tow Lexus HS250h 2012 Owner's Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
HS250h_U_75050U
1
1Before driving
Information on the hybrid system and adjusting and operat-
ing features such as door locks, mirrors, and steering col-
umn
2When drivingDriving, stopping and safe-driving information
3Interior featuresAir conditioning and audio systems, as well as other interior
features for a comfortable driving experience
4Maintenance
and careCleaning and protecting your vehicle, performing do-it-your-
self maintenance, and maintenance information
5When trouble
arisesWhat to do if the vehicle needs to be towed, gets a flat tire,
or is involved in an accident
6Ve h i c l e
specificationsDetailed vehicle information
7For ownersReporting safety defects for U.S. owners, and seat belt and
SRS airbag instructions for Canadian owners
IndexAlphabetical listing of information contained in this manual

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
HS250h_U_75050U
3
1-8. Safety informationCorrect driving posture ............. 107
SRS airbags ..................................... 109
Front passenger occupant classification system .................... 121
Child restraint systems ............... 126
Installing child restraints ............. 130
2-1. Driving procedures Driving the vehicle ........................ 142
Power (ignition) switch ............... 152
EV drive mode ............................... 157
Hybrid transmission ..................... 160
Turn signal lever ............................ 166
Parking brake ................................. 167
Horn.................................................... 168
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ..................... 169
Indicators and warning lights ... 173
Multi-information display ............ 177
Head-up display ............................ 183 2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch .............................. 191
Automatic High Beam ................ 196
Fog light switch ............................. 202
Windshield wipers and washer ........................................... 204
Headlight cleaner switch ............. 211
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................................ 212
Dynamic radar cruise control............................................. 216
LKA (Lane-Keeping Assist) .... 230
Driving assist systems................. 238
Hill-start assist control ............... 243
Pre-Collision System.................. 245
2-5. Driving information Cargo and luggage ..................... 254
Vehicle load limits........................ 257
Winter driving tips ...................... 258
Trailer towing .................................. 261
Dinghy towing ............................... 262
2When driving

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
HS250h_U_75050U
5
3-6. Using the storage featuresList of storage features............... 377
• Glove box .................................... 378
• Console box ................................ 379
• Cup holders.................................. 381
• Bottle holders ............................ 383
• Auxiliary boxes.......................... 384
3-7. Other interior features Sun visors........................................ 385
Vanity mirrors ............................... 386
Clock ................................................. 387
Power outlets ................................ 388
Seat heaters and ventilators .................................... 389
Armrest ............................................. 391
Rear sunshade ............................... 392
Floor mat.......................................... 394
Trunk compartment features.......................................... 396
Garage door opener................. 398
Compass.......................................... 404
Safety Connect ............................ 408
4-1. Maintenance and care Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior.................... 416
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior .................... 420 4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements ..... 423
General maintenance ................ 426
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ..................................... 430
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions ................................... 431
Hood ................................................. 434
Positioning a floor jack............... 435
Engine compartment.................. 437
12-volt battery................................ 447
Tires .................................................... 451
Tire inflation pressure................. 459
Wheels ............................................. 462
Air conditioning filter.................. 464
Electronic key battery ................ 467
Checking and replacing fuses ................................................ 469
Light bulbs ........................................ 481
5-1. Essential information Emergency flashers .................... 494
If your vehicle needs to be towed ....................................... 495
If you think something is wrong .............................................. 501
4Maintenance and care5When trouble arises

34
1-1. Hybrid system
HS250h_U_75050U
CAUTION
●If your vehicle needs to be towed, do so with front wheels raised. If the wheels
connected to the electric motor (traction motor) are on the ground when towing,
the motor may continue to generate electricity. This may cause an electricity
leakage leading to a fire. (
→P. 4 9 5 )
●Carefully inspect the ground under the vehicle. If you find that liquid has leaked
onto the ground, the fuel system may have been damaged. Leave the vehicle as
soon as possible.
■Nickel-metal hydride battery
Your vehicle contains a sealed nickel-metal hydride battery. If disposed of improp-
erly, it is hazardous to the environment and there is a risk of severe burns and elec-
trical shock that may result in death or serious injury.
■Emergency shut off system
Carefully check to see if there are exposed high voltage parts or cables. Never
touch the parts or cables. (
→P. 3 0 )
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery air vent
●Do not put foreign objects near the air vent. The hybrid battery (traction battery)
may overheat and be damaged.
●Clean the air vent regularly to prevent the hybrid battery (traction battery) from
overheating.
●Do not wet or allow foreign substances to enter the air vent as this may cause a
short circuit and damage the hybrid battery (traction battery).
●Do not carry large amounts of water such as water cooler bottles in the vehicle. If
water spills onto the hybrid battery (traction battery), the battery may be dam-
aged. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.

52
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HS250h_U_75050U
●If the smart access system with push-button start has not been used for 14 days
or longer, the doors cannot be unlocked at any doors except the driver’s door.
In this case, take hold of the driver’s door handle, or use the wireless remote
control or the mechanical key, to unlock the doors.
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart access system with push-button start uses weak radio waves. In the fol-
lowing situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle
may be affected, preventing the smart access system with push-button start, wire-
less remote control and immobilizer system from operating properly.
(Ways of coping: →P. 544)
●When the electronic key battery is depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display,
airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical noise
●When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wire-
less communication devices
●When the electronic key is in contact with, or is covered by the following metal-
lic objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• Metallic wallets or bags
•Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wireless key (that emit radio waves) is being used nearby
●When carrying the electronic key together with the following devices that emit
radio waves
• Another vehicle’s electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the rear
window

69
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
HS250h_U_75050U
Power easy access system (vehicles with driving position memory)
When the driver enters and exits the vehicle, the driver’s seat and steer-
ing wheel will automatically perform the following operations: Exiting the vehicle: When all of the
following actions have been per-
formed, the steering wheel will
move up and back to the point far-
thest away from the driver and the
seat will move backward (auto
away function):
• The “POWER” switch has beenturned off
• The driver seat belt has been unfastened
Entering the vehicle: When either
of the following actions has been
performed, the steering wheel will
move toward the driver and seat
will move forward (auto return
function):
• The “POWER” switch has beenturned to ACCESSORY or ON
mode
• The driver seat belt has been fas- tened

76
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
HS250h_U_75050U
■Adjusting the height of the head restraints (front seats)
■Adjusting the rear seat head restraints
Always raise the head restraint one level from the stowed position when using.
CAUTION
■Head restraint precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the head restraints. Failure to do so
may result in death or serious injury.
●Use the head restraints designed for each respective seat.
●Adjust the head restraints to the correct position at all times.
●After adjusting the head restraints, push down on them and make sure they are
locked in position.
●Do not drive with the head restraints removed.
Make sure that the head restraints are
adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of your ears.

83
1
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
HS250h_U_75050U
Steering wheel
The steering wheel can be adjusted to a comfortable position.
■Manual adjustment
Hold the steering wheel and
push the lever down.
Adjust to the ideal position by
moving the steering wheel hori-
zontally and vertically.
After adjustment, pull the lever
up to secure the steering wheel.
■Power adjustment
Operating the switch moves the steering wheel in the following direc-
tions:
Up
Down
Away from the driver
Toward the driver

84
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
HS250h_U_75050U
Auto tilt away (power adjustable type only)
When the “POWER” switch is
turned off, the steering wheel
returns to its stowed position by
moving up and away to enable
easier driver entry and exit.
Turning the “POWER” switch to
ACCESSORY or ON mode will
return the steering wheel to the
original position.
■The steering wheel can be adjusted when (power adjustable type only)
The “POWER” switch is in ACCESSORY or ON mode*.
*: Vehicles with driving position memory: If the driver’s seat belt is fastened, thesteering wheel can be adjusted regardless of “POWER” switch mode.
■Automatic adjustment of the steering position (vehicles with driving position
memory)
A desired steering position can be entered to memory and recalled automatically
by the driving position memory system. ( →P. 7 2 )
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle the vehicle and cause an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.
■After adjusting the steering wheel (manually adjustable type only)
Make sure that the steering wheel is securely locked.
Otherwise, the steering wheel may move suddenly, possibly causing an accident,
and resulting in death or serious injury.

116
1-8. Safety information
HS250h_U_75050U
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
●The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or
serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of infla-
tion, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides you with a
clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering
wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in. (250 mm) away now, you can
change your driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedalscomfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm)
distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the
back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to
see the road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-slippery cushion, or raise the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the airbag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still main-
taining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.