1996 Lexus LS400 automatic transmission

125
SECTION 3 ± 1
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Three±way catalytic converter 126
Engine exhaust caution 127
Before starting the engine 128
Ignition switch with steering lock 128
Parking brake 129
How to start the engine 130
Automatic transmission 131
Cruise control 136
Electronically modulated air suspension 139
Traction control system 141
Brake system 142
Types of tires 145

STARTING AND DRIVING
131
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to
minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This
means you can only shift out of ªPº position when the
brake pedal is depressed with the ignition switch in
ªONº position. ()
The shift position is displayed on the instrument
cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and key removal position
R:Reverse position
N:Neutral position
D:Normal driving position (Shifting into overdrive possible)
3:Position for engine braking (Shifting into overdrive not
possible)
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ªDº to ª3º, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. For
the operation to decrease the vehicle speed, see page
138.
2:Position for more powerful engine braking
L:Position for maximum engine braking
Correct use of the automatic transmission is explained
in the following parts.
(a) Normal driving
(b) Using engine braking
(c) Using the ª2º and ªLº positions
(d) Backing up
(e) Parking
(f) Good driving practice
(g) If you cannot shift the selector lever

STARTING AND DRIVING
133

ªDº (Drive) positionBrake pedal
4. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift
the selector lever to ªDº.
Always use the ªDº position to improve fuel economy and
quiet driving. Only in this position, shifting into the overdrive
gear is possible. However, while the engine coolant
temperature is low, the transmission will not shift into the
overdrive gear even in the ªDº position. (See ª(b) Using
engine brakingº and ª(f) Good driving practiceº for
exceptions.)
CAUTION!
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.5. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress
the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting.
In normal cruising, the vehicle will start in the first gear and
automatically shift to the most suitable gear for the running
conditions.
In ª3º position, the automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for the running conditions such as hill
climbing, hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, depress the
accelerator pedal to the full throttle position. This provides
more acceleration by automatically downshifting the
transmission to the next lower gear or beyond, depending on
the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a long hill,
see ª(b) Using engine brakingº.

STARTING AND DRIVING
134
(b) Using engine braking
To use the braking power of the engine, downshift the
transmission in the way described below:

Shift into the ª3º position. The transmission will
downshift to the third gear and engine braking will be
obtained.
When the cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift from ªDº to ª3º, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. If
you need to decrease the vehicle speed, see page 138.
Shift into the ª2º position. The transmission will
downshift to the second gear when the vehicle speed is
or becomes lower than 119 km/h (74 mph) and more
powerful engine braking will be obtained.
Shift into the ªLº position. The transmission will
downshift to the first gear when the vehicle speed is or
becomes lower than 58 km/h (36 mph) and maximum
engine braking will be applied.
CAUTION!
Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface.
The abrupt change in engine speed could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.
(c) Using the ª2º and ªLº positions
The ª2º and ªLº positions are used for strong engine braking
as described previously.
With the selector lever in ª2º or ªLº, you can start the vehicle
in motion as with the lever in ªDº.
With the selector lever in ª2º, the vehicle will start in the first
gear and automatically shift to the second gear.
With the selector lever in ªLº, the transmission is engaged in
the first gear.
NOTICE
Be careful not to overrev the engine. Watch the
tachometer to keep engine rpm from going into the
red zone. The approximate maximum allowable
speed for each position is given below for your
reference:
ª2º . . . 134 km/h (83 mph)
ªLº . . . . 73 km/h (45 mph)

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135
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a
long time in the ª2º or ªLº position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission damage from
overheating. To prevent such damage, ª3º position
should be used in hill climbing or hard towing.
(d) Backing up

ªRº (Reverse) positionBrake pedal
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the
selector lever to the ªRº position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the vehicle is moving.
(e) Parking

ªPº (Park) positionBrake pedal
Parking brake pedal
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal fully.
3. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the
selector lever to the ªPº position.
CAUTION!
While the vehicle is moving, never attempt to move
the selector lever into ªPº under any circumstances.
Serious mechanical damage and loss of vehicle
control may result.

STARTING AND DRIVING
136
(f) Good driving practice

If the transmission repeatedly upshifts and downshifts
between the third and overdrive gears when climbing a
gentle slope, shift the selector lever to the ª3º position. Be
sure to shift the selector lever to the ªDº position after
climbing the slope.
When towing a trailer, in order to maintain efficient engine
braking and electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive. The selector lever must be in the ª3º position.
CAUTION!
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while
stopped with the engine running. This prevents the
vehicle from creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an upgrade with the
accelerator pedal. This can cause the transmission
to overheat. Always use the brake pedal or parking
brake.
(g) If you cannot shift the selector lever
If you cannot shift the selector lever even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock override button. For
instructions, see ªIf you cannot shift automatic transmission
selector leverº on page 175.
CRUISE CONTROL
The cruise control allows you to cruise the vehicle at a
desired speed over 40 km/h (25 mph) with your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Your cruising speed can be maintained although a slight
speed change may occur when driving up or down a
gradient, within the limits of engine performance. On steeper
hills, a great speed change will occur so it is better to drive
without the cruise control.
When the cruise control is on, the driving pattern of the
automatic transmission is fixed in the normal position,
regardless of the position of the selector switch.
CAUTION!

To help maintain maximum control of your vehicle,
do not use the cruise control when driving in heavy
or varying traffic, or on slippery (rainy, icy or
snow±covered) or winding roads.
Avoid vehicle speed increases when driving
downhill. If the vehicle speed is too fast in relation
to the cruise control set speed, cancel the cruise
control then downshift the transmission to use
engine braking to slow down.

STARTING AND DRIVING
137
Turning on the system
To operate the cruise control, push the main switch. This
turns the system on. The indicator light in the instrument
cluster shows that you can now set your desired cruising
speed. Another push on the switch will turn the system
completely off.
When the ignition key is turned off, the main switch is also
automatically turned off. To use the cruise control again,
push the main switch again to turn it on.
CAUTION!
To avoid accidental cruise control engagement,
keep the main switch off when not using the cruise
control.
Setting at a desired speed
The transmission must be in ªDº or ª3º before you set the
cruise control speed.
Bring the vehicle to the desired speed, press the control
lever downward in the ªSET/COASTº direction and release
it. This sets the vehicle at that speed. Now you may take your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If you need acceleration ± for
example, when passing ± depress the accelerator pedal
enough for the vehicle to exceed the set speed. When you
release the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will return to the
speed set prior to the acceleration.
Cancelling the preset speed
You can cancel the preset speed by either of the following:
a. Pulling the control lever in the ªCANCELº direction.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.

STARTING AND DRIVING
138If the vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph), the
preset speed will be automatically cancelled.
If the vehicle speed drops 16 km/h (10 mph) below the preset
speed, the preset speed will also automatically be cancelled.
If the preset speed automatically cancels out for other than
these reasons, have your vehicle checked by your Lexus
dealer at the earliest opportunity.
Resetting to a faster speed
Press the control lever upward in the ªRES/ACCº direction
and hold it. Release the lever when the desired speed is
attained. While the lever is held upward, the vehicle will
gradually gain speed.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and
the set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can
be increased 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the
control lever upward in the ªRES/ACCº direction quickly
within 0.6 seconds.
However, a quicker way to reset is to accelerate the vehicle
and then press the control lever downward in the
ªSET/COASTº direction.
Resetting to a slower speed
Press the control lever downward in the ªSET/COASTº
direction and hold it. Release the lever when the desired
speed is attained. While the lever is held downward, the
vehicle speed will gradually decrease.
When the difference between the actual vehicle speed and
the set speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the set speed can
be lowered 1.6 km/h (1 mph) each time by pressing the
control lever downward in the ªSET/COASTº direction
quickly within 0.6 seconds.
However, a quicker way to reset is to depress the brake
pedal and then press the control lever downward in the
ªSET/COASTº direction.
Even if you downshift the transmission from the ªDº position
to ª3º with the cruise control on, engine braking will not be
applied because the cruise control is not cancelled. To
decrease the vehicle speed, reset to a slower speed with the
cruise control lever or depress the brake pedal. If you use the
brake pedal, cruise control is cancelled.
Resuming the preset speed
If the preset speed is cancelled by pulling the control lever
or by depressing the brake pedal, pushing the lever up in the
ªRES/ACCº direction will restore the speed set prior to
cancellation. However, once the vehicle speed falls below
about 40 km/h (25 mph), the preset speed will not be
resumed.