Lexus ES: Automatic High Beam

The Automatic High Beam uses an in-vehicle camera sensor to assess the brightness of streetlights, the lights of vehicle ahead, etc., and automatically turns the high beam on or off as necessary.

WARNING

■Limitations of the Automatic High Beam Do not rely on the Automatic High Beam. Always drive safely, taking care to observe your surroundings and turning the high beam on or off manually if necessary.

■To prevent incorrect operation of the Automatic High Beam system Do not overload the vehicle.

Activating the Automatic High Beam system

1. Press the Automatic High Beam switch.

2. Push the lever away from you with the headlight switch in the or position.

The Automatic High Beam indicator will come on when the headlights are turned on automatically to indicate that the system is active.

■High beam automatic turning on or off conditions

• When all of the following conditions are met, the high beam will be automatically turned on (after approximately 1 second):
  • Vehicle speed is above approximately 21 mph (34 km/h).
  • The area ahead of the vehicle is dark.
  • There are no vehicles ahead with headlights or tail lights turned on.
  • There are few streetlights on the road ahead.
• If any of the following conditions are met, the high beam will be automatically turned off:
  • Vehicle speed drops below approximately 17 mph (27 km/h).
  • The area ahead of the vehicle is not dark.
  • Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights turned on.
  • There are many streetlights on the road ahead.

■Camera sensor detection information

• The high beam may not be automatically turned off in the following situations:
  • When oncoming vehicles suddenly appear from a curve
  • When the vehicle is cut in front of by another vehicle
  • When vehicles ahead are hidden from sight due to repeated curves, road dividers or roadside trees
  • When vehicles ahead appear from the faraway lane on wide road
  • When vehicles ahead have no lights
• The high beam may be turned off if a vehicle ahead that is using fog lights without using the headlights is detected.
• House lights, street lights, traffic signals, and illuminated billboards or signs may cause the high beam to switch to the low beams, or the low beams to remain on.
• The following factors may affect the amount of time taken to turn the high beam on or off:
  • The brightness of headlights, fog lights, and tail lights of vehicles ahead
  • The movement and direction of vehicles ahead
  • When a vehicle ahead only has operational lights on one side
  • When a vehicle ahead is a two-wheeled vehicle
  • The condition of the road (gradient, curve, condition of the road surface etc.)
  • The number of passengers and amount of luggage
• The high beam may be turned on or off when the driver does not expect it.
• Bicycles or similar objects may not be detected.
• In the situations shown below, the system may not be able to accurately detect surrounding brightness levels. This may cause the low beams to remain on or the high beams to cause problems for pedestrians, vehicles ahead or other parties. In these cases, manually switch between the high and low beams.
  • In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.)
  • The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.
  • The windshield is cracked or damaged.
  • The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
  • When the temperature of the camera sensor is extremely high
  • Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those 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 intermittently changing brightness and darkness.
  • When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel tracks etc.).
  • When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road.
  • There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
  • The back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
  • The vehicle's headlights are damaged or dirty.
  • The vehicle is listing or tilting, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed etc.
  • The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in an abnormal manner.
  • The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.

■Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.

1. Turn the power switch off while the following conditions are met.

• The headlight switch is in or .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.

2. Turn the power switch to ON mode.

3. Within 30 seconds after 2, repeat pulling the headlight switch lever to the original position then pushing it to the high beam position quickly 10 times, then leave the lever in high beam position.

4. If the sensitivity is changed, the Automatic High Beam indicator turns on and off 3 times.

Automatic High Beam (headlights) may turn on even the vehicle is stopped.

Turning the high beam on/off manually

■ Switching to low beam Pull the lever to the original position.

The Automatic High Beam indicator will turn off.

Push the lever away from you to activate the Automatic High Beam system again.

■ Switching to high beam Press the Automatic High Beam switch.

The Automatic High Beam indicator will turn off and the high beam indicator will turn on.

Press the switch to activate the Automatic High Beam system again.

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