light sensor Lexus ES300h 2013 Owner's Manual

401-1. For safe use
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
SRS airbag system components
Front passenger occupant clas-
sification system (ECU and sen-
sors)
Side impact sensors (front
doors)
Knee airbags
Front passenger airbag
Curtain shield airbags
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator lights
Seat belt pretensioners and
force limiters
Side impact sensors (front)Front side airbags
SRS warning light
Driver airbag
Rear side airbags
Side impact sensors (rear)
Driver’s seat position sensor
Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
Airbag sensor assembly
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Front impact sensors1
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
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411-1. For safe use
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
1
For safety and security
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag sen-
sor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on information
obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system components diagram
above. This information includes crash severity and occupant information.
As the airbags deploy, a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occupants.
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
●The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or
serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of
inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides you
with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the
steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in. (250 mm) away now,
you can change your driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedalscomfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm)
distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the
back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to
see the road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-slippery cushion, or raise the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the airbag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the
instrument panel controls.

ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
952. Instrument cluster
2
Instrument cluster
■The meters and display illuminate when
The “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch is in IGNITION ON
mode.
■Instrument panel brightness adjustment
The instrument panel brightness levels when the tail lights are on and off can be
adjusted individually. However, when the surroundings are bright (daytime, etc.),
turning on the tail lights will not change the instrument panel brightness. At this time,
any adjustments made to the instrument panel brightness levels will be applied to
both settings at once.
■Limitation of brightness adjustment
The brightness of the instrument panel lights is automatically adjusted based on the
light sensor detecting how bright the surroundings are. However, if the instrument
panel brightness has been manually set to either the brightest or darkest setting, the
automatic adjustment will not be performed.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
■Note for locking the doors
●Touching the door lock sensor while wearing gloves may delay or prevent lock
operation. Remove the gloves and touch the lock sensor again.
●If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the following
correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
• Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more away from the vehicle.(Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart access sys- tem with push-button start. (→ P. 1 2 9 )
●If the electronic key is inside the vehicle and a door handle becomes wet during a
car wash, a message may be shown on the multi-information display and a buzzer
will sound outside the vehicle. To turn off the alarm, lock all the doors.
●The lock sensor may not work properly if it comes into contact with ice, snow, mud,
etc. Clean the lock sensor and attempt to operate it again, or use the lock sensor
on the lower part of the door handle.
●Fingernails may scrape against the door during operation of the door handle. Be
careful not to injure fingernails or damage the surface of the door.
■Note for the unlocking function
●A sudden approach to the effective range or door handle may prevent the doors
from being unlocked. In this case, return the door handle to the original position
and check that the doors unlock before pulling the door handle again.
●Gripping the door handle when wearing a glove may not unlock the door.
●If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the following
correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
• Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more away from the vehicle. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart access sys- tem with push-button start. (→ P. 1 2 9 )
●If there is another electronic key in the detection area, it may take slightly longer to
unlock the doors after the door handle is gripped.
●Fingernails may scrape against the door during operation of the door handle. Be
careful not to injure fingernails or damage the surface of the door.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, the parking lights turn on auto-
matically (at an increased intensity) whenever the engine is started
and the parking brake is released. Daytime running lights are not designed for use
at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
●Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system offers
greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve fuel econ-
omy.
■Headlight control sensor
■Automatic light off system
When the light switch is in : The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds
after the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch is turned to ACCESSORY
mode or turned off and a door is opened and all of the doors and trunk are closed.
(The lights turn off immediately if on the key is pressed twice after all the doors
are closed.)
To turn the lights on again, turn the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch to
IGNITION ON mode, or turn the light switch off once and then back to
or .
If any of the doors or trunk lid is kept open, the lights automatically turn off after 20
minutes.
■Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch is turned
off or turned to ACCESSORY mode and the driver’s door is opened while the lights
are turned on.
■Automatic headlight leveling system (if equipped)
The level of the headlights is automatically adjusted according to the number of pas-
sengers and the loading condition of the vehi cle to ensure that the headlights do not
interfere with other road users. The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that blocks the sensor is affixed to the wind-
shield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight system to malfunction.

ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
2274-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 8 5 2 )
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the engine is not running
.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Automatic High Beam∗
Push the lever away from you
with the headlight switch in
or position.
Press the Automatic High Beam
switch.
The Automatic High Beam indicator
will come on when the headlights are
turned on automatically to indicate
that the system is active.
∗: If equipped
The Automatic High Beam uses an in-vehicle camera sensor to assess
the brightness of streetlights, th e lights of oncoming and preceding
vehicles, etc., and automatic ally turns high beam on or off as necessary.
Activating the Automatic High Beam system
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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
2314-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■The Automatic High Beam can be operated when
The “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch is in IGNITION ON
mode.
■Camera sensor detection information
●High beam may not be automatically turned off in the following situations:
• When oncoming vehicles suddenly appear from a curve
• When the vehicle is cut in front of by another
• When oncoming or preceding vehicles are hidden from sight due to repeatedcurves, road dividers or roadside trees
• When oncoming vehicles appear from the faraway lane on wide road
• When oncoming or preceding vehicles have no lights
●High beam may be turned off if an oncoming vehicle that is using fog lights without
using the headlights is detected.
●House lights, street lights, red traffic signals, and illuminated billboards or signs may
cause the high beam to turn off.
●The following factors may affect the amount of time taken to turn high beam on or
off:
• The brightness of headlights, fog lights, and tail lights of oncoming and preced- ing vehicles
• The movement and direction of oncoming and preceding vehicles
• When a oncoming or preceding vehicle only has operational lights on one side
• When a oncoming or preceding vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The condition of the road (gradient, curve, condition of the road surface etc.)
• The number of passengers and amount of luggage
●High beam may be turned on or off when unexpected by the driver.

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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
●In the situations below, the system may not be able to correctly detect the sur-
rounding brightness levels, and may flash or expose nearby pedestrians to the high
beam. Therefore, you should consider turning the high beams on or off manually
rather than relying on the Automatic High Beam system.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights or foglights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights that are either switched off, dirty, are changing color, or are not aimed properly.
• When driving through an area of intermittently changing brightness and dark- ness.
• When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel tracks
etc.).
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road.
• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aimed properly.
• The vehicle is listing or titling, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed etc.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.
■Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
Turn the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch off while the following
conditions are met.
• The headlight switch is in or .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.
Turn the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch to IGNITION ON
mode.
Within 5 seconds after , repeat pulling the headlight switch lever to the origi-
nal position then pushing it to the high beam position quickly 9 times, then leave
the lever in high beam position.
Automatic High Beam (headlights) may turn on even the vehicle is stopped.
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ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
2334-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
CAUTION
■Limitations of the Automatic High Beam
Do not rely on the Automatic High Beam. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings and turning high beam on or off manually if necessary.
NOTICE
■Notes when using the Automatic High Beam system
Observe the following to ensure that the Automatic High Beam functions cor-
rectly.
●Do not place items on the dashboard. There is a possibility that the camera sensor
will mistake items reflected in the windshield for streetlights, the headlights of
other vehicles, etc.
●Do not install a parking tag or any other accessories near or around the camera
sensor.
●Do not overload the vehicle.
●Do not modify the vehicle.
●Do not replace windshield with non-genuine windshield.
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●Do not replace headlights with non-genuine headlights.
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●Do not touch the camera sensor.
●Do not subject the camera sensor to a
strong impact.
●Do not disassemble the camera sensor.
●Do not spill liquid onto the camera sensor.
●Do not apply window tinting or stickers to
the camera sensor or the area of windshield
near the camera sensor.