ECO mode LEXUS RC300 2019 Service Manual

2105-2. Using the air conditioning system
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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*: The doors that can recall the driving
position memory are changed at the
same time.
■Using automatic mode
Fan speed is adjusted automatically accord-
ing to the temperature setting and the
ambient conditions.
Therefore, the fan may stop for a while until
warm or cool air is ready to flow immedi-
ately after is pressed or “AUTO” is
selected.
■Using the voice command system
Air conditioning system can be operated
using voice commands. Fo r details, refer to
the “NAVIGATION AND MULTIMEDIA
SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL”.
■Fogging up of the windows
The windows will easily fog up when the
humidity in the vehicle is high. Turning (“A/C”) on will dehumidify the air
from the outlets and defog the windshield
effectively.
●If you turn (“A/C”) off, the win-
dows may fog up more easily.
●The windows may fog up if the recircu-
lated air mode is used.
■Outside/recirculated air mode
●When driving on dusty roads such as tun-
nels or in heavy traffic, set the out-
side/recirculated air mode button to the
recirculated air mode. This is effective in
preventing outside air from entering the
vehicle interior. During cooling opera-
tion, setting the recirculated air mode will
also cool the vehicle interior effectively.
●Outside/recirculated air mode may auto-
matically switch de pending on the tem-
perature setting or the inside
temperature.
■When the outside temperature exceeds
75°F (24°C) and the air conditioning
system is on
●In order to reduce the air conditioning
power consumption, the air conditioning system may switch to recirculated air
mode automatically. This may also
reduce fuel consumption.
●Recirculated air mode is selected as a
default mode when the engine switch is
turned to IGNITION ON mode.
●It is possible to switch to outside air mode
at any time by pressing
.
■Automatic mode for air intake control
In automatic mode, the system detects
exhaust gas and other pollutants and auto-
matically switches between outside air and
recirculated air modes.
When the dehumidification function is off,
and the fan is operating, turning automatic
mode on will activate the dehumidification
function.
■Operation of the air conditioning sys-
tem in Eco drive mode
In Eco drive mode, the air conditioning sys-
tem is controlled as follows to prioritize fuel
efficiency:
●Engine speed and compressor operation
controlled to restrict heating/cooling
capacity
●Fan speed restricted when automatic
mode is selected
To improve air condit ioning performance,
perform the following operations:
●Adjust the fan speed
●Turn off Eco drive mode
■When the outside temperature falls to
nearly 32°F (0°C)
The dehumidification function may not
operate even when is pressed or
“A/C” is selected.
■Ventilation and air conditioning odors
●To let fresh air in, set the air conditioning
system to the outside air mode.
●During use, various odors from inside and
outside the vehicle may enter into and
accumulate in the air conditioning sys-
tem. This may then cause odor to be
emitted from the vents.

2115-2. Using the air conditioning system
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5
Interior features
●To reduce potential odors from occur-
ring:
• It is recommended that the air condition-
ing system be set to outside air mode
prior to turning the vehicle off.
• The start timing of the blower may be
delayed for a short period of time imme-
diately after the air conditioning system is
started in automatic mode.
■Air conditioning filter
 P.264
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.339)
■Location of air outlets
The air outlets and air volume changes
according to the selected airflow
mode.
■Adjusting the position of and open-
ing and closing the air outlets
Front Direct air flow to the left or right, up
or down
Turn the knob to open or close the
vent
Rear
Direct air flow to the left or right, up
or down
To close the vent, move the knob to the
most outside position.
Air outlets
WARNING
■To prevent the windshield from fog-
ging up
●Do not use during cool air
operation in extremely humid weather.
The difference between the tempera-
ture of the outside air and that of the
windshield can cause the outer surface
of the windshield to fog up, blocking
your vision.
●Do not place anything on the instru-
ment panel which may cover the air
outlets. Otherwise, air flow may be
obstructed, preventing the windshield
defoggers from defogging.
A
B
A

2326-1. Maintenance and care
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6-1.Maintenance and care
Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally apply water to the vehicle body,
wheel wells and underside of the
vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.
 Wash the vehicle body using a
sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
 For hard-to-remove marks, use car
wash soap and rinse thoroughly with
water.
 Wipe away any water.
 Wax the vehicle when the water-
proof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface,
apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.
■Black stainless steel window moldings (F
SPORT models)
The stainless steel window moldings are
made of black oxide coated stainless steel.
When cleaning the vehicle, do not scrub the
moldings with an abrasive cleaner as their
finish may be damaged or the color may
change.
■Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coat-
ing that is resistant to small surface
scratches caused in a car wash etc.
●The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from
when the vehicle is delivered from the
plant.
●The restoration time differs depending on
the depth of the scratch and outside tem-
perature.
The restoration time may become shorter
when the coating is warmed by applying
warm water.
●Deep scratches caused by keys, coins,
etc. cannot be restored.
●Do not use wax that contains abrasives.
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors befo re washing the vehi-
cle. Start washing from the front of the
vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors
before driving.
●Brushes used in automatic car washes
may scratch the vehicle body and dam-
age the paint.
■High pressure car washes
As water may enter the cabin, do not bring
the nozzle tip near the gaps around the
doors or perimeter of the windows, or spray
these areas continuously.
■When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet while the
electronic key is within the effective range,
the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In
that case, follow the following correction
procedures to wash the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or
more separate from the vehicle while the
vehicle is being wash ed. (Take care to
ensure that the key is not stolen.)
●Set the electronic key to battery-saving
mode to disable the smart access system
with push-button start. ( P.93)
■Aluminum wheels
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a
neutral detergent.
●Wash detergent off with water immedi-
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Cleaning instructions

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6
Maintenance and care
ately after use.
●To protect the paint from damage, make
sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
• Do not use acidic, a lkaline or abrasive
detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after driving or park-
ing in hot weather
■Brake caliper coating (F SPORT mod-
els)
●When using detergent, use neutral deter-
gent. Do not use hard brushes or abra-
sive cleaners, as they will damage the
paint.
●Do not use detergent on the brake cali-
pers when they are hot.
●Wash detergent off immediately after
use.
■Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
■Side windows water-repellent coating
(if equipped)
●The following precautions can extend the
effectiveness of the water-repellent coat-
ing.
• Remove any dirt, etc. from the side win- dows regularly.
• Do not allow dirt and dust to accumulate
on the windows for a long period.
Clean the windows with a soft, damp
cloth as soon as possible.
• Do not use wax or glass cleaners that contain abrasives when cleaning the win-
dows.
• Do not use any metallic objects to remove condensation build up.
●When the water-repellent performance
has become insufficie nt, the coating can
be repaired. Contact your Lexus dealer.
WARNING
■When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the
engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components, etc. to
catch fire.
■When cleaning the windshield (vehi-
cles with rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers)
Set the wipers to the intermittent wind-
shield wipers. ( P.141)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers
may operate unexpectedly in the follow-
ing situations, and may result in hands
being caught or other serious injuries
and cause damage to the wiper blades.
●When the upper part of the windshield
where the raindrop sensor is located is
touched by hand
●When a wet rag or similar is held close
to the raindrop sensor
●If something bumps against the wind-
shield
●If you directly touch the raindrop sen-
sor body or if something bumps into
the raindrop sensor
■Precautions regarding the exhaust
pipes
As exhaust gases cause the exhaust
pipes to become quite hot, do not touch
the exhaust pipes while the engine is run-
ning or immediately after the engine is
turned off.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not
to touch the exhaust pi pes until they have
cooled sufficiently, as touching hot
exhaust pipes can cause burns.

2346-1. Maintenance and care
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WARNING
■Precaution regarding the rear
bumper with Blind Spot Monitor (if
equipped)
If the paint of the rear bumper is chipped
or scratched, the system may malfunc-
tion. If this occurs, consult your Lexus
dealer.
NOTICE
■To prevent paint deterioration and
corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum wheels, etc.)
●Wash the vehicle immediately in the
following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron
powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
●If the paint is chip ped or scratched,
have it repaired immediately.
●To prevent the wheels from corroding,
remove any dirt and store in a place
with low humidity when storing the
wheels.
■Cleaning the exterior lights
●Wash carefully. Do not use organic
substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the
lights.
●Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the
lights.Wax may cause damage to the
lenses.
■To prevent damage to the windshield
wiper arms
When lifting the wiper arms away from
the windshield, pull the driver side wiper
arm upward first, and repeat for the pas-
senger side. When returning the wipers
to their original position, do so from the
passenger side first.
■When using an automatic car wash
(vehicles with rain-sensing windshield
wipers)
Set the wipers to the intermittent wind-
shield wipers. ( P.141)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers
may operate and the wiper blades may
be damaged.
■When using a high pressure car wash
●When washing the vehicle, do not
spray the camera or its surrounding
area directly with a high pressure
washer. Shock applied from high pres-
sure water may cause the device to not
operate normally.
●Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or resin manufactured
cover), connectors or the following
parts. The parts may be damaged if
they come into contact with high-pres-
sure water.
• Traction related parts
• Suspension parts
• Steering parts
• Brake parts
●Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 11.9
in. (30 cm) away from the vehicle
body. Otherwise resin section, such as
moldings and bumpers, may be
deformed and damaged.
Also, do not continuously hold the nozzle
in the same place.

2446-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Light bulbs
( P.270)
• Bulb with same num-
ber and wattage rat-
ing as original
• Phillips-head screw- driver
• Flathead screw- driver
• Wrench
Radiator, con-
denser and inter-
cooler radiator
(  P.252)

Tire inflation pres-
sure ( P.261)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air
source
Washer fluid
( P.254)
• Water or washer
fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter
use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or
washer fluid)
WARNING
The engine compartment contains many
mechanisms and fluids that may move
suddenly, become hot, or become elec-
trically energized. To avoid death or seri-
ous injury, observe the following
precautions.
■When working on the engine com-
partment
●Keep hands, clothi ng and tools away
from the moving fans and engine drive
belt.
●Be careful not to touch the engine,
radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right
after driving as they may be hot. Oil
and other fluids may also be hot.
ItemsParts and tools●Do not leave anything that may burn
easily, such as paper and rags, in the
engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose
an open flame to fuel or the battery.
Fuel and battery fumes are flammable.
●Be extremely cautious when working
on the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulfuric acid.
■When working near the electric cool-
ing fans or radiator grille
Be sure the engine switch is off.
With the engine switch in IGNITION
ON mode, the electric cooling fans may
automatically start to run if the air condi-
tioning is on and/or the coolant tempera-
ture is high. ( P.252)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or
falling material, fluid spray, etc. from get-
ting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter
removed may cause excessive engine
wear due to dirt in the air.

2536-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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6
Maintenance and care
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from
the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause
a dangerous loss of braking efficiency. Use
only newly opened brake fluid.
Check the battery as follows.
■Battery exterior
Make sure that the battery terminals
are not corroded and that there are no
loose connections, cracks, or loose
clamps. Terminals
Hold-down clamp
■Before recharging
When recharging, the battery produces
hydrogen gas which is flammable and
explosive. Therefore, observe the following
before recharging:
●If recharging with the battery installed on
the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the
ground cable.
●Make sure the power switch on the char-
ger is off when connecting and discon-
necting the charger cables to the battery.
■After recharging/reconnecting the bat-
tery
The engine may not start. Follow the proce-
dure below to initialize the system.
1
Shift the shift lever to P.
2
Open and close either door.
3
Restart the engine.
●Unlocking the doors using the smart
access system with pu sh-button start may
not be possible immediately after recon-
necting the battery. If this happens, use
the wireless remote control or the
mechanical key to lock/unlock the doors.
●Start the engine with the engine switch in
ACCESSORY mode. The engine may
not start with the engine switch turned off.
However, the engine will operate nor-
mally from the second attempt.
●The engine switch mode is recorded by
the vehicle. If the battery is disconnected
and reconnected, the vehicle will return
the engine switch mode to the status it
was in before the battery was discon-
nected. Make sure to turn off the engine
before disconnecting the battery. Take
extra care when connecting the battery if
the engine switch mode prior to the bat-
tery being disconnected is unknown.
If the system will not start even after multi-
ple attempts, contact your Lexus dealer.
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your
hands and eyes and damage painted sur-
faces.If fluid gets on your hands or in your
eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a
doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear out
or when the fluid level in the accumulator
is high.
If the reservoir need s frequent refilling,
there may be a serious problem.
Battery
A
B

2576-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
Vehicles with front and rear tires of
the same size
Rotate the tires in the order shown.
To equalize tire wear and extend tire life,
Lexus recommends that tire rotation is car-
ried out at the same in terval as tire inspec-
tion.
Do not fail to initialize the tire pressure
warning system after tire rotation.
Vehicles with front and rear tires of
differing sizes
Tires cannot be rotated.
■When rotating the tires
Make sure that the engine switch is off. If the
tires are rotated while the engine switch is in
IGNITION ON mode, the tire position
WARNING
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to
prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to
parts of the drivetrain as well as danger-
ous handling characteristics, which may
lead to an accident resulting in death or
serious injury.
●Do not mix tires of different makes,
models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of remarkably
different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those
recommended by Lexus.
●Do not mix differently constructed
tires (radial, bias-b elted or bias-ply
tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season and
snow tires.
●Do not use tires that have been used
on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not know
how they were used previously.
●Do not tow if your vehicle has a com-
pact spare tire installed.
NOTICE
■Low profile tires
Low profile tires may cause greater dam-
age than usual to the tire wheel when
sustaining impact from the road surface.
Therefore, pay attention to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation
pressure. If tires are under-inflated,
they may be damaged more severely.
●Avoid potholes, uneven pavement,
curbs and other road hazards. Failure
to do so may lead to severe tire and
wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressure of each tire
becomes low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires
and/or wheels may be ruined.
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on
roads with loose surfaces or potholes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire
inflation pressure, reducing the cushion-
ing ability of the tires. In addition, driving
on rough roads may cause damage to
the tires themselves, as well as the vehi-
cle’s wheels and body.
Tire rotation

2606-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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■The tire pressure warning system
must be initialized in the following
circumstances:
 When rotating the tires.
 When the tire inflation pressure is
changed such as when changing
traveling speed.
 When changing the tire size.
When the tire pressure warning system
is initialized, the cu rrent tire inflation
pressure is set as the benchmark pres-
sure.
■How to initialize the tire pressure
warning system
1 Park the vehicle in a safe place and
turn the engine switch off.
Initialization cannot be performed while
the vehicle is moving.
2 Adjust the tire inflation pressure to
the specified cold tire inflation pres-
sure level.
Make sure to adjust th e tire pressure to the
specified cold tire infl ation pressure level.
The tire pressure warning system will oper-
ate based on this pressure level.
3 Turn the engine switch to IGNI-
TION ON mode.
4 Press and hold the tire pressure
warning reset switch until the tire pressure warning light blinks slowly
3 times.
5 Wait for a few minutes with the
engine switch in IGNITION ON
mode and then turn the engine
switch off.
■Initialization procedure
●Make sure to carry out initialization after
adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold before
carrying out initialization or tire inflation
pressure adjustment.
●If you have accidentally turned the engine
switch off during initialization, it is not
necessary to press the reset switch again
as initialization will restart automatically
when the engine switch has been turned
to IGNITION ON mode for the next
time.
●If you accidentally press the reset switch
when initialization is not necessary, adjust
the tire inflation pressure to the specified
level when the tires are cold, and conduct
initialization again.
■When initialization of the tire pressure
warning system has failed
Initialization ca n be completed in a few min-
utes. However, in the following cases, the
settings have not been recorded and the
system will not operate properly. If repeated
attempts to record tire inflation pressure
settings are unsuccessf ul, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
●When operating the tire pressure warn-
ing reset switch, the tire pressure warning
light does not blink 3 times.
Initializing the tire pressure
warning system

2777-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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When trouble arises
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be
t
owed
If towing is ne cessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by
your Lexus dealer or commercial
towing service, using a wheel-lift
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and related
parts may be damaged or an accident
may occur due to a change in direction
of the vehicle.
AWD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehicle may
fly off the truck.
■While towing
●When towing using cables or chains,
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets,
cables or chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people,
and cause serious damage.
●Do not turn the engine switch off.
There is a possibility that the steering
wheel is locked and cannot be oper-
ated.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets
may come loose during towing.