Lexus ES: Driving the vehicle

The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:

Driving procedure

■ Driving

1. With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D.

2. If the parking brake is in manual mode, release the parking brake.

3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

■ Stopping

1. With the shift in D, depress the brake pedal.

2. If necessary, set the parking brake.

■ Parking the vehicle

1. With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.

2. Set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever to P.

3. Press the power switch to stop the hybrid system.

4. Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your person.

If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.

■ Starting off on a steep uphill

1. Make sure that the parking brake is set with the brake pedal depressed, and then shift the shift lever to D.

2. Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal.

3. Release the parking brake.

■When starting off on a uphill The hill-start assist control will activate.

■For fuel-efficient driving Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are similar to conventional vehicles, and it is necessary to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration.

■Coasting (Auto Glide Control) When Eco drive mode is selected, under certain conditions, Auto Glide Control will operate automatically and allow the vehicle coast, enhancing fuel economy.

■Driving in the rain

• Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
• Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be especially slippery.
• Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.

■Restraining the hybrid system output (Brake Override System)

• When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the hybrid system output may be restrained.
• A warning message is displayed on the multi-information display while the system is operating.

■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)

• When the following unusual operation is performed, the hybrid system output may be restrained.
  • When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D includes S) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on the multi-information display. If a warning message is shown on the multi-information display, read the message and follow the instructions.
  • When the accelerator pedal is depressed too much while the vehicle is in reverse.
• While Drive-Start Control is being activated, your vehicle may have trouble escaping from the mud or fresh snow. In such case, deactivate TRAC to cancel Drive-Start Control so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh snow.

■Breaking in your new Lexus To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:

• For the first 186 miles (300 km): Avoid sudden stops.
• For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
  • Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
  • Avoid sudden acceleration.
  • Do not drive continuously in low gears.
  • Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the correct fuel.

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■When starting the vehicle Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the "READY" indicator is illuminated. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.

■When driving the vehicle

• Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
  • Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
  • When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
  • Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and accelerator pedals properly.
  • Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, resulting in an accident.
• The driver should pay extra attention to pedestrians when the vehicle is powered only by the electric motor (traction motor). As there is no engine noise, the pedestrians may misjudge the vehicle's movement. Even though the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle proximity notification system, drive with care as pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice the vehicle if the surrounding area is noisy.
• Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.

  The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

WARNING

• During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, however, power assist to the steering will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

  In the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in the normal way

• Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.

  Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose effectiveness.

• Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear view mirrors while driving.

  Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.

• Always check that all passengers' arms, heads or other parts of their body are not outside the vehicle.
• Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire failure, loss of control and possible injury.

  Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability tires or not before driving at such speeds.

■When driving on slippery road surfaces

• Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
• Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes in engine speed could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
• After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure that the brakes are functioning properly.

  Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected.

■When shifting the shift lever

• Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll forward while the shift lever is in R.

  Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.

• Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.

  Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.

• Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.

  Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.

• Do not shift the shift lever to a driving position while the vehicle is moving backward.

  Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.

• Shifting the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the hybrid system. Engine braking is not available when N is selected.
• Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.

  Shifting the shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.

WARNING

■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators) Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible. Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed. It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.

■When the vehicle is stopped

• Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.

  If the shift lever is in any position other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.

• In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing the brake pedal while stopped with the "READY" indicator is illuminated, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
• If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
• Avoid revving or racing the engine.

  Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is nearby.

■When the vehicle is parked

• Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle when it is in the sun.

  Doing so may result in the following:

  • Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
  • The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
  • Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle's electrical components.
• Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
• Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place containers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard.

  Adhesive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.

• Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
• Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.

  Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the "READY" indicator is illuminated.

  If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is not set, the vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an accident.

• Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the "READY" indicator is illuminated or immediately after turning the hybrid system off.

  Doing so may cause burns.

WARNING

■When taking a nap in the vehicle Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire due to hybrid system overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.

■When braking

• When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.

  Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.

• If the electronically controlled brake system does not operate, do not follow other vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.

  In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.

• The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems; if one of the systems fails, the other(s) will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.

NOTICE

■When driving the vehicle

• Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time while driving, as this may restrain the hybrid system output.
• Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.

■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts

• Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for an extended period of time.

  Doing so may damage the power steering motor.

• When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.

■If you get a flat tire while driving A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.

• It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
• The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
• The vehicle will lean abnormally.

Information on what to do in case of a flat tire.

■When encountering flooded roads Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:

• Engine stalling
• Short in electrical components
• Engine damage caused by water immersion

In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have your Lexus dealer check the following:

• Brake function
• Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, hybrid transmission, etc.
• Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possible), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

■When parking the vehicle Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.

READ NEXT: