check engine light Lexus ES300h 2018 Owner's Manual (OM33D45U)

TABLE OF CONTENTS6
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................ 430
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior.................. 433
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ............................ 436
General mainte nance.............. 439
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs.................................... 442
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions................................ 443
Hood ............................................... 445
Positioning a floor jack ............ 446
Engine compartment ............... 447
12-volt battery ............................. 457
Tires ...................................................461
Tire inflation pressure ................ 471
Wheels ........................................... 474
Air conditioning filter ............... 476
Electronic key battery.............. 478
Checking and replacing fuses..............................................480
Light bulbs .................................... 483 8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers .................. 496
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency ... 497
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed ............................... 498
If you think something is wrong................ 502
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds ....503
If a warning message is displayed ................................ 509
If you have a flat tire ....................513
If the hybrid system will not start ............................................... 523
If the electronic key does not operate properly..................... 525
If the 12-volt battery is discharged................................. 527
If your vehicle overheats...........531
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................................. 535
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises

17Pictorial index
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 190
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 280
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer)
*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 389
Precautions against car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 431
Fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 194
Refueling method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 194
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 540
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 461
Tire size/inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 545
Winter tires/tire chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 28 0
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 461
Coping with flat tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 513
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. 445
Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 445
Engine compartment cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 448
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 541
Coping with overheat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 531
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 509
Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 182
Parking lights/daytime running lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 182
Fog lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 189
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 180
Stop/tail lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 182
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 182
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 17 5
Side marker lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 182
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P. 483, Watts: P. 546)
*: If equipped
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
1574-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is
illuminated. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator ped-
als to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will
result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in oper-
ating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving po sture even when moving the vehicle only
slightly. This allows you to depress th e brake and accelerator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay re sponse in an emergency, resulting in an accident.
●The driver should pay extra attention to pedestrians when the vehicle is powered only
by the electric motor (traction motor). As there is no engine noise, the pedestrians
may misjudge the vehicle’s movement. Even with the vehicle proximity notification
system active, people may no t realize the vehicle is approaching when the surround-
ing area is noisy and so forth. Therefore, take extra care while driving.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
●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 difficult 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 vehicle in
the normal way: → P. 497
●Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep
hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause th e brakes to overheat and lose effective-
ness. ( →P. 176)
●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 no t before driving at such speeds.

158
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)4-1. Before driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering
may cause tire slippage and reduce your
ability to control the vehicle.
●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 properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from func-
tioning properly. If the brakes on only on e side are wet and not functioning properly,
steering control may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may result in an acci dent or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●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 control.
●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 control.
●Shifting the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the hybrid sys-
tem. Engine braking is not av ailable 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.
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
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 accelerate sud-
denly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to the ve hicle rolling away, always keep depressing
the brake pedal while stopped with the “REA DY” 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 backward, alwa ys 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.

ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
2794-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
◆Delays
Repeated acceleration and deceleration, 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 drivin g in a traffic jam, gently release the
brake pedal to allow the vehicle to move forward slightly while avoiding over-
use of the accelerator pedal. Doing so can help control excessive gasoline
consumption.
◆Highway driving
Control and maintain the vehicle at a co nstant speed. Before stopping at a toll
booth or similar, allow plenty of ti me to release the accelerator and gently
apply the brakes. A greater amount of electrical energy can be regenerated
when slowing down.
◆Air conditioning
Use the air conditioning only when necessary. Doing so can help reduce
excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: When the ambient temperature is high, use the recirculated air
mode. Doing so will help to reduce the burden on the air conditioning system
and reduce fuel consumption as well.
In winter: Because the gasoline engine will not automatically cut out until it
and the interior of the vehicle are warm , it will consume fuel. Also, fuel con-
sumption can be improved by av oiding overuse of the heater.
◆Checking tire inflation pressure
Make sure to check the tire inflation pr essure frequently. Improper tire infla-
tion pressure can cause poor fuel economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause large amou nts of friction, their use on dry roads
can lead to poor fuel economy. Use tires that are appropriate for the season.
◆Luggage
Carrying heavy luggage will lead to poor fuel economy. Avoid carrying
unnecessary luggage. Installing a large roof rack will also cause poor fuel
economy.
◆Warming up before driving
Since the gasoline engine starts up an d cuts out automatically when cold,
warming up the engine is unnecessary. Moreover, frequently driving short dis-
tances will cause the engine to repeated ly warm up, which can lead to excess
fuel consumption.

280
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(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
• 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.
Perform the following according to the driving conditions:
●Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to me lt the ice. Wipe away the water imme-
diately to prevent it from freezing.
●To ensure proper operation of the c limate control system fan, remove any
snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the windshield.
●Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on
the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassi s, around the tires or on the brakes.
●Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the
vehicle.
Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a sa fe distance between you and the vehicle
ahead, and drive at a reduced spee d suitable to road conditions.
Carry out the necessary preparations an d inspections before driving the vehi-
cle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the prevail-
ing weather conditions.
Preparation for winter
Before driving the vehicle
When driving the vehicle

429
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
7Maintenance and care
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................430
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior.................. 433
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ............................ 436
General maintenance.............. 439
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs .................................... 442
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions................................ 443
Hood ............................................... 445
Positioning a floor jack ............ 446
Engine compartment ............... 447
12-volt battery ............................. 457
Tires .................................................. 461
Tire inflation pressure.................471
Wheels ........................................... 474
Air conditioning filter ............... 476
Electronic key battery .............. 478
Checking and replacing fuses ............................................. 480
Light bulbs.....................................483

483
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
Light bulbs
Check the wattage of the light bulb to be replaced. (
→P. 546)
→ P. 448
■Front
Front side marker light
Headlight high beam (halogen bulb)
Front turn signal light
You may replace the following bulbs by yo urself. The difficulty level of replace-
ment varies depending on the bulb. If necessary bulb replacement seems diffi-
cult to perform, contact your Lexus dealer.
For more information about replacing other light bulbs, contact your Lexus
dealer.
Preparing for light bulb replacement
Removing the engine compartment cover
Bulb locations
1
2
3

ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
5439-1. Specifications
9
Vehicle specifications
Cooling system
Capacity
Gasoline
engine7.6 qt. (7.2 L, 6.3 Imp.qt.)
Power
control unit
3.4 qt. (3.2 L, 2.8 Imp.qt.)
Coolant type
Use either of the following:
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
• Similar high-quality ethylene glycol-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate cool-
ant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology
Do not use plain water alone.
Ignition system
Spark plug
MakeDENSO FK16HR-A8
Gap0.031 in. (0.8 mm)
NOTICE
■Iridium-tipped spark plugs
Use only iridium-tipped spark plugs. Do not adjust the spark plug gap.
Electrical system
12-volt battery
Open voltage at 68°F
(20° C):12.0 V or higher
(Voltage is checked 20 minutes after the hybrid system
and all lights are turned off.)
Charging rates5 A max.

592Alphabetical index
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
Emergency, in case ofIf a warning buzzer sounds................................................. 503
If a warning light turns on.............. 503
If a warning message is displayed ....................................... 509
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ......................................... 527
If the electronic key does not operate properly ....... 525
If the hybrid system will not start ................................................523
If you have a flat tire ........................... 513
If you think something is wrong.............................................. 502
If your vehicle becomes stuck ..................................................... 535
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency .......... 497
If your vehicle needs to be towed ...................................... 498
If your vehicle overheats ................. 531
Emergency flashers ............................. 496
Energy monitor .........................................97 Engine
Accessory mode .................................169
Compartment ..................................... 447
Hood........................................................ 445
How to start the hybrid system ................................................... 168
Identification number.......................540
Ignition switch (power switch) ..... 168
Overheating...........................................531
Power switch. ....................................... 168
Engine compartment cover............. 448
Engine coolant Capacity................................................. 543
Checking ............................................... 453
Preparing and checking before winter ....................................280
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........................................................ 86
Engine oil Capacity...................................................541
Checking ............................................... 449
Preparing and checking before winter ....................................280