tires Lexus ES300h 2013 Owner's Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS6
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................ 650
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior.................. 654
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements .............................657
General maintenance.............. 660
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs .................................... 664
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions................................ 665
Hood ............................................... 669
Positioning a floor jack..............670
Engine compartment ................673
12-volt battery (hybrid vehicles) ...................... 690
Tires.................................................. 694
Tire inflation pressure ............... 703
Wheels ........................................... 706
Air conditioning filter ............... 708
Electronic key battery................710
Checking and replacing fuses................................................ 712
Light bulbs .....................................724 7-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ................... 740
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency.......741
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed................................. 743
If you think something is wrong ................. 749
Fuel pump shut off system (gasoline vehicles) .................. 750
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds....... 751
If a warning message is displayed ...................................761
If you have a flat tire .................. 784
If the engine will not start (gasoline vehicles) ................... 797
If the hybrid system will not start (hybrid vehicles)............ 799
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ...................... 801
If the electronic key does not operate properly .....................802
6Maintenance and care7When trouble arises

17Pictorial index
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 235
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 326
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)
*1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 374
Precautions against car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 652
Fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P . 239
Refueling method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 239
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 828
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 694
Tire size/inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 835
Winter tires/tire chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 326
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 694
Coping with flat tires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 784
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 669
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 669
Engine compartment cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 675
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 8 2 9
Coping with overheat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 813, 816
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 766
Headlights/parking lights/daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 234
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P . 221
Tail lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Stop/tail lights
Hill-start assist control
*2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 304
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 214, 217
Side marker lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 224
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P. 724, Watts: P. 836)
*1: If equipped
*2: Hybrid vehicles
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
1814-1. Before driving
4
Driving
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Shift the shift lever to P. (→P. 214, 217)
Set the parking brake. (→ P. 222)
Press the “START STOP ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch to stop the
engine .
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your
person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on a uphill (hybrid vehicles)
The hill-start assist control is available. ( →P. 3 0 4 )
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows
may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially
slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there
may be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the
steering and brakes from operating properly.
■Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine spee d may become high while driving. This is
due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to meet driv-
ing conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
●When the accelerator pedal is released
●When sport mode is selected ( →P. 296)
Pa r k i n g t h e ve h i c l e
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3

184
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving the vehicle
●During normal driving, do not turn off the engine . Turning the
engine off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking
control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more
difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as
it is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop
the vehicle in the normal way: →P. 74 1
●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 effec-
tiveness. ( →P. 2 1 5 , 2 1 8 )
●Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside
rear view mirrors while driving.
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 permits 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 failure, 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.

194
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): →P. 8 2 4
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximu m number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆Towing capacity
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information label. ( →P. 7 0 3 )
Vehicle load limits incl ude total load capacity, seating capacity, towing
capacity and cargo capacity.
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering and braking
ability, resulting in an accident.

ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
2674-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
●When sunlight or the headlights of oncoming vehicles are shining directly into the
camera lens
●When driving on roads that are branching or merging
●When driving on a road surface that is wet due to rain, previous rainfall, standing
water, etc.
●When the vehicle experiences strong up-and-down motion such as when driving
on an extremely rough road or on a seam in the pavement
●When headlight brightness at nighttime is reduced due to dirt on the lenses, or
when the headlights are misaligned
●When driving on winding roads or roads that are uneven
●When driving on rough or unpaved roads
■When changing the tires
Depending on the tires used, sufficient performance may not be maintainable.
■Warning messages for LDA system
Warning messages are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform the driver
of the need for caution while driving. ( →P. 764, 771)

302
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from overheat-
ing when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of time. The steer-
ing wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain from excessive
steering input or stop the vehicle and turn the engine off. The EPS
system should return to normal within 10 minutes.
CAUTION
■The ABS does not operate effectively when
●Tires with inadequate gripping ability are used (such as excessively worn tires on
a snow covered road).
●The vehicle hydroplanes while driving at high speed on wet or slick roads.
■Stopping distance when the ABS is operating may exceed that of normal condi-
tions
The ABS is not designed to shorten the vehicle’s stopping distance. Always main-
tain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, especially in the following situa-
tions:
●When driving on dirt, gravel or snow-covered roads
●When driving with tire chains
●When driving over bumps in the road
●When driving over roads with potholes or uneven surfaces
■TRAC may not operate effectively when
Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slippery
road surfaces, even if the TRAC system is operating.
Do not drive the vehicle in conditions where stability and power may be lost.
■When the VSC is activated
The slip indicator light flashes. Always drive carefully. Reckless driving may cause
an accident. Exercise particular care when the indicator light flashes.
■When the TRAC/VSC systems are turned off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the road conditions. As
these are the systems to ensure vehicle stability and driving force, do not turn the
TRAC/VSC systems off unless necessary.

ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
3034-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
CAUTION
■Replacing tires
Make sure that all tires are of the specified size, brand, tread pattern and total load
capacity. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated to the recommended tire
inflation pressure level.
The ABS, TRAC and VSC systems will not function correctly if different tires are
installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Lexus dealer for further information when replacing tires or wheels.
■Handling of tires and the suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or modifying the suspension will affect the
driving assist systems, and may cause a system to malfunction.

324
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-6. Driving tips
Control your speed and keep at a constant speed. Also, before stopping
at a toll booth or similar, allow plenty of time to release the accelerator and
gently apply the brakes. A greater amount of electrical energy can be
retained when slowing down.
Use the air conditioning only when necessary. Doing so can help control
excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: In high temperatures, use the recirculated air mode. Doing so
will help to reduce the burden on the air conditioner and reduce fuel con-
sumption as well.
In winter: Because the gasoline engine will not automatically cut out until
the gasoline engine and the interior of the vehicle are warm, it will con-
sume fuel. Also, fuel consumption can be improved by avoiding overuse of
the heater.
Make sure to check the tire inflation pressure frequently. Improper tire
inflation pressure can cause poor fuel consumption.
Also, as snow tires can cause large amounts of friction, their use on dry
roads can lead to poor fuel consumption. Use a tire that is appropriate for
the season.
Carrying heavy luggage can lead to poor fuel consumption. Avoid carry-
ing unnecessary luggage. Installing a large roof rack can also cause poor
fuel consumption.
Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation pressure
Luggage

326
ES350 300h_OM_OM33A01U_(U)
4-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.
• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Power control unit coolant (hybrid vehicles)
•Washer fluid
●Have a service technician inspect the condition of the 12-volt battery.
●Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire
chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the specified size and brand, and that chains match the
size of the tires.
Carry out the necessary preparatio ns and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate
to the prevailing weather conditions.
Preparation for winter