Lexus HS250h 2011 Do-it-yourself maintenance / LEXUS 2011 HS250H OWNERS MANUAL (OM75037U)

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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the “POWER” switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods of time without the hybrid system on.
●If the hybrid system is off, but the indicator on the “POWER” switch is illuminated,
this indicates that the “POWER” switch is still turned on. When exiting the vehi-
cle, always check that the “POWER” switch is off.
■When starting the hybrid system
Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the “POWER” switch
If the “POWER” switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus
dealer immediately.

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2-1. Driving procedures
EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, the electric motor (traction motor), powered by the
hybrid battery (traction battery), is used to drive the vehicle.
This mode allows you to drive in residential areas late at night, or in indoor
parking lots etc. without concern fo r noises and exhaust gas emissions.
Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned
on, the EV drive mode indicator
will come on. Pressing the
switch when in EV drive mode
will return the vehicle to normal
driving (using the gasoline
engine and electric motor [trac-
tion motor]).

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When driving
■Situations in which EV drive mode cannot be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situations. If it can-
not be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-
information display.
●Vehicle speed is about 19mph (30km/h) or more.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) is low.
In general, the remaining battery level in dicated in the “Energy Monitor” display
is level 3 or lower. ( P. 3 3 )
● The temperature of the hybrid system is high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun, driv en on a hill, driven at high speeds, etc.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is low.
The vehicle has been left in temperatures lower than about 32°F (0°C) for a
long period of time etc.
●The gasoline engine is warming up.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
■Automatic cancellation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in
the following situations. When EV drive mo de is canceled, a buzzer will sound and
the EV drive mode indicator will flash and go off.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
In general, the remaining battery level in dicated in the “Energy Monitor” display
is level 2 or lower. ( P. 3 3 )
●Vehicle speed becomes more than about 19 mph (30 km/h).
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
■ Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, it is possible to drive up to about several hundred yards if driving
at a speed of about 19 mph (30 km/h) or less. (The distance that is possible
depends on the hybrid battery [traction battery] level and driving conditions.)

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2-1. Driving procedures
■Fuel economy
HS250h is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy during normal driv-
ing (using the gasoline engine and electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel economy.
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode, pay special attention to the area around the vehi-
cle. Because there is no engine noise, pedestrians, people riding bicycles or other
people and vehicles in the area may not be aware of the vehicle starting off or
approaching them, so take extra care while driving.

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2-1. Driving procedures
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When driving
Hybrid transmission
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
■Shifting the shift lever
Shift lever
Operate the shift lever gently
and ensure correct shifting
operation.When shifting to the D
or R positions, move the
shift lever along the shift
gate.
To shift to the N position,
slide the shift lever to the
left and hold it. The shift
position will change to N.
Shifting to B is only pos-
sible when shift position
D is selected.
The shift lever will
always return to this
position after a shifting
operation.
When shifting from P to D or R,
from D to R, or from R to D,
ensure that the brake pedal is
being depressed and the vehicle
is stationary.
Shift position indicator
When selecting the shift posi-
tion, make sure that the shift
position has been changed to
the desired position by checking
the shift position indicator pro-
vided on the instrument panel.
When any shift position other
than D or B is selected, the
arrow toward B disappears from
the shift position indicator.

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2-1. Driving procedures
■Shift position purpose
*: For good fuel economy and noise redu ction, the D position should usually
be used.
■ P position switch
The shift position can be changed to P through use of the P position
switch.
Fully stop the vehicle and keep
depressing the brake pedal, and
then press the P position switch.
When the shift position is
changed to P, the switch indica-
tor comes on.
Check that the P position indi-
cator is illuminated on the shift
position indicator.
●Changing the shift position from P to other positions:
• While depressing the brake pedal firmly, operate the shift lever. If the
shift lever is operated without depressing the brake pedal, the buzzer
will sound and the shifting operation will be disabled.
• The shift position cannot be changed from P to B directly.
Shift positionFunction
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*
BApplying moderate engine braking when driving down
hills or on steep slopes

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When driving
■Selecting a driving mode
The following modes can be selected to suit driving conditions:
Eco drive mode
Suitable for improving the fuel
economy, because the torque
corresponding to the accelera-
tor pedal depression amount
can be generated more
smoothly than it is in normal
conditions and the operation of
the air conditioning system
(heating/cooling) will be mini-
mized.
When the “ECO MODE”
switch is pressed, the “ECO
MODE” indicator comes on in
the meter.
Power mode
Suitable when the vehicle needs
to drive powerfully or travels in
mountainous areas.
When the power mode switch is
pressed, the “PWR MODE”
indicator comes on in the meter.

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2-1. Driving procedures
■For the shift positions
●When the “POWER” switch is off, the shift position cannot be changed.
●When the “POWER” switch is in ON mo de and the “READY” indicator is off,
the shift position can only be changed to N.
●When the “READY” indicator is on, the sh ift position can be changed from P to
D, N or R.
●The shift position can only be changed to B directly from D.
In addition, if the shift position is change d in any of the following situations, the
buzzer will sound and the shifting operation will be disabled or the shift position will
automatically change to N. When this happens, select an appropriate shift position.
● Situations where the shifting operation will be disabled:
• When the shift lever is changed from P to another position without depress-
ing the brake pedal.
• When the shift position is changed from P or N to B.
● Situations where the shift position will automatically change to N:
• When the P position switch is pressed while the vehicle is running.
• When shift position R is selected when the vehicle is moving forward.
• When shift position D is selected when the vehicle is moving in reverse.
• When the shift position is changed from R to B.
■Reverse warning buzzer
When shifting into R, a buzzer will sound to inform the driver that the shift position is
in R.
■About engine braking
When shift position B is selected, releasing the accelerator pedal will apply engine
braking.
• When the vehicle is driven at high sp eeds, compared to ordinary gasoline-
fueled vehicles, the engine braking deceleration is felt less than that of other
vehicles.
• The vehicle can be accelerated even when shift position B is selected.
If the vehicle is driven continuously in the B position, fuel efficiency will become low.
Usually, select the D position.

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When driving
■Using air conditioning in Eco drive mode
The Eco drive mode controls heating/cooling and fan speed operation to improve
fuel consumption. When you want to improve the effectiveness of the air condition-
ing system, adjust the fan speed or cancel the Eco drive mode.
For more information, refer to the “Navigation System Owner’s Manual”.
■Power mode automatic deactivation
Power mode is automatically deactivated if the “POWER” switch is turned off after
driving in power mode.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. Reverse warning buzzer) can be changed.
(Customizable features  P. 5 8 0 )
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause the vehicle to spin or skid, resulting in
an accident.
■For the shift lever
Do not hang anything on the shift lever.
Doing so could prevent the shift lever fr om returning to position, causing unex-
pected accidents to occur when the vehicle is in motion.

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2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■Situations where P position control system malfunctions are possible
If any of the following situations occurs, P position control system malfunctions are
possible.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place on level ground, apply the parking
brake, and then contact your Lexus dealer.
●When the “P Lock Malfunction” warnin g message appears on the multi-informa-
tion display. ( P. 5 0 8 )
●When the P position switch indicator flashes.
●When the shift position symb ols (such as P and R) are flashing on the shift posi-
tion indicator.
●When the shift position indicator remains off.
■When in heavy traffic
If shift position N is selected, the hybr id battery (traction battery) will not be
charged. To help prevent the battery from discharging, avoid leaving the N position
selected for an extended period of time.
■If the vehicle will not shift out of the P position
There is a possibility that the 12-volt batt ery is discharged. Check the 12-volt battery
in this situation.
■Notes regarding shift lever and P position switch operation
Avoid repeatedly operating the shift lever an d P position switch in quick succession.
The system protection function may activate and temporarily prevent the vehicle
from shifting out of the P position. If this happens, please wait for around 15 seconds
before attempting to change the shift position again.