Lexus ES300h 2020 Owner's Manual (OM06196U)
Manufacturer: LEXUS, Model Year: 2020, Model line: ES300h, Model: Lexus ES300h 2020Pages: 460, PDF Size: 10.03 MB
Page 161 of 460

1614-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
4-3.Operating the lights and wipers
Operating the   switch turns on 
the lights as follows:U.S.A.
Canada
1  The side marker, parking, tail, 
license plate and, instrument panel 
lights, and daytime running lights 
turn on.
2  The headlights and all the 
lights listed above (except daytime 
running lights) turn on.
3  The headlights, daytime run-
ning lights and all the lights listed  above turn on and off automatically.
4  (U.S.A.) Off
 (Canada) The daytime running 
lights turn on.
■AUTO mode can be used when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■Daytime running light system
●The daytime running lights illuminate 
using the same lights as the parking lights 
and illuminate brighter than the parking 
lights.
●To make your vehicle more visible to 
other drivers during daytime driving, the 
daytime running lights turn on automati-
cally when all of the  following conditions 
are met. (The daytime running lights are 
not designed for use at night.)
• The hybrid system is operating
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch  is in the   (Can-
ada only),   or   
* position
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after 
they illuminate, even if the parking brake is 
set again.
●For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights 
can be turned off by operating the head-
light switch to   position.
●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
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 detect-
ing the level of ambien t light and may cause 
the automatic headlight system to malfunc-
tion.
Headlight switch
The headlights can be operated 
manually or automatically.
Turning on the headlights
A
B 
Page 162 of 460

1624-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Automatic light off system
●When the headlights come on: The head-
lights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds 
after the driver’s door is opened and 
closed if the power switch is turned to 
ACCESSORY mode or turned off. (The 
lights turn off immediately if   on 
the key is pressed after all the doors are 
locked.)
●When only the tail lights come on: The tail 
lights turn off automatically if the power 
switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode 
or turned off and the driver’s door is 
opened.
To turn the lights on again, turn the power 
switch to ON mode, or turn the light switch 
off once and then back to   or  .
■Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the 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 
vehicle to ensure that the headlights do not 
interfere with other road users.
■Windshield wiper linked headlight illu-
mination
When driving during daytime with the 
headlight switch turned to  , if the wind-
shield wipers are used, the headlights will 
turn on automatically after several seconds 
to help enhance the visibility of your vehicle.
■12-volt battery-saving function
In order to prevent the 12-volt battery of the 
vehicle from discharging, if the headlights 
and/or tail lights are on when the power 
switch is turned off the 12-volt battery sav-
ing function will operate and automatically 
turn off all the lights  after approximately 20 
minutes. 
When the power switch is turned to ON 
mode, the 12-volt battery-saving function 
will be disabled.
When any of the following are performed, 
the 12-volt battery-saving function is can-
celed once and then reactivated. All the 
lights will turn off automatically 20 minutes 
after the 12-volt battery-saving function has 
been reactivated:
●When the headlight switch is operated
●When a door is opened or closed
■Welcome light illumination control
The parking lights, tail lights and license 
plate lights automatically turn on at night 
when the doors are unlocked using the 
entry function or wireless remote control if 
the light switch is in the   position.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be 
changed. 
(Customizable features:  P.418)
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than 
necessary when the hybrid system is not 
operating. 
Page 163 of 460

1634-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
1With 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.
2Pull 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) 
secures excellent visibility at intersec-
tions and on curves by automatically 
adjusting the direction of the light axis 
of the headlights according to vehicle 
speed and the degree of the tire’s angle 
as controlled by steering input.
AFS operates at speed s of approximately 
6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
When any of the following conditions is 
met, while the headlights (low beam) 
are on, the cornering lights will addi- tionally turn on and light up the direc-
tion of movement for the vehicle. This is 
to ensure excellent visibility when 
either driving at intersections or park-
ing at night.
The steering wheel is operated
 The turn signal lever is operated
 The shift position is in R (both left 
and right side cornering lights)
■Cornering light control
●The lights illuminate when the vehicle 
speed is approximately 19 mph (30 
km/h) or less. However,  the lights turn off 
when the vehicle speed increases to 
approximately 22 mph (35 km/h) or 
more.
●After the lights remain illuminated for 30 
minutes, they automatically turn off.
Turning on the high beam head-
lights
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting 
System) (if equipped)
Cornering lights 
Page 164 of 460

1644-3. Operating the lights and wipers
1Press the Automatic High Beam 
switch.
2
Push the lever away from you with 
the headlight switch in the   or   position.
The Automatic High Beam indicator will 
come on when the headlights are turned  on automatically to indicate that the system 
is active.
■High beam automatic turning on or off 
conditions
●When all of the follo
wing conditions are 
met, the high beam will be automatically 
turned on (after approximately 1 second):
• Vehicle speed is above approximately 21 
mph (34 km/h).
• The area ahead of the vehicle is dark.
• There are no vehicles ahead with head- lights or tail lights turned on.
• There are few streetlights on the road  ahead.
●If any of the following conditions are met, 
the high beam will be automatically 
turned off:
• Vehicle speed drops below approxi- mately 17 mph (27 km/h).
• The area ahead of the vehicle is not dark.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail  lights turned on.
• There are many streetlights on the road  ahead.
■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 divid-
ers 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 with-
Automatic High Beam
The Automatic High Beam uses an 
in-vehicle camera sensor to assess 
the brightness of streetlights, the 
lights of vehicle ahead, etc., and 
automatically turn s the high beam 
on or off as necessary.
WARNING
■Limitations of the Automatic High 
Beam
Do not rely on the Automatic High 
Beam. Always drive sa fely, taking care to 
observe your surroundings and turning 
the high beam on or off manually if nec-
essary.
■To prevent incorrect operation of the 
Automatic High Beam system
Do not overload the vehicle.
Activating the Automatic High 
Beam system 
Page 165 of 460

1654-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
out 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 opera- tional 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 show n 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 pedes-
trians, vehicles ahead or other parties. In 
these cases, manually switch between the 
high and low beams.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sand-
storms etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist,  ice, dirt etc.
• The windshield is  cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• When the temperature of the camera  sensor is extremely high
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal  to those of headlights, tail lights or fog 
lights.
• When headlights or tail lights of vehicles  ahead are turned off, dirty, changing 
color, or not aimed properly
• When the vehicle is hit by water, snow,  dust, etc. from a preceding vehicle
• When driving through  an area of inter-
mittently 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 re flective 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.
• The vehicle is listing or tilting, due to a flat 
tire, a trailer being towed etc.
• The high beam and low beam are repeat- edly being switched between in an 
abnormal manner.
• 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 tempo-
rarily lowered.
1 Turn the power switch off while the fol-
lowing conditions are met.
• The headlight swit ch is in   or  .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam  position.
• Automatic High Be am switch is on.
2 Turn the power switch to ON mode.
3 Within 30 seconds after  2, repeat pull-
ing the headlight switch lever to the 
original position then pushing it to the 
high beam position quickly 10 times, 
then leave the lever in high beam posi-
tion.
4 If the sensitivity is changed, the Auto-
matic High Beam indicator turns on and 
off 3 times.
Automatic High Beam (headlights) may 
turn on even the vehicle is stopped.
■Switching to low beam
Pull the lever to the original position.
Turning the high beam on/off 
manually 
Page 166 of 460

1664-3. Operating the lights and wipers
The Automatic High Beam indicator will 
turn off.
Push the lever away from you to activate 
the Automatic High Beam system again.
■Switching to high beam
Press the Automatic High Beam 
switch.
The Automatic High Beam indicator will 
turn off and the high beam indicator will 
turn on.
Press the switch to activate the Automatic 
High Beam system again.
Intermittent windsh ield wipers with 
interval adjuster
Operating the   lever operates 
the wipers or washer as follows. When 
intermittent windshield wiper opera-
tion is selected, wiper interval can also 
be adjusted.
Windshield wipers and 
w
asher
Operating the lever can switch 
between automatic operation and 
manual operation, or can use the 
washer.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may dam-
age the windshield.
Operating the wiper lever 
Page 167 of 460

1674-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
1*1 or *2 
Off
2
*1 or *2
Intermittent operation
The intermittent windshield wiper operates 
more frequently as vehicle speed becomes 
higher.
3*1 or *2 
Low speed operation
4
*1 or *2 
High speed operation
5
*1 or *2 
Temporary operation
*1: For U.S.A.
*2:For Canada
Wiper intervals can be adjusted when 
intermittent operation is selected.
6 Increases the intermittent wind-
shield wiper frequency
7 Decreases the intermittent wind-
shield wiper frequency 8
 Washer/wiper dual opera-
tion
Pulling the lever operates the wipers and 
washer.
The wipers will automatically operate a 
couple of times after the washer squirts. 
(After operating several times, the wipers 
operate once more time  after a short delay 
to prevent dripping. However, the dripping 
prevention does not operate while the 
vehicle is moving.)
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
Operating the   lever operates 
the wipers or washer as follows. When 
AUTO is selected, the wipers will 
operate automatically when the sen-
sor detects falling rain. The system 
automatically adjusts wiper timing in 
accordance with rain volume and vehi-
cle speed. 
Page 168 of 460

1684-3. Operating the lights and wipers
1*1 or *2 
Off
2 AUTO 
Rain-sensing operation
3
*1 or *2 
Low speed operation
4
*1 or *2 
High speed operation
5
*1 or *2 
Temporary operation
*1: For U.S.A.
*2:For Canada
When AUTO is selected, the sensor 
sensitivity can be adjusted by turning 
the switch ring. 6
Increases the sensitivity
7 Decreases the sensitivity
8  Washer/wiper dual opera-
tion
Pulling the lever operates the wipers and 
washer.
The wipers will automatically operate a 
couple of times after the washer squirts. 
(After operating several times, the wipers 
operate once more time  after a short delay 
to prevent dripping. However, the dripping 
prevention does not operate while the 
vehicle is moving.)
■The windshield wiper and washer can be 
operated when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■Effects of vehicle speed on wiper opera-
tion (vehicles with  rain-sensing wind-
shield wipers)
Even when the wipers are not in AUTO 
mode, vehicle speed affects the time until 
the drip prevention wiper sweep occurs.
With low speed windsh ield wiper operation  
Page 169 of 460

1694-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
selected, wiper operation will be switched 
from low speed to intermittent wiper opera-
tion only when the vehicle is stationary. 
(However, when the sensor sensitivity is 
adjusted to the highest level, the mode can-
not be switched.)
■Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-
sensing windshield wipers)
●The raindrop sensor  judges the amount 
of raindrops.
An optical sensor is adopted. It may not 
operate properly when sunlight from the 
rising or setting of the sun intermittently 
strikes the windshield,  or if bugs etc. are 
present on the windshield.
●If the wiper 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.
●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.
■Front door opening linked windshield 
wiper stop function (vehicles with rain-
sensing windshield wipers)
When AUTO is selected and the wind-
shield wipers are operatin g, if a front door is 
opened while the vehicle is stopped and the 
P position is selected, operation of the 
windshield wipers w ill be stopped to pre-
vent anyone near the vehicle from being 
sprayed by water from the wipers.
When the front door is closed, wiper opera-
tion will resume.
■To protect the windshield wipers
If movement of the windshield wipers is 
largely restricted by a  foreign object such as  snow, the operation of the windshield wip-
ers may be stopped automatically to pro-
tect the windshield wipe
rs. In this case, turn 
the windshield wiper switch off and remove 
the foreign object, and then use the wind-
shield wipers.
■When stopping the hybrid system in an 
emergency while driving
If the windshield wipe rs are operating when 
the hybrid system is st opped, the windshield 
wipers will operate in high speed operation. 
After the vehicle is stopped, operation will 
return to normal when the power switch is 
turned to ON mode, or operation will stop 
when the driver’s door is opened.
WARNING
■Caution regarding the use of wind-
shield wipers in AUTO mode (vehi-
cles with rain-sensing windshield 
wipers)
The windshield wipers may operate 
unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or 
the windshield is subject to vibration in 
AUTO mode. 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 
fluid until the windshield becomes warm. 
The fluid may freeze on the windshield 
and cause low visibility. This may lead to 
an accident, resulting in death or serious 
injury.
NOTICE
■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. 
Page 170 of 460

1704-3. Operating the lights and wipers
When the windshield wipers are not 
being used, they retract to below the 
hood. To enable the windshield wipers 
to be lifted when parking in cold condi-
tions or when replacing a windshield 
wiper insert, change the rest position of 
the windshield wipers to the service 
position using the wiper lever.
■Raising the wipers to the service 
position
Within approximately 45 seconds of 
turning the power switch off, move the 
wiper lever to the   (U.S.A.) or   
(Canada) position and hold it for 
approximately 2 se conds or more.
The wipers will move to the service posi-
tion.
■Lifting the windshield wipers
While holding the hook portion   of 
the wiper arm, lift the windshield wiper 
from the windshield.
■Lowering the windshield wipers to the 
retracted position
With the windshield wipers placed on the 
windshield, turn the  power switch to ON 
mode and then move the wiper lever to an 
operating position. Wh en the wiper switch 
is turned off, the windshield wipers will stop 
at the retracted position.
Changing the windshield wiper 
rest position/Lifting the wind-
shield wipers
NOTICE
■When lifting the windshield wipers
●Do not lift the windshield wipers when 
they are in the retracted position 
below the hood. Otherwise, they may 
contact the hood, possibly resulting in 
damage to a windshield wiper and/or 
the hood.
●Do not lift a windshield wiper by the 
wiper blade. Otherwise, the wiper 
blade may be deformed.
A