2020 Lexus ES300h check engine light

4TABLE OF CONTENTS
Emission inspection and mainte-nance (I/M) programs ............. 316
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions............................................................ 317
Hood................................................... 319
Positioning a floor jack................ 319
Engine compartment................... 321
12-volt battery................................ 326
Tires ................................................... 329
Tire inflation pressure ................. 338
Wheels.............................................. 340
Air conditioning filter...................341
Cleaning the hybrid battery (trac- tion battery) air intake vent and fil-
ter..................................................... 343
Electronic key battery ................ 346
Checking and replacing fuses 348
Headlight aim................................. 350
Light bulbs ........................................ 351
7-1. Essential information Emergency flashers..................... 356
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency ............................. 356
If the vehicle is trapped in rising water............................................... 357
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed........................................................... 359
If you think something is wrong 362
If a warning light turns on or a warn- ing buzzer sounds ..................... 364
If a warning message is displayed ........................................................... 374If you have a flat tire ....................
378
If the hybrid syst em will not start
.......................................................... 385
If you lose your keys.................... 387
If the fuel filler door cannot be opened .......................................... 387
If the electronic key does not oper- ate properly ................................. 388
If the 12-volt battery is discharged .......................................................... 390
If your vehicle overheats ........... 395
If the vehicle becomes stuck ... 398
8-1. Specifications Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.) ................................................. 400
Fuel information............................ 407
Tire information ............................ 409
8-2. Customization Customizable features ............... 418
8-3. Items to initialize Items to initialize ........................... 429
9-1. For owners Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners ........................................... 432
Seat belt instructions for Canadian owners (in French) ................... 432
SRS airbag instructions for Cana- dian owners (in French) ......... 434
He

adlight aim instructions for
Canadian owners (in French) 440
7When trouble arises
8Vehicle specifications
9For owners

13Pictorial index
Precautions against winter season ............................................................................ P.255
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)
*................................................. P.269
Precautions against car wash ...................................................................................... P.307
Fuel filler door .......................................................................................................... P.170
Refueling method .............................................................................................................. P .170
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity ...... .................................................................................... P.401
Tires.......................................................................................................................... ..P.329
Tire size/inflation pressure ...........................................................................................P.405
Winter tires/tire chain .................................................................................................... P.25 3
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system.............................................. P.329
Coping with flat tires........................................................................................................ P .378
Hood ........................................................................................................................... P.319
Opening ........................................................................................................................ ........ P.319
Engine oil ..................................................................................................................... ......... P.402
Coping with overheating ...............................................................................................P.395
Warning messages .......................................................................................................... P.374
Headlights/side marker lights/cornering lights............................................ P.159
Turn signal lights ...................................................................................................... P.154
Parking lights/daytime running lights............................................................... P.159
Tail/stop lights .......................................................................................................... P.159
License plate lights ................................................................................................. P.159
Back up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R ................................................................................................ P. 151
*:If equipped
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.351, Watts: P.406)
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L

782-1. Instrument cluster
■Display items
 Odometer
Displays the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.
Trip meter A/trip meter B
Displays the distance the vehicle has been
driven since the meter was last reset. Trip
meters A and B can be used to record and
display different distances independently.
 Distance until next engine oil
change
Displays the distance the vehicle can be
driven until an oil change is necessary.
■Changing the display
Each time the “ODO TRIP” switch is
pressed, the displayed item will be changed. When the trip meter is dis-
played, pressing and holding the switch
will reset the trip meter.
■Pop-up display
Distance until the next engine oil
change will displayed when a warning
message indicating that oil mainte-
nance should be performed soon or is
required is displayed.
The brightness of the instrument panel
lights can be adjusted.
1
Darker
2
Brighter
■Brightness of the meter lights (day mode
and night mode)
The brightness of the meter lights can be
adjusted individually.
In the following situations, the meters
WARNING
For example, there is a lag between the
driver’s shifting and the new gear number
appearing on the display. This lag could
cause the driver to downshift again,
causing rapid and excessive engine brak-
ing and possibly an accident resulting in
death or injury.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine and
its components
●Do not let the indicator needle of the
tachometer enter the red zone, which
indicates the maximum engine speed.
●The engine may be overheating if the
engine coolant temperature gauge is
in the red zone (H). In this case, imme-
diately stop the vehicle in a safe place,
and check the engine after it has
cooled completely. ( P.395)
Odometer and trip meter dis-
play
Changing the instrument panel
light brightness

1364-1. Before driving
WARNING
●During normal driving, do not turn off
the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid
system off while driving will not cause
loss of steering or braking control,
however, power assist to the steering
will be lost. This will make it more diffi-
cult to steer smoothly, so you should
pull over and stop the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such as if
it becomes impossible to stop the vehi-
cle in the normal way: P.356
●Use engine braking (downshift) to
maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may
cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P.150)
●Do not adjust the positions of the
steering wheel, the seat, or the inside
or outside rear view mirrors while driv-
ing.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
●Always check that all passengers’
arms, heads or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140
km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85
mph (140 km/h) may result in tire fail-
ure, loss of control and possible injury.
Be sure to consult a tire dealer to
determine whether the tires on your
vehicle are high-speed capability tires
or not before driving at such speeds.
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking
due to shifting, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid,
resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, lightly
depress the brake pedal to make sure
that the brakes are functioning prop-
erly. Wet brake pads may prevent the
brakes from functioning properly. If the
brakes on only one side are wet and
not functioning properly, steering con-
trol may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward
while the shift lever is in a driving posi-
tion, or roll forward while the shift lever
is in R.
Doing so may result in an accident or
damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shif t lever to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while
the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driving
position while the vehicle is moving
backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Shifting the shift lever to N while the
vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not
available when N is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other
than P or N may lead to unexpected
rapid acceleration of the vehicle that
may cause an accident and result in
death or serious injury.

1374-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
■If you hear a squealing or scraping
noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and
replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible. Rotor damage may result if the
pads are not replaced when needed. It is
dangerous to drive the vehicle when the
wear limits of the brake pads and/or
those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal
unnecessarily.
If the shift lever is in any position other
than P or N, the vehicle may acceler-
ate suddenly and unexpectedly, caus-
ing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to
the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while
stopped with the “READY” indicator is
illuminated, and apply the parking
brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline,
in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or back-
ward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake
as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which
could result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters,
spray cans, or soft drink cans in the
vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plas-
tic material of glasses to deform or
crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior
of the vehicle, and may also cause a
short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical
components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the
vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the
floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is
adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the
windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on
the instrument panel or dashboard.
Adhesive discs or containers may act
as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if
the curved glass is coated with a met-
allized film such as a silver-colored
one. Reflected sunlight may cause the
glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift
the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid sys-
tem and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
while the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift
lever in P but the parking brake is not
set, the vehicle may start to move, pos-
sibly leading to an accident.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while
the “READY” indicator is illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid
system off.
Doing so may cause burns.

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

305
6
6
Maintenance and care
Maintenance and care
6-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehi-cle exterior ................................ 306
Cleaning and protecting the vehi- cle interior ................................. 309
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ... 312
General maintenance .............. 313
Emission inspection and mainte- nance (I/M) programs .......... 316
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions......................................................... 317
Hood................................................ 319
Positioning a floor jack............. 319
Engine compartment................ 321
12-volt battery............................. 326
Tires ................................................ 329
Tire inflation pressure .............. 338
Wheels........................................... 340
Air conditioning filter................341
Cleaning the hybrid battery (trac- tion battery) air intake vent and
filter .............................................. 343
Electronic key battery ............. 346
Checking and replacing fuses ........................................................ 348
Headlight aim.............................. 350
Light bulbs ..................................... 351

3256-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN” lines
on the tank.
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid type and
prepare the necessary items.
 Fluid type
FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703
brake fluid
FMVSS No.116 DOT 4 or SAE J1704
brake fluid
Item
Clean funnel
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from
the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause
a dangerous loss of braking efficiency. Use
only newly opened brake fluid.
If any washer does not work or “Wind-
shield Washer Fluid Low” is shown on
the multi-information display, the
washer tank may be empty. Add
washer fluid.
WARNING
■When the hybrid system is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser
as they may be hot and cause serious
injuries, such as burns.
Checking and adding the brake
fluid
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your
hands and eyes and damage painted sur-
faces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes,
flush the affected area with clean water
immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a
doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear out
or when the fluid leve l in the accumulator
is high.
If the reservoir need s frequent refilling,
there may be a serious problem.
Adding the washer fluid
WARNING
■When adding washer fluid
Do not add washer fluid when the hybrid
system is hot or operating as washer fluid
contains alcohol and may catch fire if
spilled on the engine etc.