tow Lexus IS300h 2017 Owner's Guide

2144-1. Before driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
Installation positions for the towing hitch/bracket and hitch ball
436 mm (17.2 in.)
475 mm (18.7 in.)
476 mm (18.7 in.)
502 mm (19.8 in.)
520 mm (20.5 in.)
560 mm (22.0 in.)
622 mm (24.5 in.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
307 mm (12.1 in.)
318 mm (12.5 in.)
342 mm (13.5 in.)
394 mm (15.5 in.)
704 mm (27.7 in.)
1138 mm (44.8 in.)
58 mm (2.3 in.)
53 mm (2.1 in.)
42 mm (1.7 in.)
34 mm (1.3 in.)
6 mm (0.2 in.)
11 mm (0.4 in.)
390 mm (15.4 in.)
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

2154-1. Before driving
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
■Tire information
●Increase the tire inflation pressure to 20.0 kPa (0.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) greater than
the recommended value when towing. ( P. 652)
●Increase the air pressure of the trailer tires in accordance with the total trailer weight
and according to the values recommended by the manufacturer of your trailer.
■Break-in schedule
Lexus recommends that vehicles fitted with new power train components should not be
used for towing trailers for the first 800 km (500 miles).
■Safety checks before towing
●Check that the maximum load limit for the towing hitch/bracket hitch ball is not
exceeded. Bear in mind that the coupling weight of the trailer will add to the load
exerted on the vehicle. Also make sure that you will not be towing a load that exceeds the maximum permissible axle capacity.
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mirrors shou ld be added to the vehicle if the traffic behind cannot be clearly seen with standa rd mirrors. Adjust the extending arms of
these mirrors on both sides of the vehicle so that they always provide maximum visibility
of the road behind.
■Maintenance
●Maintenance must be performed more frequently when using the vehicle for towing
due to the greater weight burden placed on the vehicle compared to normal driving.
●Retighten all bolts securing the hitching ball and bracket after towing for approximately
1000 km (600 miles).
NOTICE
■When the rear bumper strengthening material is aluminum
Ensure the steel bracket part does not come directly in contact with that area.
When steel and aluminum come into contact, there is a reaction similar to corrosion,
which will weaken the section concerned and may result in damage. Apply a rust inhib- itor to parts that will come in contact when attaching a steel bracket.

2164-1. Before driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. In order to avoid acci-
dent, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when towing:
■Checking connections between trailer and lights
Stop the vehicle and check the operation of the connection between the
trailer and lights after driving for a brief period as well as before starting off.
■Practicing driving with a coupled trailer
●Get the feel for turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer coupled by
practicing in an area with no or light traffic.
●When reversing with a coupled traile r, hold the section of the steering
wheel nearest to you and rotate clockwis e to turn the trailer left or counter-
clockwise to turn it right. Always rotate a little at a time to prevent steering
error. Have someone guide you when reversing to lessen the risk of an
accident.
■Increasing vehicle-to-vehicle distance
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the di stance to the vehicle running ahead of
you should be equivalent to or greater than the combined length of your vehi-
cle and trailer. Avoid sudden braking th at may cause skidding. Otherwise, the
vehicle may spin out of control. This is especially true when driving on wet or
slippery road surfaces.
■Sudden acceleration/steering input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing may re sult in the trailer colliding with your
vehicle. Decelerate well in advance when approaching turns and take them
slowly and carefully to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding turning
The wheels of the trailer will travel closer to the inside of the curve than the
wheels of the vehicle. To make allowance for this, take the turns wider than you
would normally do.
Guidance

2174-1. Before driving
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
■Important points regarding stability
Vehicle movement resulting from unev en road surfaces and strong cross-
winds will affect handling. The vehicle ma y also be rocked by passing buses or
large trucks. Frequently check behind when moving alongside such vehicles.
As soon as such vehicle movement o ccurs, immediately start to decelerate
smoothly by slowly applying the brakes. Always steer the vehicle straight
ahead while braking.
■Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length of your vehicle and trailer and ensure that
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is su fficient before executing lane changes.
■Transmission information
To maintain engine braking efficiency, when using engine braking when driv-
ing on a long steep downward grade, do not use the transmission in D. The
vehicle must be driven in gear shift position “4” in S mode. (P. 229)
■If the engine overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long, steep incline in temperatures exceeding
30 C (85F) may result in the engine overheating. If the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is overheating, turn the air condition-
ing off immediately, leave the road and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
( P. 636)
■When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under the wheels of both the vehicle and trailer.
Firmly set the parking brake an d shift the shift lever to P.

2184-1. Before driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
WARNING
■To avoid accident or injury
Do not tow a trailer when a tire installed is repaired with the emergency tire puncture
repair kit.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long declines
Reduce speed and downshift. However, never downshift suddenly while descending steep or long downhill grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of time. Doing so may result in the brake ov erheating or reduce braking effects.
NOTICE
■For vehicles with an emergency tire puncture repair kit (if equipped)
Do not tow anything if a tire that has been repaired using the emergency tire puncture
repair kit is installed. The load on the ti re may cause unexpected damage to the tire.

237
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Turning the end of the lever turns on the lights as follows:
The front position, tail, license
plate and instrument panel
lights turn on.
The headlights and all lights
listed above turn on.
The headlights, daytime run-
ning lights ( P. 238) and all
the lights listed above turn on
and off automatically.
(When the power switch is in
ON mode.)
The daytime running lights turn
on. ( P. 238)
With 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.
Pull 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.
Headlight switch
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2

2384-3. Operating the lights and wipers
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
This system allows the headlights and front position lights to be turned on for 30
seconds when the power switch is off.
Pull the lever toward you and release it
with the light switch is in or
after turning the power switch off.
Pull the lever toward you and release it again to turn off the lights.
■Daytime running light system
To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically whenever the hybrid system is started with the head-
light switch off or in the “AUTO” position and the parking brake is released. (Illuminate brighter than the front position lights.) Da ytime running lights are not designed for use at
night.
■Headlight control sensor
■Automatic light off system
●When the light switch is in the or position: The headlights turn off auto-
matically if the power switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or off.
●When the light switch is in the position: The headlights and all lights turn off auto-
matically if the power switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or off.
To turn the lights on again, turn the power switch to ON mode, or turn the light switch to
the position once and then back to the or position.
Follow me home system
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything that blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting
the level of ambient li ght and may cause the automatic headlight syst em to malfunction.

2434-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
●Bicycles or similar vehicles may not be detected.
●In the following situations the system may not be able to correctly detect the surround- ing brightness level. This may cause the lo w beams to remain on or the high beams to
flash or dazzle pedestrians or vehicles ahead. In such a case, it is necessary to manually
switch between the high and low beams.
• When driving in inclement weather (hea vy rain, snow, fog, sandstorms, etc.)
• When the windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt, etc.
• When the windshield is cracked or damaged • When the camera sensor is deformed or dirty
• When the temperature of the camera sensor is extremely high
• When the surrounding brightness level is equal to that 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 interm ittently changing brightness and darkness
• When frequently and repeatedly driving as cending/descending roads, or roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel roads, etc.)
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road
• When there is a highly reflective object ahea d of the vehicle, such as a sign or mirror • When the back of a preceding vehicle is highly reflective, such as a container on a
truck
• When the vehicle's headlights are damage d or dirty, or are not aimed properly • When the vehicle is listing or titling due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• When the headlights are changed between the high beams and low beams repeat-
edly in an abnormal manner • When the driver believes that the high beams may be flashing or dazzling pedestri-
ans or other drivers
• When the vehicle is used in an area in which vehicles travel on the opposite side of
the road of the country for which the vehicle was designed, for example using a vehi- cle designed for right-hand traffic in a left-hand traffic area, or vice versa

2524-3. Operating the lights and wipers
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
WARNING
■Caution regarding the use of windshield wipers in AUTO mode
The windshield wipers may operate unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or the wind-
shield is subject to vibratio n 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 lo w visibility. This may lead to an accident, resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may damage the windshield.
■When there is no washer fluid spray from the nozzle
Damage to the washer fluid pump may be cau sed if the lever is pulled toward you and held continually.
■When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact any authorized Lexus re tailer or Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object. The nozzle will be damaged.

2684-5. Using the driving support systems
IS300h_EE(OM53D89E)
WARNING
■When to disable the pre-collision system
In the following situations, disable the system, as it may not operate properly, possibly
leading to an accident resultin g in death or serious injury:
●When the vehicle is being towed
●When your vehicle is towing another vehicle
●When transporting the vehicle via truck, boat, train or similar means of transportation
●When the vehicle is raised on a lift with the hybrid system on and the tires are allowed to rotate freely
●When inspecting the vehicle using a drum tester such as a chassis dynamometer or
speedometer tester, or when using an on vehicle wheel balancer
●When a strong impact is applied to the fron t bumper or front grille, due to an accident
or other reasons
●If the vehicle cannot be driven in a stable manner, such as when the vehicle has been in an accident or is malfunctioning
●When the vehicle is driven in a sporty manner or off-road
●When the tires are not properly inflated
●When the tires are very worn
●When tires of a size other than specified are installed
●When tire chains are installed
●When a compact spare tire or an emergency tire puncture repair kit is used
●If equipment (snow plow, etc.) that may obstruct the radar sensor or camera sensor is
temporarily installe d to the vehicle