Situations where sh ift control system
malfunctions are possible
If any of the following situations occurs,
shift control system malfunctions are
possible.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe
place on level ground, apply the parking
brake, and then contact your Lexus
dealer.
●When the warning message indicating
the shift control system appears on the
multi-information display.
●The display indicates that no shift posi-
tion is selected for more than a few
seconds.

1784-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
Shift lever
Operate the shift lever gently and securely
in the direction of the arrow on the shift
position indicator.
To shift to N, slide the shift lever in the
direction of the arrow and hold it.
Release the shift lever after each shifting
operation to allow it to return to its regular
position ( ).
Shifting to M is only possible when the shift
position is in D.
When shifting from P to N, D or R, from N,
D, M or R to P, from D or M to R, or from R
to D, ensure that the brake pedal is being
depressed and the vehicle is stationary.
Shift position indicator
Meter display:
The current shift position is highlighted.
When any shift position other than D or M
is selected, the arrow toward M and the M
position indicator are displayed in gray.
Shift lever display: The current shift posi
tion is illuminated.
When selecting the sh ift position, make
sure that the shift position has been
changed to the desired position by check-
ing the shift position indicator provided on
the instrument cluster.
P position switch
■When shifting the shift position to P
Fully stop the vehicle and set the park-
ing brake, and then press the P position
switch.
When the shift position is changed to P, the
switch illuminates.
Check that the shift position indicator
shows P.
Shifting the shift lever
A
B
WARNING
■For the shift lever
●Do not remove the shift lever knob or
use anything but a genuine Lexus shift
lever knob. Also, do not hang anything
on the shift lever.
Doing so could prevent the shift lever
from returning to position, causing
unexpected accidents to occur when
the vehicle is in motion.
●In order to prevent the shift position
from accidentally being changed, do
not touch the shift lever when not using
them.
P position switch
C

1794-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
4
Driving
■Shifting the shift position from P to
other positions
 While depressing the brake pedal
firmly, operate the shift lever. If the
shift lever is operated without
depressing the brake pedal, the
buzzer will sound and the shifting
operation will be disabled.
 When selecting the shift position,
make sure that the shift position has
been changed to the desired posi-
tion by checking the shift position
indicator provided on the instru-
ment cluster.
 The shift position cannot be
changed from P to M directly.
■Automatic P position selection function
In the following situations, the shift position
is automatically changed to P.
●When pressing the power switch with the
vehicle stopped while the power switch is
in ON mode and the shift position is in a
position other than P (after the shift posi-
tion has changed to P, the power switch
will turn off)
*
●When the vehicle is stopped after the
hybrid system has been stopped in an
emergency while driving
●When voltage of the 12-volt battery
drops while the shift po sition is in a posi-
tion other than P
*: When the power switch is pressed while
driving at extremely slow speeds, such
as immediately before stopping the vehi-
cle, the shift position may automatically
change to P. Make sure that the vehicle
is completely stoppe d before pressing
the power switch.
■If the shift position cannot be shifted
from P
There is a possibility that the 12-volt battery is discharged. Check the 12-volt battery in
this situation. (
P.445)
■Driving mode
 P.297
■Snow mode
Snow mode can be se lected to suit the
conditions when driving on slippery
WARNING
■P position switch
●Do not press the P position switch
while the vehicle is moving.
If the P position switch is pressed when
driving at very low speeds (for exam-
ple, directly before stopping the vehi-
cle), the vehicle may stop suddenly
when the shift position switches to P,
which could lead to an accident.
●In order to prevent the shift position
from accidentally being changed, do
not touch the P position switch or shift
lever when not using them.
●After changing the shift position to P,
do not release the brake pedal until the
shift position indicator shows P and the
parking brake indicator is illuminated.
Otherwise, the vehicle may move,
possibly leading to an accident.
NOTICE
■Notes regarding shift lever and P
position switch operation
Avoid repeatedly operating the shift
lever and P position switch in quick suc-
cession.
The system protection function may acti-
vate and it will not be temporarily possi-
ble to shift the shift position other than P.
If this happens, please wait for a while
before attempting to change the shift
position again.
Selecting the driving mode

1804-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
road surfaces, such as on snow.
Turn the snow mode switch backward.
The snow mode indicator illuminates.
Turn the snow mode switch backward
again to return to normal mode.
Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models
■Snow mode automatic deactivation
Snow mode is automatically deactivated if
the power switch is tu rned off after driving
in snow mode.
To drive using temporary shift range
selection, operate the “-” or “+” paddle
shift switch.
When the “-” paddle shift switch is
operated, the shift range switches to a
range that enables engine braking
force that is suitable to driving condi-
tions. When the “+” paddle shift switch
is operated, the shift range switches to
a range that is one range higher than
the current range.
Changing the shift range allows
restriction of the highest gear, prevent-
ing unnecessary upshifting and
enabling the level of engine braking force to be selected.
Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models
1 Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift rang e, from D1 to D10,
will be displayed on the meter.
To return to normal D position driving, the
“+” paddle shift switch must be held down
for a period of time.
A lower shift range will provide greater
engine braking forces than a higher shift
range.
■Automatic deactivation of shift range
selection in the D position
Shift range selection in the D position will
be deactivated in the following situations:
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pe dal is depressed for
more than a certai n period of time
●When the shift position is shifted to a
Selecting shift ranges in the D
position
A
B
Meter dis-
playFunction
D2 - D10
A gear in the range between D1 and the selected shift
range is automatically cho- sen depending on vehicle speed and driving condi- tions
D1Setting the shift range at D1
A
B

1814-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
4
Driving
position other than D.
●When the “+” paddle shift switch is
pressed and held
■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 paddle shift switch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)
To enter M mode, shift the shift position
to M. Gears can be selected by oper-
ating the paddle shift switches, allowing
you to drive in the gear of your choos-
ing.
Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models
1 Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The gear changes once every time the
paddle shift switch is operated.
The selected gear, from M1 to M10, will be
fixed and displayed on the meter.
When in the M position, the gear will
not change unless the paddle shift
switches are operated.
However, even when in the M position,
the gears will be automatically changed in the following situations:

When vehicle speed drops (down-
shift only).
 When vehicle speed increases
(upshift only).
 When the accelerator pedal is firmly
depressed.
 When it is necessary to protect the
transmission when the transmission
fluid temperature is high or low, or
other reasons.
Also, the gear will not shift when the
vehicle speed is low, even if an upshift
operation is performed.
■Downshifting restrictions 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 paddle shift switch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)
Selecting gears in the M position
A
B

1824-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
1Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
3Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
4Left 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.
■If the turn signals stop flashing before a
lane change has been performed
Operate the lever again.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized. (
 P.479)
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions

1834-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
4
Driving
■Using the manual mode
The parking brake can be set and
released manually.
U.S.A.
Canada
1 Push the switch to set the parking
brake
The parking brake indicator light will turn
on.
Press and hold the parking brake switch if
an emergency occurs and it is necessary to
operate the parking brake while driving.
2Pull the switch to release the park-
ing brake
• Operate the parking brake switch while
depressing the brake pedal.
• Using the parking brake automatic release function, the parking brake can
be released by depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. When using this function,
slowly depress the accelerator pedal.
Make sure that the pa rking brake indicator
light turn off.
■Turns automatic mode on
While the vehicle is stopped, press and
hold the parking brake switch until a
message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display.
When the automatic mode is turned
on, the parking brake operates as fol-
lows.
 When the shift position is shifted
from P, the parking brake will be
released, and the parking brake
indicator light will turn off.
 When the shift position is shifted to
P, the parking brake will be set, and
the parking brake indicator light will
turn on.
Operate the shift lever and P position
switch with the vehicle stopped and the
brake pedal depressed.
Parking brake
The parking brake can be set or
released automatically or manually.
In automatic mode, the parking
brake can be set or released auto-
matically according to the shift
lever operation. Also, even in auto-
matic mode, the parking brake can
be set or released manually.
Operating instructions
A
B

1844-2. Driving procedures
LS500h_OM_(U)_1809
■Turns automatic mode off
While the vehicle is stopped, pull and
hold the parking brake switch until a
message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display.
■Parking brake operation
●When the power switch is not in ON
mode, the parking brake cannot be
released using the parking brake switch.
●When the power switch is not in ON
mode, automatic mode (automatic brake
setting and releasing) is not available.
■Parking brake automatic release func-
tion
●When the shift position is shifted from P,
the parking brake will be released in
automatic mode.
●When all of the foll owing conditions are
met in manual mode, the parking brake
can be released by depressing the accel-
erator pedal.
• The driver’s door is closed
• The driver is wearing the seat belt
• The shift position is in D, M or R
■If “EPB Frequently Operated Wait a
Minute” is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
If the parking brake is operated repeatedly
over a short period of time, the system may
restrict operation to prevent overheating. If
this happens, refrain from operating the
parking brake. Normal operation will return
after about 1 minute.
■If “EPB Activation Stopped Incom-
pletely” or “EPB Unavailable” is dis-
played on the multi-information display
Operate the parking brake switch. If the
message does not disappear after operat-
ing the switch several times, the system may
be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a motor
sound (whirring sound) may be heard. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
■Parking brake operation
●Depending on the power switch mode,
the parking brake indicator light will turn
on and stay on as described below:
ON mode: Comes on until the parking
brake is released.
Not in ON mode: Stays on for approxi-
mately 15 seconds.
●When the power switch is turned off with
the parking brake set, the parking brake
indicator light will stay on for about 15
seconds. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
■When the parking brake switch mal-
functions
Automatic mode (automatic brake setting
and releasing) will be turned on automati-
cally.
■Parking the vehicle
 P.160
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven
with the parking brake engaged. “EPB
Applied” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display. (with the vehicle reached a
speed of 3 mph [5 km/h])
■If the brake system warning light comes
on
 P.424
■Usage in winter time
 P.309