tow Lexus ES300h 2017 User Guide

162
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Cargo and luggage
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit

(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150
lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 − 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. ( →P. 1 6 5 )
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not
designed for trailer towing.
Take notice of the following information about storage precautions, cargo
capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution

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ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-1. Before driving
WA R N I N G
■Things that must not be carried in the trunk
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals from being depressed properly, may block the
driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting
the driver or passengers, possibly causing
an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
• In front of the navigation system screen or Lexus Display Audio system screen
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less than the total load
capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper loading may cause deterioration
of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.

165
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight):
→P. 5 4 0
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo and lug-
gage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximum 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. 4 74 )
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity, towing capac-
ity and cargo capacity.
WA R N I N G
■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.

166
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-1. Before driving
Trailer towing
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus also does
not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier
for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

167
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be ding
hy towed (with 4 wheels on the ground)
behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
1774-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■S mode
●When the shift range is 4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift range
to 6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically selects a
higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
■When driving with cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
the engine brake will not operate in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 226, 238)
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performa nce, downshifting operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circumstances, downsh ifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunctio n in the hybrid transmission system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when the shift lever
is in D.)
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift lever in start-
ing.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the power switch is in ON mode and the
brake pedal is being depressed.
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
●When the following unusual operation is performed, the hybrid system output may be
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D includes S) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. If a warnin g message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
1834-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
With the headlights on, push the
lever away from you to turn on the
high beams.
Pull the lever toward you to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it to flash the high beams once.
You can flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) improves visibility at intersections and on
curves by automatically adjusting the lateral angle of the headlights according to
vehicle speed and the degree of the tire angle that are controlled by steering
input.
Operates at speed of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
■Deactivating AFSSelect “AFS” on the (settings display) of the multi-information dis-
play. ( →P. 9 2 )
Press the meter control switch.
■Daytime running light system
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically whenever the hybrid system is started and the park-
ing brake is released. (Illuminate brighter than the parking lights.) 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 economy.
■Headlight control sensor
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything that
blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient light and may cause the
automatic headlight system to malfunction.
1
2

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
1874-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
■Camera sensor detection information
●The 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 vehicle
• When vehicles ahead are hidden from sight due to repeated curves, road dividers or roadside trees
• When vehicles ahead appear from the faraway lane on wide road
• When vehicles ahead have no lights
●The high beam may be turned off if a vehicle ahead that is using fog lights without using
the headlights is detected.
●House lights, street lights, traffic signals, and illuminated billboards or signs may cause
the high beam to switch to the low beams, or the low beams to remain on.
●The following factors may affect the amount of time taken to turn the high beam on or
off:
• The brightness of headlights, fog lights, and tail lights of vehicles ahead
• The movement and direction of vehicles ahead
• When a vehicle ahead only has operational lights on one side
• When a vehicle ahead 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
●The high beam may be turned on or off when the driver does not expect it.
●Bicycles or similar objects may not be detected.
●In the situations shown below, the system may not be able to accurately detect sur-
rounding brightness levels. This may cause the low beams to remain on or the high
beams to cause problems for pedestrians, ve hicles ahead or other parties. In these
cases, manually switch between the high and low beams.
• 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.
• The camera sensor temperature is extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights or fog lights.
• 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 intermit tently changing brightness and darkness.
• When frequently and repeated ly 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 back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aimed properly.
• The vehicle is listing or tilting due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in an abnor-
mal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other
drivers or pedestrians nearby.

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ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■The windshield wiper and washer can be operated when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If the wiper switch is turned to AUTO position while the power switch is in ON mode,
the wipers will operate once to show that AUTO mode is activated.
●When the sensor sensitivity ring is turned
toward high while in AUTO mode, the wipers
will operate once to indicate that th e sensor sensitivity is enhanced.
●If the temperature of the raindrop sensor is 185°F (85°C) or higher, or -22°F
(-30°C) or lower, automatic operation may not occur. In this case, operate the
wipers in any mode other than AUTO mode.
■If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not blocked if there is washer fluid in the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
●The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is ad opted. It may not oper-
ate properly when sunlight from the rising or
setting of the sun intermittently strikes the
windshield, or if bugs etc. are present on the
windshield.
WA R N I N G
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wi pers in AUTO mode (vehicles with rain-
sensing windshield wipers)
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield is subject to vibration in AUTO mo de. Take care that your fingers or anything
else do not become caught in the windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer fl uid until the windshield becomes warm. The
fluid may freeze on the windshield and cause lo w visibility. This may lead to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
1934-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be caused if the lever is pulled toward you and
held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Lexus dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
■When standing the windshield wipers up
Raise the wipers in line with the windshield. (→P. 2 8 6 )
Failure to do so may result in damage to the wipers and/or the hood.