light Lexus HS250h 2011 Do-it-yourself maintenance / LEXUS 2011 HS250H (OM75037U) Manual Online

202
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When the washer fluid tank is empty
Do not operate the switch continually as the washer fluid pump may overheat.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the wipers on longer than necessary when the hybrid system is off.

203
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
2
When driving
Headlight cleaner switch
: If equipped
■The headlight cleaners can be operated when
The “POWER” switch is in ON mode an d the headlight switch is turned on.
■Windshield washer linked operation
●When the windshield washer is operated with the “POWER” switch in ON
mode and the headlights on, the he adlight cleaners will operate once.
(  P. 1 9 8 )
●From the second time the windshield wa sher is operated, the headlight cleaner
will not operate in sync with the windshield washer.
(Turning the “POWER” switch to OFF or th e low beam headlights off resets the
headlight cleaner synchronization mode.)
NOTICE
■When the washer fluid tank is empty
Do not press the switch continually as the washer fluid pump may overheat.
Washer fluid can be sprayed on the headlights.
Press the switch to clean the
headlights.

207
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
■If the cruise control indicator light flashes
Press the “ON-OFF” button once to deactivate the system, and then press the but-
ton again to reactivate the system.
If the cruise control speed cannot be set or if the cruise control cancels immediately
after being activated, there may be a malfun ction in the cruise control system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
CAUTION
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
■Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting in death
or serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as thos e covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.

216
2-4. Using other driving systems
■Vehicle-to-vehicle distance settings
Select a distance from the table below. Note that the distances shown correspond
to a vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h). Vehicle-to-vehicle distance increases/
decreases in accordance with vehicle speed.
■Radar sensor and grille cover
Always keep the sensor and grille cover clean to ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control operates properly. (Some obstructions, such as snow, ice and plas-
tic objects, cannot be detected by the obstruction sensor.)
Dynamic radar cruise control is canceled if an obstruction is detected.
■Warning lights, messages and buzzers for dynamic radar cruise control
Warning lights, messages and buzzers are us ed to indicate a system malfunction or
to inform the driver of the need for caution while driving. ( P. 499, 508, 511)
■Approach warning
In the following instances, there is a po ssibility that the warnings will not occur:
●When the speed of the vehicle ahead ma tches or exceeds your vehicle speed
●When the vehicle ahead is traveling at an extremely slow speed
●Immediately after the cruise control speed was set
●At the instant the accelerator is applied
Distance optionsVehicle-to-vehicle distance
LongApproximately 160 f t. (50 m)
MediumApproximately 130 ft. (40 m)
ShortApproximately 100 f t. (30 m)
Grille cover
Radar sensor

220
2-4. Using other driving systems
CAUTION
■Conditions under which the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control may not function
correctly
Apply the brakes as necessary in the following conditions as the radar sensor may
not be able to correctly detect vehicles ahead, and a fatal or serious accident may
result:
●When water or snow thrown up by the surrounding vehicles hinders the function-
ing of the sensor
●When your vehicle is pointing upwards (c aused by a heavy load in the trunk etc.)
●When the road curves or when the lanes are narrow
●When steering wheel operation or your position in the lane is unstable
●When the vehicle ahead of you decelerates suddenly
■Handling the radar sensor
Observe the following to ensure the cruise control system can function effectively.
Otherwise, the system may not function correctly and could result in an accident.
●Keep the sensor and front grille cover clean at all times.
Clean the sensor and front grille cover with a soft cloth so you do not mark or
damage them.
●Do not subject the sensor or surrounding area to a strong impact.
If the sensor moves even slightly off position, the system may malfunction. If the
sensor or surrounding area is subject to a strong impact, always have the area
inspected and adjusted by a Lexus dealer.
●Do not disassemble the sensor.
●Do not attach accessories or stickers to the sensor, grille cover or surrounding
area.
●Do not modify or paint the sensor and grille cover.
●Do not replace them with non-genuine parts.

221
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
LKA (Lane-Keeping Assist)
: If equipped
While driving on a freeway or motor highway that has lane markers, this
system recognizes the lanes using a camera as a sensor to assist the driver
with staying in the lane. The LKA system has two functions.
■Lane departure warning function
If the system judges that the vehi cle may deviate from its lane, it
alerts the driver using rapid beepin g, indications on the multi-infor-
mation display, and a sensory warning
* given via the steering wheel.
*:A slight steering torque is applied fo r a short period of time in the
direction of the center of the lane.
■ Lane keeping assist function
This function will be active when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode of the cruise control ( P. 208) is set with vehicle
speed above approx. 45 mph (appr ox. 72 km/h) and while the lane
departure warning function is acti ve. When the lane keeping assist
function is active, a slight steering torque will be applied, to help the
driver maintain the vehicle inside the lane.

225
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
●When the lane lines cannot be recognized while driving.
●The wiper switch is set on “LO” or “HI” mode or is set on “AUTO” mode with
wipers operating at low or high speed.
●The no-handed driving warning activates while the lane keeping assist function
is active. (The buzzer will beep twice.)
●When the lane departure warning function is activated.
Once the lane departure warning function is activated, it will be temporarily
canceled and resume a few seconds later.
■No-handed driving warning
If the steering wheel is not operated for about 15 seconds on a straight road or
about 5 seconds on a curve, the buzzer will beep twice, indicators on the multi-
information display will flash, and the lane keeping assist function will be temporarily
canceled. If you drive the vehicle with your hands lightly touching the steering
wheel, this may also be detected as no-handed driving.
■When the vehicle has been parked in the sun
The LKA system functions may not be available for a while after driving has started.
In such cases, turn the LKA system off and turn it on again after normal temperature
returns. When the temperature in the cab in decreases and the temperature around
the camera sensor becomes suitable for it s operation, the functions will begin to
operate.
■Warning lights and messages for LKA
Warning lights and messages are used to in dicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution while driving. ( P. 4 9 9 , 5 1 1 )

227
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
NOTICE
■In the following situations, the LKA will not work, or will not perform reliably:
●When lane markers are interrupted or are not present, such as before a tollbooth.
●When lane markers are only on one side of the road.
●When driving on a sharp curve.
●When lanes are extremely narrow or extremely wide.
●When the vehicle leans to one side an unusual amount due to a heavy load or
improper tire inflation pressure.
●When the following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is
extremely short.
●When the lane markers are broken, “Botts’ dots”, or “Raised pavement marker”.
●When lane markers are obscured or partially obscured by sand, dirt, etc.
●When driving on a particularly brig ht road surface, such as concrete.
●When driving on a road surface that is bright due to reflected light.
●When driving in a location where the light level changes rapidly, such as the
entrance to or exit from a tunnel.
●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 pavement lane markers are difficult to see due to rain, snow, fog, etc.
●When driving on a road surface that is wet due to rain, previous rainfall, standing
water, etc.
●When the vehicle experiences strong up-a nd-down motion such as when driving
on an extremely rough road or on a seam in the pavement.
●When headlight brightness is reduced due to dirt on the lenses, or when the
headlights are misaligned.
●When driving with a strong crosswind.

230
2-4. Using other driving systems
When the VSC/TRAC systems are operatingIf the vehicle is in danger of slip-
ping or if any of the drive wheels
spins, the slip indicator light flashes
to indicate that the VSC/TRAC
systems are operating.
A buzzer (intermittent) sounds to
indicate that VSC is operating.
Disabling the TRAC/VSC systemsIf the vehicle gets stuck in fresh snow or mud, the TRAC and VSC sys-
tems may reduce power from the hybr id system to the wheels. You may
need to turn the system off to enable you to rock the vehicle in order to
free it.
■ Turning off the TRAC system only
To turn the TRAC system off,
quickly press and release the but-
ton.
A message will be shown on the
multi-information display.
Press the button again to turn the
system back on.

231
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
■Turning off both TRAC and VSC systems
To turn the TRAC and VSC sys-
tems off, press and hold the button
for more than 3 seconds while the
vehicle is stopped.
A message will be shown on the
multi-information display and
“VSC OFF” indicator will come on.
Press the button again to turn the
systems back on.
■Sounds and vibrations caused by the ABS, brake assist, VSC and TRAC
●A sound may be heard from the engine compartment when the hybrid system is
started, just after the vehicle begins to move, if the brake pedal is depressed
forcefully or repeatedly, or 1-2 minutes after the hybrid system is stopped. This
sound does not indicate that a malfunction has occurred in any of these systems.
●Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are operat-
ing. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■Reactivation of the TRAC /VSC systems
Turning off the hybrid system after turning off the TRAC/VSC systems will automat-
ically reactivate them.
■Reactivation of the TRAC sy stem linked to vehicle speed
When only the TRAC system is turned off, the TRAC system will turn on when vehi-
cle speed increases. However, when both TRAC and VSC systems are turned off,
the systems will not turn on even when vehicle speed increases.