2020 Lexus ES300h Traction

1504-2. Driving procedures
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, set the shift lever in D for normal
driving. You can choose shift range suit-
able for your driving situation by oper-
ating the paddle shift switches.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerating force and
engine braking forces.
■When driving with 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 activate
because dynamic radar cruise control with
full speed range will not be canceled.
●While driving in the D position or S mode,
downshifting to 5 or 4. ( P.196)
●When switching the driving mode to
sport mode while driving in the D posi-
tion. ( P.212)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
 P.135
■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 lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever
to S cancels the function.)
Hybrid transmission
Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P.153)
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Do not accelerate or shift gears sud-
denly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may
cause the vehicle to sp in or skid, resulting
in an accident.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
charge
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery
(traction battery) will not be charged
even when the engine is running. There-
fore, if the vehicle is left with the shift
lever in N for a certain period of time, the
hybrid battery (traction battery) will dis-
charge, and this may result in the vehicle
not being able to start.

2134-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
When not in SPORT mode, if the Driving
Mode Select switch is turned away from
you, the “Sport” indicator comes on.
■Operation of the air conditioning sys-
tem in Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode contro ls the heating/cool-
ing operations and fan speed of the air con-
ditioning system to enhance fuel efficiency.
To improve air condit ioning performance,
perform the following operations:
●Turn off eco air conditioning mode
(  P.270)
●Adjust the fan speed ( P.268)
●Turn off Eco drive mode ( P.212)
■Auto Glide Control
●While driving in Eco drive mode with D
position, selected, releasing the accelera-
tor pedal will activate Auto Glide Control
under certain conditions. (Auto Glide
Control may activate before the acceler-
ator pedal is fully released.)
When Auto Glide Control operates, the
electric motor (traction motor) will be
controlled, reducing the deceleration
force and allowing the vehicle to coast,
enhancing fuel economy.
When Auto Glide Control operates, the
AGC indicator light will illuminate.
●Auto Glide Control may not operate in
the following situations:
• When not in Eco drive mode
• When the brake pedal is depressed
• When a shift position other than D is selected
• When the vehicle speed is approximately 10 mph (15 km/h) or lower
• When the vehicle is accelerating on a
downward slope
• When the PCS (Pre-Collision System) is operating
• When the dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range is operating
• When the PKSB (Parking Support Brake)
system is operating
• When the TRAC or VSC system is oper- ating
• When the TRAC or VSC system is dis-
abled by pressing the switch
■Automatic deactivation of sport mode
If the power switch is turned off after driving
in sport mode, the drive mode will be
changed to normal mode.
■Driving mode pop-up display (12.3-inch
display model)
When the driving mode is changed, the
selected driving mode will be temporarily
displayed on the side display. ( P.261)

2474-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■ECB (Electronically Controlled
Brake System)
The electronically controlled system
generates braking force correspond-
ing to the brake operation
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the
brakes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while driving on a
slippery road surface
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of brak-
ing force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a
panic stop situation
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding
when swerving sudden ly or turning on
slippery road surfaces
■Enhanced VSC (Enhanced Vehi-
cle Stability Control)
Provides cooperative control of the
ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS. Helps to maintain directional stability
when swerving on slippery road sur-
faces by controlling steering perfor-
mance.
■Secondary Collision Brake
When the SRS airbag sensor detects a
collision and the system operates, the
brakes and brake lights are automati-
cally controlled to reduce the vehicle
speed and that help reduce the possi-
bility of further damage due to a sec-
ondary collision
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pre-
vent the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerat-
ing on slippery roads
■Active Cornering Assist (ACA)
Helps to prevent the vehicle from drift-
ing to the outer side by performing
inner wheel brake control when
attempting to accele rate while turning
■Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the backward move-
ment of the vehicle when starting on an
uphill
■EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce
the amount of effort needed to turn the
steering wheel
■When the TRAC/VSC/ABS systems are
operating
The slip indicator light will flash while the
TRAC/VSC/ABS systems are operating.
Driving assist systems
To keep driving safety and perfor-
mance, the following systems oper-
ate automatically in response to
various driving situations. Be aware,
however, that these systems are
supplementary and should not be
relied upon too heavily when oper-
ating the vehicle.
Summary of the driving assist
systems

2484-5. Using the driving support systems
■Disabling the TRAC system
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt or snow,
the TRAC system may reduce power from
the hybrid system to the wheels. Pressing
the switch to turn the system off may
make it easier for you to rock the vehicle in
order to free it.
To turn the TRAC system off, quickly press
and release the switch.
“Traction Control Turned Off” will be shown
on the multi-information display.
Press the switch again to turn the sys-
tem back on.
■Turning off both TRAC and VSC sys-
tems
To turn the TRAC and VSC systems off,
press and hold the switch for more
than 3 seconds while the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will come on
and the “Traction Cont rol Turned Off” will
be shown on the multi-information display.
*
Press the switch again to turn the sys-
tem back on.
*: PCS (Pre-Collision System) will also be disabled (only Pre-Collision warning is
available). The PCS warning light will come on and a message
will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
(  P.184)
■When the message is displayed on the
multi-information display showing that
TRAC has been disabled even if the
switch has not been pressed
TRAC is temporary deactivated. If the infor-
mation continues to show, contact your
Lexus dealer.
■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/back-
ward on an up ward 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 shifted to P or N.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed.
●The parking brake is engaged.
●2 seconds at maximum elapsed after the
brake pedal is released.
■Sounds and vibrations caused by the
ABS, brake assist, VSC, TRAC and hill-
start assist control systems
●A sound may be heard from the engine
compartment when the brake pedal is
depressed repeatedly, when the hybrid
system is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This sound does not indi-
cate that a malfunction has occurred in
any of these systems.
●Any of the following conditions may
occur when the above systems are oper-
ating. None of these indicates that a mal-
function has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.

2514-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
4-6.Driving tips
When using Eco drive mode, the
torque corresponding to the accelera-
tor pedal depression amount can be
generated more smoothly than it is in
normal conditions. In addition, the
operation of the air conditioning sys-
tem (heating/cooling) will be mini-
mized, improving the fuel economy.
( P.212)
The Eco-friendly driving is possible by
keeping the indicate of Hybrid System
Indicator within Eco area. ( P.77)
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 drive mode
Use of Hybrid System Indicator
Shift lever operation
Accelerator pedal/brake pedal
operation
When braking
Delays

3086-1. Maintenance and care
WARNING
■Precaution regarding the rear
bumper with Blind Spot Monitor (if
equipped)
If the paint of the rear bumper is chipped
or scratched, the system may malfunc-
tion. If this occurs, consult your Lexus
dealer.
NOTICE
■To prevent paint deterioration and
corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum wheels etc.)
●Wash the vehicle immediately in the
following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar, pollen or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron
powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
●If the paint is chip ped or scratched,
have it repaired immediately.
●To prevent the wheels from corroding,
remove any dirt and store in a place
with low humidity when storing the
wheels.
■Cleaning the exterior lights
●Wash carefully. Do not use organic
substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the
lights.
●Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the
lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
■When using an automatic car wash
(vehicles with rain-sensing windshield
wipers)
Set the wiper switch to the off position.
If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wip-
ers may operate and the wiper blades
may be damaged.
■When using a high-pressure car wash
●When washing the vehicle, do not let
water of the high-p ressure washer hit
directly or the vicinity of the camera.
Due to the shock from the high-pres-
sure water, it is possible the device may
not operate as normal.
●Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or resin manufactured
cover), connectors or the following
parts. The parts may be damaged if
they come into contact with high-pres-
sure water.
• Traction related parts
• Steering parts
• Suspension parts
• Brake parts
●Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 11.9
in. (30 cm) away from the vehicle
body. Otherwise resin section, such as
molding and bumpers, may be
deformed and damaged.
Also, do not continuously hold the
nozzle in the same place.
●Do not spray the lower part of the
windshield continuously.
If water enters the air conditioning sys-
tem intake located near the lower part
of the windshield, th e air conditioning
system may not operate correctly.
●Do not wash the underside of the vehi-
cle using a high pressure car washer.

3096-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces
with a cloth dampened with luke-
warm water.
 If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off
with a soft cloth dampened with
neutral detergent diluted to approx-
imately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent and
water.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type
cleaners available. Use a sponge or brush
to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping cir-
cles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty surfaces
and let them dry. Excellent results are
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as
possible.
■Handling the seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water
using a cloth or spon ge. Also check the
belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying
or cuts.
■When cleaning the carpeted portions of
the glove box, console box, etc.
If a strong adhesive tape is used, there is a
possibility that the surface of the carpet
could be damaged.
Cleaning and protecting the
v
ehicle interior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Protecting the vehicle interior
WARNING
■Water in the vehicle
●Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehi-
cle, such as on the floor, on the rear
seats, in the hybrid battery (traction
battery) air vents, and in the trunk.
(  P.65)
Doing so may cause the hybrid battery,
electrical components, etc. to mal-
function or catch fire.
●Do not get any of the SRS components
or wiring in the vehicle interior wet.
(  P.28)
An electrical malfunction may cause
the airbags to deploy or not function
properly, resulting in death or serious
injury.
■Cleaning the interior (especially
instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner.
The instrument panel may reflect off the
windshield, obstructing the driver’s view
and leading to an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■Cleaning detergents
●Do not use the following types of
detergent, as they may discolor the
vehicle interior or cause streaks or
damage to painted surfaces:
• Non-seat portions: Organic sub- stances such as benzene or gasoline,
alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, and
bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alcohol
●Do not use polish wax or polish
cleaner. The instrument panel’s or
other interior part’s painted surface
may be damaged.

3176-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service pre-
cautions
If you perform maintenance by
yourself, be sure to follow the cor-
rect procedure as given in these
sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
12-volt battery
condition
( P.326)•Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp
bolts)
Brake fluid
level
( P.325)
• FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
or SAE J1703 brake
fluid
FMVSS No.116 DOT 4
or SAE J1704 brake
fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine/power
control unit
coolant level
( P.323)
•“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” or a similar
high quality ethylene
glycol-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine, non-
nitrite and non-borate
coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid
technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 50% coolant and
50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life
Coolant” is pre-mixed
with 55% coolant and
45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Hybrid bat-
tery (traction
battery) air
intake vent
( P.343)
• Vacuum cleaner, etc.
• Phillips screwdriver
Engine oil level
( P.321)
•“Toyota Genuine Motor
Oil” or equivalent
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses
( P.348)• Fuse with same amper-
age rating as original
Headlight aim• Phillips-head screw-driver
Light bulbs
( P.351)
•Bulb with same number
and wattage rating as
original
• Flathead screwdriver
ItemsParts and tools