Lexus HS250h 2010 Operating the lights and windshield wipers / LEXUS 2010 HS250H OWNERS MANUAL (OM75006U)
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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■Situations in which EV drive mode cannot 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-
info
 rmation display.
●Engine coolant temperature is low.
●Vehicle speed is about 19mph (30km/h) or more.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) is low.  
An “Energy Monitor” display of level 3 or lower may indicate a low battery level. 
(  P.  3 2 )
● The temperature of the hybrid system is high.  
The vehicle has been left in the sun, driv en on a
  hill, driven at high speeds, etc.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is low. 
The vehicle has been left in temperatures lower than about 32°F (0°C) for a 
l
 ong period of time etc.
●The gasoline engine is warming up.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
■Automatic cancellation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in 
the 
 following situations. When EV drive mo de is canceled, a buzzer will sound and 
the EV drive mode indicator will flash and go off.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.  
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” display is level 2 
or lo
 wer. ( P.  3 2)
●Vehicle speed becomes more than about 19 mph (30 km/h).
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
When it is possible to inform the driver  o
 f automatic cancellation in advance, a prior 
notice screen will appear on the multi-information display.
■ Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, it is possible to drive up to about several hundred yards if driving 
at 
 a speed of about 19 mph (30 km/h) or  less. (The distance that is possible 
depends on the hybrid battery [traction battery] level and driving conditions.) 
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2-1. Driving procedures
■Fuel economy
HS250h is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy during normal driv-
ing (using the gasoline engine and electric  motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV 
drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel economy.
CAUTION
■Caution while driving 
When driving in EV drive mode, pay special attention to the area around the vehi-
cle. Because there is no engine noise, pedestrians, people riding bicycles or other 
people and vehicles in the area may not be aware of the vehicle starting off or 
approaching them, so take extra care while driving. 
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When driving
Hybrid transmission
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
■Shifting the shift lever
Shift lever
Operate the shift lever gently 
and ensure correct shifting 
operation.When shifting to the D 
or R positions, move the 
shif
t lever along the shift 
gate.
To shift to the N position, 
slide the shift lever to the 
lef
 t and hold it. The shift 
position will change to N.
Shifting to B is only pos -
sible when shift position 
D is selec
 ted.
The shift lever will 
always return to this 
positi
 on after a shifting 
operation.
When shifting from P to D or R, 
fr
 om D to R, or from R to D, 
ensure that the brake pedal is 
being depressed and the vehicle 
is stationary.
Shift position indicator
When selecting the shift posi -
tion, make sure that the shift 
position has 
 been changed to 
the desired position by checking 
the shift position indicator pro -
vided on the instrument panel.
When any shift position other 
than D or B is selected, the 
arr
ow toward B disappears from 
the shift position indicator. 
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2-1. Driving procedures
■Shift position purpose
*: For good fuel economy and noise redu ction, the D position should usually 
be used.
■ P position switch
The shift position can be changed to  P thr
 ough use of the P position 
switch.
Fully stop the vehicle and keep 
depr
essing the brake pedal, and 
then press the P position switch.
When the shift position is 
changed to P, the switch indica -
tor comes on.
Check that the P position indi -
cator is illuminated on the shift 
position indicator
 .
●Changing 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.
• The shift position cannot be changed from P to B directly.
Shift positionFunction 
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*
BApplying moderate engine braking when driving down 
hills or on steep slopes 
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When driving
■Selecting a driving mode
The following modes can be selected to suit driving conditions:
Eco mode
Suitable for improving the fuel 
economy, because the torque 
corresponding to the accelera-
tor pedal depression amount 
can be gener
 ated more 
smoothly than it is in normal 
conditions and the operation of 
the air conditioning system will 
be minimized.
When the Eco mode switch is 
pr
 essed, the “ECO MODE” 
indicator comes on in the meter.
Power mode
Suitable when the vehicle needs 
to drive powerfully or travels in 
mountainous areas.
When the power mode switch is 
pr
 essed, the “PWR MODE” 
indicator comes on in the meter. 
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■For the shift positions
●When the “POWER” switch is off, the shift position cannot be changed.
●When the “POWER” switch is in ON mo de, the shift position can only be 
changed to N.
●When the “READY” indicator is on, the sh ift position can be changed from P to 
D, N or R.
●The shift position can only be  changed to B directly from D.
In addition, if the shift position is change d in any of
  the following situations, the 
buzzer will sound and the shifting operation wi ll be disabled or the shift position will 
automatically change to N. When this happens, select an appropriate shift position.
● Situations where the shifting  operation will be disabled:
• When the shift lever is changed from  P to 
 another position without depress-
ing the brake pedal.
• When the shift position is changed from P or N to B.
● Situations where the shift position  will automatically change to N:
• When the P position switch is pressed while the vehicle is running.
• When shift position R is selected when the vehicle is moving forward.
• When shift position D is selected when the vehicle is moving in reverse.
• When the shift position is changed from R to B.
■Reverse warning buzzer
When shifting into R, a buzzer will sound to inform the 
 driver that the shift position is 
in R.
■About engine braking 
When shift position B is selected, releasing the accelerator pedal will apply engine 
br
 aking.
• When the vehicle is driven at high sp eeds, comp
 ared to ordinary gasoline-
fueled vehicles, the engine braking deceleration is felt less than that of other 
vehicles.
• The vehicle can be accelerated even when shift position B is selected.
If the vehicle is driven continuously in the  B posi
 tion, fuel efficiency will become low. 
Usually, select the D position. 
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When driving
■Power mode automatic deactivation
Power mode is automatically deactivated if the “POWER” switch is turned off after 
driving in power mode.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. Reverse warning buzzer) can be changed.  
(Customizable features  P.  5 7 2 )
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.  
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause  the vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in 
an accident.
■For the shift lever
Do not hang anything on the shift lever.  
Doing so could prevent the shift lever fr om returning to position, causing unex-
pected accidents to occur when the vehicle is in motion.
NOTICE
■Situations where P position control system malfunctions are possible
If any of the following situations occurs, P position 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 “P Lock Malfunction” warnin g message appears on the multi-informa-
tion display. ( P.  5 0 2 )
●When the P position switch indicator flashes.
●When the shift position symb ols (such as P and R) are flashing on the shift posi-
tion indicator.
●When the shift position indicator remains off.
■When in heavy traffic
If shift position N is sele cted, the hybrid battery (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. 
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2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■If the vehicle will not shift out of the P position
There is a possibility that the 12-volt battery is discharged. Check the 12-volt battery 
in this situation.
■Notes regarding shift lever and P position switch operation
Avoid repeatedly operating the shift lever an d P position switch in quick succession.
The system protection function may activate and temporarily prevent the vehicle 
from shifting out of the P position. If this  happens, please wait for around 15 seconds 
before attempting to change the shift position again. 
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When driving
Turn signal lever
■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.
The turn signal lever can be used to show the following intention of the 
driver: 
Right turn
Left turn
Lane change to the right 
(push and hold the lever part-
way)
The right hand signals will flash 
until you release the lever.
Lane change to the left (push 
and hold the lever partway)
The left hand signals will flash 
until you release the lever. 
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2-1. Driving procedures
Parking brake
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
The buzzer sounds to indicate that parking b
 rake is still engaged (with the vehicle 
having reached a speed of 3 mph [5 km/h]). ( P.  5 0 6 )
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.  
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake  set will lead to brake components over-
heating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake wear.
To set the parking brake, fully 
depress the parking brake pedal 
with your left foot while 
depressing the brake pedal with 
your right foot. 
(Depressing the pedal again 
r
eleases the parking brake.)
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